My research question is ‘How can the undue influence doctrine strike a balance: protecting elders experiencing mild cognitive impairment from coercion while safeguarding their autonomy in romantic relationships?’. Specifically, I want to study how the undue influence doctrine, at the current state, might have insufficient protection for elders who have mild cognitive decline while making decisions during their romantic relationship in the twilight years.
Definitely, the freedom to pursue love and romance is not only of right that with the utmost importance of personhood, but also ‘an absolutely fundamental value which must always trump any other. However, the twilight years also bring age-specific vulnerabilities that create unique risks in romantic partnerships. This creates a fundamental paradox that is, the very relationships that enhance well-being may simultaneously expose elders to undue influence without appropriate safeguards. Accordingly, I want to first focus on the specific issues that might occur when elders who have mild cognitive decline encounter when making their decisions during a romantic relationship, and propose solutions to solve these.