Question

A 68 year old woman with known vascular dementia is admitted with urosepsis. She is disorientated in time and place and is unable to understand information about proposed treatment. You are asked to decide whether she has capacity to consent to intravenous antibiotics. According to the Mental Capacity Act, which is the correct approach?

Accepted Answer

Assess capacity using a two stage test: first whether there is an impairment of mind or brain, and second whether she can understand, retain, weigh and communicate a decision about this specific issue

Answer

Assume she lacks capacity because she has dementia

Answer

Ask her family to give consent on her behalf

Answer

Seek a court order for all decisions regarding her care

Answer

Use a standardised cognitive test alone to decide capacity

Practice question