Borderline personality disorder: exceptions to the concept of responsible and competent.
OBJECTIVE
This article examines whether neurocognitive deficits or age prevents people with borderline personality disorder from being considered responsible and competent.


METHODS
A review of the literature was undertaken relating to borderline personality disorder (BPD), personal responsibility and competency.


RESULTS
Neither neurobiological differences nor age automatically disqualify the person with BPD from being responsible and competent for decisions relating to their own life and death.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical, legal and ethical literature support this result and thereby re-establishes a basis for the recognition and respect of an individual's dignity.
Little
John
J
Grampians Psychiatric Services, Grampians, Victoria, Australia. john.little@cft.cornwall.nhs.uk
Little
Bridget
B
D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology