TY - JOUR

T1 - Capacity issues at the front door

AU - Lepping, Peter

PY - 2019/9/9

Y1 - 2019/9/9

N2 - Decision-making capacity is often overestimated by clinicians. An average of one third of patients lack capacity to make complex decisions and clinicians should be alert to such a possibility. Cognitive impairment, acute infection, intoxication and other common medical and psychiatric problems can impair patients' capacity. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 has to be applied when treating patients who lack capacity. The main decision maker for a proposed treatment or investigation is responsible for assessing capacity. However, all clinicians have to consider and assess capacity, and act in a patient's best interests if he/she lacks capacity.

AB - Decision-making capacity is often overestimated by clinicians. An average of one third of patients lack capacity to make complex decisions and clinicians should be alert to such a possibility. Cognitive impairment, acute infection, intoxication and other common medical and psychiatric problems can impair patients' capacity. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 has to be applied when treating patients who lack capacity. The main decision maker for a proposed treatment or investigation is responsible for assessing capacity. However, all clinicians have to consider and assess capacity, and act in a patient's best interests if he/she lacks capacity.

U2 - 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.9.513

DO - 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.9.513

M3 - Article

C2 - 31498667

VL - 80

SP - 513

EP - 516

JO - British Journal of Hospital Medicine

JF - British Journal of Hospital Medicine

SN - 1750-8460

IS - 9

ER -