A 78-year-old woman with moderate Alzheimer's disease is admitted with pneumonia. She is pleasantly confused and not oriented to time or place. Her so...

Question

A 78-year-old woman with moderate Alzheimer's disease is admitted with pneumonia. She is pleasantly confused and not oriented to time or place. Her son asks whether she can consent to a change in code status. According to Canadian capacity and consent principles, which statement is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Capacity is decision-specific; assess whether she understands the nature and consequences of the specific decision

Answer

Patients with dementia are automatically incapable of making any decisions

Answer

Only family members can decide for any patient over 75

Answer

Capacity is determined solely by Mini-Mental State Examination score

Answer

Physicians should make all decisions without involving patient or family

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Decision-making capacity in dementia