Dementia and the law in Connecticut.
ABSTRACT Laws pertain to almost every aspect of our lives. How a law applies to a person or one situation is dependent on many variables. One important variable is the capacity of a person to understand the ramifications of their actions. One of the most common reasons for permanent loss of decisional capacity is the development of dementia. Dementia is primarily a disease of old age. As the population of Connecticut ages and the prevalence of dementiaincreases, physicians will be presented with an increasing number of difficult decisions, where the interface between the law and medical practice will have an impact on their approach to the patient and their medical care. Familiarity with pertaining Connecticut laws and the appropriate procedures to follow as outlined by those laws will help physicians address these complex issues.