Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act was established in 2005 and is designed to protect and empower individuals who may lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. Examples of people who may lack capacity include people with learning disabilities, dementia, a brain injury or people who are unconscious. Capacity assessment is decision- and time-specific. It can cover decisions about day-to-day questions like what to wear or what to buy for the weekly shop, or serious life-changing decisions like whether to move into a care home or have major surgery.