Consent in Adults Who Lack Capacity

Question 1

In an emergency situation where consent cannot be obtained, what happens

Answer 1

Doctors should provide the treatment that they reasonably believe to be both medically necessary and in the patients best interests, unless there is a valid and applicable advance decision refusing the nesecxary treatment

Question 2

In an emergency where a proxy declines treatment what should be done

Answer 2

the doctor should continue to provide the treatment they believe neseccary until the patient is stable and then normal legality follows

Question 3

Liberty

Answer 3

Patients should be free from interventions that inhibit liberty or the ability to enjoy life unless the intervention is seen to reduce greater harm to the patient or others

Question 4

Decision-making freedom

Answer 4

Patients decision making freedom should be promoted in a manner that is consistent with their needs and wishes.

Question 5

Dignity

Answer 5

Patients should be treated with respect and courtesy, and their social and cultural values should be respected

Question 6

What is capacity

Answer 6

The ability that individuals possess to make decisions or to take actions that influence their life.

Question 7

Fluctuating Capacity

Answer 7

This could relate to bipolar disorder. Here an assessment of capacity must be on the basis of the decision in question at the time it needs to be made

Question 8

Decisions made on behalf of incapacitated adults must be

Answer 8

Made on the basis of an assessment of their best interests

Question 9

When does a person lack capacity

Answer 9

An impairment of, or disturbance in the functioning of the mind or the brain and the person is unable to make a decision

Question 10

A person is unable to make a decision if

Answer 10

They are unable to understand the infromation given to them

Unable to retain the information relevant to the decision

Use or weigh the information

To communicate the decision