Ethical considerations in REM sleep behavior disorder

Abstract

A patient diagnosed with REM behavior sleep disorder (RBD) has as much as a 65% risk of developing an α-synucleinopathy. Currently, it is not possible to predict whether an individual will develop a disease, or, if so, which disease.The neurologist treating the patient must consider (1) the difference between disclosing a diagnosis and disclosing the risk of a diagnosis; (2) whether to disclose this risk to patients; and (3) if deciding to disclose the risk, the appropriate timing of such a conversation.