title: Best interests of adults who lack capacity part 1 : key concepts.
abstract: Best interests is the standard by which the law judges the propriety of care and treatment for adults who lack decision-making capacity. Since the introduction of mental capacity legislation, determining best interests has moved from a paternalistic risk-benefit analysis to a holistic approach where the wishes, views and values of the patient and their relatives must be considered. In this two-part series, the author discusses the concept of best interests and how nurses should approach the determination of best interests to meet the needs of an incapable person.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Health Law, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005190:Family; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency; D009737:Nursing Records; D019727:Proxy; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Advance decisions to refuse treatment; Best interests; Best interests meetings; Decision making; Personal autonomy