Psychiatric assessment of mental capacity

Kua Ee Heok

The Singapore Family Physician

Back to issue Vol 35 No. 3 - Mental Capacity Act and Code of Practice

Psychiatric assessment of mental capacity

Full text:

View PDF or right-click to save

Author(s):

Kua Ee Heok

Published in:

The Singapore Family Physician Vol 35 No 3 - Mental Capacity Act and Code of Practice

Page(s):

19 - 21

Publication date:

1 July 2009

ISSN:

0377-5305

Abstract

Mental capacity is assessed according to the ability of a person to make a specific decision at the time the decision needs to be made. Assessment should be carried out when a person’s capacity is in doubt and he has to make a particular decision. Different individuals may be involved in assessing a person’s capacity for different decisions. A professional, such as a lawyer, or the donee of an LPA may seek a formal assessment where they have doubts about the person’s capacity and the decision the person has to make is an important one.