Mental Capacity Act 2005: statutory principles and key concepts.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 represents the most significant development in the law relating to people who lack decision making capacity since the Mental Health Act 1959 removed the states parens patriae jurisdiction preventing relatives, courts and government bodies consenting on behalf of incapable adults (F vs West Berkshire HA [1990]). The Mental Capacity Act 2005 impacts on the care and treatment provided by district nurses and it is essential that you have a sound working knowledge of its provisions and code of practice. In the first article of a series focusing on how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies to district nurse practice, Richard Griffith and Cassam Tengnah consider the principles and key concepts underpinning the Act.
Griffith
Richard
R
School of Health Science, Swansea University. richard.griffith@swan.ac.uk
Tengnah
Cassam
C
D000328:Adult; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom