[Ethics in geriatrics].

Ethics is a fundamental part of geriatric medicine. Ethical questions are important in all fields of medicine but in geriatrics they are of particular importance. This branch of medicine is concerned with the care and health problems of mostly very old people close to the end of life. They are physically, mentally and socially vulnerable, frail individuals with a high risk for progressive deficits in physical and cognitive functions and are thus progressively dependent on help and care. Decisions about medical interventions are easier when the patients concerned have an intact decisional capacity and is more complex and difficult when dealing with multimorbid, frequently cognitively impaired very old individuals. Ethics is about systematically asking the right questions. This process should be logically structured but questions may remain unanswered. It is about questioning prejudices and modes of action, it means explaining terminology, requesting the best facts possible, formulating definitions and helping to logically reflect on a problem. Good ethics begins with good facts, not with groundless assumptions.