AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/capacity
Capacity
Capacity is the ability to make a particular decision for yourself at the time it needs to be made.
Summary
- The Mental Capacity Act 2005 covers people aged 16 and over in England and Wales.
- Every adult is assumed to have capacity unless it is shown otherwise.
- A person lacks capacity if they cannot understand the information, retain it, weigh it up or communicate a decision.
- Capacity belongs to one decision at one time. Someone may be able to decide what to eat and unable to decide about surgery.
- An unwise decision is not evidence that someone lacks capacity.
Interview questions
- How would you assess whether a patient has capacity?
- A patient makes a choice you think is foolish. Does that mean they lack capacity?
- Who decides for a patient who lacks capacity?
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.