Law and Geriatrics: An Israeli Perspective on Future Challenges

Israel Doron, Haifa University

Abstract

Both geriatrics and elder law in Israel have celebrated significant change in the late twentieth century. Both Geriatrics, once considered a negligible sub field of medicine, and Elder Law, once considered a minor field unworthy of independent legal practice, have been transformed into well-established fields of practice and expertise. However, the cooperation and collaboration between elder law and geriatrics in Israel has been limited and partial. The body of published research that deals specifically with “geriatric law” is very limited, and if considered from a truly interdisciplinary perspective, the body of available research becomes further diminished. This paper argues that there is a need to change this reality and to realize that the next challenge for Israel’s medical law is to turn the field of geriatrics and law into an integral part of the professional discourse of all of those who provide medical or legal services to the elderly.