How does a general practitioner assess capacity of their patient during an appointment? Do they ask them questions about who they are and where they are? Test their memory? Ask them questions about their personality e.g. hobbies etc? Please feel free to explain in more depth as I lack the experie…

I suggest you have a look at this resource about the Mental Capacity Act. [image] Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Information, guidance, and accredited training for care and health staff to support, protect and empower people who may lack capacity.

GP will ask,some questions regarding their physical health,the patient”s views,the patient”s understanding of the information given by the GP,the recall of the information given,the informed decision regarding their treatment/investigations etc,is the patient able to know the consequences of their d…

Ok thank you Sarada. This is a dialogue between a GP and a patient about capacity based on what you have written - if you have time please feel free to read below and answer my question at the end. For example: GP: How are you feeling physically today? Patient: I’m feeling fine apart from this h…

How you go about it will depend on what decision you are concerned about them not being able to make an informed decision thus the question of capacity arising. Remember the starting point is presumption of capacity.

My question is directly linked to whether a GP can register a patient into the mental health act process e.g. an assessment without their consent even if it is clear they have capacity to disagree?

Yes,if the GP thinks there are risks to the patient/family/public etc.

Thanks Sarada. Three more questions. Before the GP can bypass a patient’s consent - must they by law have clear proof that the patient is a risk to themselves or others? Also What type of risk behaviours are GPs looking at when bypassing a patient’s consent? And If the GP has seen signs of a ri…

The important thing is is patient Suicidal,is patient has delusions of harming others/harming themselves,is the patient carrying knives/weapons,has the patient already threatened the public etc.

I would imagine no patient will directly say they have any intention to hurt themselves or others. The physician must have to ask them direct questions about their feelings and thoughts related to their mental health in order to attain the necessary information to put them through an assessment - a…

The Mental Health Act is not capacity-based. A GP (or others) can make a referral for a Mental Health Act assessment if in their professional opinion there is risk to the person’s health, or safety, or others may be at risk (and that this is caused by a mental disorder). This can be done with or wit…

How does an GP assess capacity of a patient?

Law and practice Mental Health Act

SteveC (Steve Chamberlain) 27 January 2024 23:41 2

I suggest you have a look at this resource about the Mental Capacity Act.