cade of measures aimed to legitimately arrive at a consent that reflects the individual’s presumed will, going from the authorised legal representative to a hierarchy of family members. In France a similar system for legal agency is in place. However, if according to the ethics committee the research imposes serious risks to the participant’s private life or bodily integrity, authorisation to participation must be given by the tutelary judge. In Ireland an incapacitated person may only participate in a clinical trial if 8309351 written and signed consent is given by a person, independent from the trial, who in the opinion of the ethics committee is able to give a decision on such a participation. In Denmark, if an adult is permanently incapacitated consent must be given by the nearest relative and the person’s general practitioner. Also in the UK, if it is not reasonably practicable to contact an adult’s legal representative then the doctor primarily responsible for the medical treatment of the individual, or a person nominated by the relevant health care provider, can act as legal representative, providing they have no connection with the conduct of the clinical trial. The different ways of obtaining surrogate consent for subject’s participation in research in the EU countries may have an impact on countries ��attractiveness��for dementia research. For example, one may suppose that countries where courts are not involved in the appointment of a patient’s proxy are more attractive for dementia research, as courts involvement may slow down the process of appointment of the proxy and hence of obtainment of the informed consent. However the available data, even if they are quite limited, do not confirm this hypothesis. According to clinicaltrials.gov many clinical 133053-19-7 chemical information trials on dementia are being conducted in Europe. It is to note that in Germany, where the patient’s legal proxy must be appointed by the courts, the number of clinical trials involving patients with dementia is high. Recently in Germany a law was published, amending the Civil Code, regulating sensitive issues like the value of advanced directives and surrogate consent in the care of incompetent patients. The law specifies the value and the limits of the decisions of the ��authorised representatives��in the care of the incompetent June Dementia Research in Italy completely deprived persons of their legal rights, legal agency is now focused on care and assistance. The new legal entity is a ��carer��and is appointed by the tutelary judge, found in every magistrate’s court. The law provides for a hierarchy of family members who can be appointed as legal proxy going from the beneficiary’s spouse to his or her partner, father or mother, son or daughter, 
brother or sister, and other persons who are close to the patient. Nomination is inexpensive, the patient can directly apply for it and he/she can indicate his or her legal proxy prior to the onset of incapacity. Also relatives, neighbours and healthcare professionals can apply for appointment. Persons working in the healthcare or social services who are directly involved in the care of the person, when needed, must invite the tutelary judge to appoint a legal proxy for the patient. However, they themselves June Dementia Research in Italy cannot be appointed if they are involved directly in the care of the patient. The legal proxy must warrant the patient’s desires in treatment decisions. In the act of appointment, the judge must specify all actions
