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The Mental Capacity Act:new decision making
challengesIan HulattMental Health AdvisorRoyal College of Nursing
Session aims
Provide an overview of the core principles of the MCA
Consider the new roles and functions that support it
Consider implications for practice
Signpost to resources
First things first!
How many of you make decisions for others?
How many of you did that last time you were on duty?
How many times a day do you do this? What was your rationale for doing so? How did you record your actions?
What is it and when was MCA implemented?
All of the Act came into force on 1st October 2007
Generally 16 years and over
But does not currently permit deprivation of liberty
The changes New Court of Protection / Court appointed deputies Office of the Public Guardian Lasting Powers of Attorney (18 years and over) New Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service (since April 2007 in England)
New research provisions Statutory advance decisions to refuse treatment (18 and over)
New criminal offence – ill treatment / wilful neglect – all ages (since April 2007, two offences to date?)
Who is affected?
Mental capacity could affect anybody Over 2 million people in England and Wales lack mental capacity
to make some decisions for themselves.
The lack of capacity may be temporary or permanent and will include people with dementia, with brain injury, with learning disability and mental health needs, and those who are unconscious or barely conscious whether due to an accident, being under anaesthetic or as a result of other conditions
Up to 6 million family carers, carers, health and social care staff
The five statutory principles
1. A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity.
2. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success.
3. A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because he makes an unwise decision.
4. An act done, or decision made, under this Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in his best interests.
5. Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the person’s rights and freedom of action.
What does the act do?
The Act deals with the assessment of a person’s capacity
The Act deals with the assessment of acts by carers of those who lack capacity
The Act deals with the assessment of a person’s capacity
Assessing lack of capacity – The Act sets out a single clear test for assessing whether a person lacks capacity to take a particular decision at a particular time. It is a “decision-specific” test. No one can be labelled ‘incapable’ as a result of a particular medical condition or diagnosis. Section 2 of the Act makes it clear that a lack of capacity cannot be established merely by reference to a person’s age, appearance, or any condition or aspect of a person’s behaviour which might lead others to make unjustified assumptions about capacity.
All persons have capacity unless The person is unable by reason of mental
disability, to make decisions for themselves on the matter in question or the person is unable to communicate their decision on that matter because they are unconscious or for any other reason.
Law Commission 1997
Mental Capacity Act 2005
A person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain
Lack of capacity may be due to Brain injury or CVA
A mental health problem
Dementia
A learning disability
Confusion/delirium or unconsciousness due to an illness or treatment for it
Substance misuse
Criteria for Capacity
Understand the information relevant to the decision
Retain the information (long enough to make an effective decision)
Use or weigh that information as part of the process of making the decision
Communicate their decision.
Helping people to make decisions for themselves
Is all the relevant information available
Could the information be presented in a way that is easier to understand
Are their times when this would be better considered
Can anyone else help (relative, friend, advocate)
The Act deals with the assessment of acts by carers of those who lack capacity
Best Interests – Everything that is done for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be in that person’s best interests. The Act provides a checklist of factors that decision-makers must work through in deciding what is in a person’s best interests. A person can put his/her wishes and feelings into a written statement if they so wish, which the person making the determination must consider. Also, carers and family members gain a right to be consulted.
Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
Involved if client has no one to support them other than paid staff
Not the decision maker but must have their views taken into account
IMCA service comes into effect in April 2007 in England
A new criminal offence from April 2007
Ill treatment or wilful neglect of a person who lacks capacity.
Applies to those who:
Has the care of a person who lacks capacity
Is an attorney under LPA or EPA
Is a deputy appointed for the person by the court
What about nurses????????
A Bold idea??
The introduction of Advanced Directives is already making an impact in settings such as prison health care, and mental health
Advance Decisions is a legal device (statement) made by a
adult with capacity, (as defined in the
act) in which s/he makes clear the detail
of decisions made regarding how s/he
would, or would not like to be treated if
s/he were to lack capacity to make
decisions or communicate his/her wishes
about treatment and care in the future.
An Advance Decision is legally enforceable only if it
is in writing; is made by a persons who is 18
years or older; is made by a person who has
capacity, as defined in the Mental
Capacity Act (2005);
An Advance Decision is legally enforceable only if it
specifies the particular
circumstances and specific treatment
that is to be refused, this may be
expressed in layman’s terms;
An Advance Decision is legally enforceable only if it
is signed by the patient (or, if the patient is unable to sign it, by another person in the patient’s presence) in the presence of a witness;
it is signed by the witness, in the presence of the patient;
An Advance Decision addressing life sustaining / prolonging treatment is legally enforceable only if it
contains the statement that the Advanced Decision should apply‘even if life is at risk’.
This can be included in the document itself or can be a separate statement, but must also be signed by the patient and a witness.
Advance Decision is invalid if
Since making the Advance Decision,
the patient has acted in a way that is
clearly inconsistent with the advance
decision.
Advance Decision is invalid if
the adult has withdrawn the Advance decision at a time when he/she had capacity to do so.
a patient with capacity can withdraw anAdvance Decision at any time either in writing or verbally; no formal procedures are required;
Advance Decision is inapplicable if
At the time, the patient still has the capacity to give or refuse consent to treatment;
The treatment in question is not the treatment specified in the advance decision;
One or more of the circumstances specified in the advance decision are different;
Advance Decisions
Health professionals have a legal
obligation to comply with valid and
applicable living wills..
NOT respecting a valid and applicable
“Advanced Decision” may expose a
healthcare professional to civil liability
or criminal liability.
Potential difficulties in implementing Advanced Decisions
Health professionals may be unaware
that a living will has been written.
At present there is no national
registration system to help health
professionals quickly establish whether a
Advanced Decision has been made.
Potential difficulties in implementing Advanced Decisions
The advanced decision may be worded
ambiguously.
e. g, a patient refuses all medical
Interventions in the event that his/her life
becomes “intolerable”.
Personal stories“My wife Edna and I kept our advance decisions on file with our doctor and at home for many years. When Edna was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and given a life expectancy of six months we reminded our doctor of Edna’s wishes which were set out in her advance decision. This said that when she got to the stage where she could no longer communicate, Edna did not want anything that would prolong her life. This was adhered to, and Edna died peacefully, having been treated with great dignity and compassion, three months later. Having an advance decision gave us confidence that Edna’s wishes would be followed - I would recommend to everyone that they make an advance decision.”
John Humble
Personal stories“My mother suffered a number of small strokes then a major stroke damaging the left side of her brain, giving her right side paralysis, leaving her unable to talk and incontinent. The consultant bullied my sister into giving consent for a peg tube even though our mother had no chance of recovery, was not considered suitable for rehabilitation and had always believed in being left to die with dignity. My mother died only after months of suffering – if she had made an Advance Decision stating her wishes she could have been spared those last dreadful months.”
Stanley Kosch
What do I need to do?
You will need to be prepared to practice within this new legal framework
Your employer will have prepared procedures relating to this legislation
You do however, have a professional obligation to make yourself aware of this new law
Best interests assessor recommends period for which deprivation of liberty should be
authorised
Age assessment
Hospital or care home managers identify those at risk of deprivation of liberty & request authorisation from supervisory
body
Assessment commissioned by supervisory body. IMCA
instructed for anyone without representation
Request for authorisation
declined
Mental health assessment
Mental capacity
assessment
No Refusals assessment
Best interests assessment
Eligibility assessment
Any assessment
says no
All assessments support
authorisation
In an emergency hospital or care
home can issue an urgent
authorisation for seven days while
obtaining authorisation
Authorisation is granted and persons representative
appointed
Best interests assessor
recommends person to be appointed as
representative
Authorisation implemented by managing authority
Managing authority requests review
because circumstances change
Authorisation expires and Managing authority
requests further authorisation
Review
Person or their representative
appeals to Court of Protection
which has powers to terminate
authorisation or vary conditions
Person or their representative requests
review
Resources to consider http://www.dca.gov.uk/menincap/legis.ht
m http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/PublicationsAn
dStatistics/Bulletins/ChiefExecutiveBulletin/DH_4108436
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/YourRightsInHealth/DG_10016888
http://www.rethink.org/living_with_mental_illness/rights_and_laws/laws_you_need_to_know_about/mental_capacity.html
