title: Competent for what?
abstract: As the United States population ages, psychiatrists will have increasing requests for consultations to address legal issues involving older persons. Following an overview of competency as a distinct legal issue, specific legal issues are addressed that include hospitalization, consent or refusal of treatment, living will legislation, and guardianship and conservatorship. Relevant cases are cited.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States; D014918:Wills