title: Use of power of attorney in Scotland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Power of Attorney as a form of surrogate decision making was introduced within the Adults with Incapacity, Scotland Act (2000) to help individuals who lack mental capacity due to illnesses like dementia. Even after a decade, little was known if it has been useful. We sought to find out how useful the power of attorney document has been so far in supporting people when they lose their capacity and identify any barriers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We did a survey and approached a random sample of 5000 attorneys in Scotland. A total of 1226 attorneys responded; 59% of the respondents had never used their powers but still considered it useful for 'peace of mind'. For the majority, the costs of arranging a power of attorney ranged in between £150 and £300.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirms that power of attorney is useful to safeguard interests of people when they lose capacity. Costs remain a big barrier. Further studies are required to understand the long-term impact of providing financial support to arrange a power of attorney at an early stage on reducing delayed discharges in hospitals.
authors.affiliation: ST6 Trainee, Old Age Psychiatry, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, UK Rajdeep.routh@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Rajdeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Routh
authors.affiliation: Clinical Studies Officer (Glasgow), Scottish Dementia Clinical Research Network, UK.
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mcneill
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer Scotland Professor of Dementia Care, University of the West of Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, UK.
authors.forename: Graham A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D033241:Lawyers; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019727:Proxy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012606:Scotland
keywords: Dementia; capacity; delayed discharge; surrogate decision making