title: Addressing issues related to adult patients who lack the capacity to give consent.
abstract: Capacity to consent is an area of practice that raises many ethical issues. The assessment by practitioners requires a flexible and creative approach. The Mental Capacity Bill is under final scrutiny by the House of Lords' committee and is intended to provide clearer guidance to focus practice in the future.
authors.affiliation: DipHE Community Learning Disabilities Nursing, Preston Primary Care Trust, Lancashire. christine.hutchinson@prestonpct.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D016743:Mental Competency; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom