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The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a law that protects and supports people who may have difficulty in making some of their own decisions. It ensures that they are given all necessary support to make every decision they are able to make, and to contribute towards any decisions made about their lives that they are unable to make themselves.
This webpage provides basic information about the main aspects of the Mental Capacity Act. The 'Other Information and Advice' section at the bottom of the page contains links to more detailed sources of information, including information in a variety of languages and in easy-read format for people with learning disabilities, dementia, other mental health problems, or other conditions which might affect someone's decision-making abilities.
Mental capacity is the ability to make a particular decision when it needs to be made.
The Mental Capacity Act empowers and protects by:
The Mental Capacity Act affects anyone aged 16 or over who may have difficulty making a decision because of a problem with the way their mind is working, whether that problem is temporary or permanent.
It also affects anyone who provides support to someone who may have difficulty making a decision, including family, friends, volunteers and professionals.
Anyone can use the Mental Capacity Act to plan for a time in the future when they may struggle to make particular decisions for themselves.
No matter who the person is, or what decision they are making, the starting point is the assumption that the person has capacity to take the decision.
The fact that someone needs a lot of support to take a decision does not mean that they lack capacity to take it. That support should be made available to them.
If someone has capacity to make a decision, they have the right to decide to do something that others view as unwise.
If someone lacks capacity to make a decision, the person in a position to make the decision must follow the best interests checklist - see below for more details.
How can the person's best interests be achieved in a way that restricts them as little as possible?
If someone has a problem with the way their mind is working, they will lack capacity to make a decision if that problem means that they cannot do one or more of the following four things:
The checklist in the Mental Capacity Act means the decision-maker must:
If a person lacks capacity to make the decision and they have no family or friends whom it is appropriate to consult, the NHS or council must appoint an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate to support the person if a decision is being made about:-
IMCA involvement can also be considered in:
The Social Care Institute for Excellence provices a lot of information for individuals, their families and carers, professionals and others about the IMCA process.
A person can also write down or tell people about their wishes and preferences about their future treatment or care. These must be taken into account when determining what is in their best interests.
These statements can be about anything, including personal preferences such as having a shower rather than a bath, or not wanting to eat meat.
A person can name someone who should always be consulted during the best interests decision-making process if the person lacks capacity to make the decision themselves.
Patients have a right to refuse medical treatment if they have capacity to do so. If someone is sure they do not want certain medical treatment if the need arises they can make an advance decision to refuse it. This will apply if they lack capacity to make the decision at the time the treatment is offered. Advance decisions about life-sustaining treatment have to be in writing, signed and witnessed.
Go to our page on Advance decisions for more information
Anyone over the age of 18 who has capacity to do so may choose to give one or more people the power to make decisions over their property and affairs or their personal welfare. A personal welfare attorney can only make a decision if the person lacks capacity to make it themselves. To appoint an attorney, a standard form needs to be completed and registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
Go to our page on Power of Attorney for more information.
The Court of Protection can make declarations as to whether or not a person lacks capacity to make a particular decision, or whether an action proposed or taken by someone else is in the person's best interests.
Some very big decisions can only be taken on behalf of someone by the Court of Protection. In addition decisions where there has been a major disagreement will also be decided by the Court.
If the person has not appointed an attorney, the Court of Protection can be asked to appoint a deputy to take those financial decisions the person cannot make themselves.
The government's website provides details on how to apply to the Court of Protection.
Please see our page on Deprivation of Liberty for more information on the rights of people to make their own choices about going into hospital or a care home.
You can read the Mental Capacity Act in full on the government's main website.
The website also provides leaflets about the Mental Capacity Act in a variety of different languages, and an easy-read leaflet which might be more suitable for people with a learning disability, dementia or another mental impairment.
The Office of the Public Guardian have provided an easy-read leaflet called Making Decisions - The Mental Capacity Act.
The Alzheimers Society provide a guide on the Mental Capacity Act, including an audio version.
And they have produced a Dementia-friendly Financial Services Charter which promotes the rights of people with dementia, and aims to ensure that providers of independent financial services do not take advantage of them and / or sell them products which they do not need.
Mencap provide information on the right to make a decision for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
Mind provide an independent summary of everything related to the Mental Capacity Act for people with mental health problems.
The Independent Age website have produced a fact-sheet called 'Managing my affairs if I become ill' which includes information on mental capacity.
Carers UK provide information on mental capacity for carers.