Theme 2: Capacity

Question 1

What is a competent adult?

Answer 1

(Having capacity)

•In England an adult is 18 or greater.

•All adults must be presumed competent until proven otherwise

•No one can consent for a competent adult

•Doctors and Nurses must not withhold information simply because they disagree with the decision the patient is likely to make if given that information.

•An adult competent patient can refuse any treatment

Question 2

What situation can someone consent for others?

Answer 2

Best interests
•In an emergency (and where a reasonable attempt has been made to contact others) we can treat patients for the emergency creating condition ONLY in the guides of best interests

Question 3

What are the principles of competence?

Answer 3

•is able to understand the information relevant to the decision;

• is able to retain that information for the time required to make the decision;

• is able to appreciate the relevance of that information and to use and weigh the information as part of the process of making the decision; or,

Question 4

What is lasting power of attorney? LPA

Answer 4

LPA is nominated by a competent adult to make all decisions financial and healthcare on their behalf should they lose capacity

Question 5

Whats the legal age of consent

Answer 5

People under 18

•It is very important not to assume that anyone under 18 has to have someone else consent for them.

•To a more limited extent 16 and 17 year olds can also take medical decisions independently of their parents.

•As the age gets younger so you need be more cautious about consent and it is likely that parents will need to consent for them or as well as

Question 6

What is gillicks competence?

Answer 6

Professionals need to consider Gillick competency if a young person under the age of 16 wishes to receive treatment without their parents’ or carers’ consent or, in some cases,