Capacity: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
*Capacity | *Capacity is the ability to understand the nature and effect of one’s acts | ||
**May have capacity in one moment and lack capacity in another | **May have capacity in one moment and lack capacity in another | ||
**Does the patient have the ability to understand the nature and effect of his or her acts in a specific moment in time? | **Does the patient have the ability to understand the nature and effect of his or her acts in a specific moment in time? | ||
*The level of capacity needed to enter into legal documents, such as a durable power of attorney, contract, or a will, differs based upon the type of transaction | *The level of capacity needed to enter into legal documents, such as a durable power of attorney, contract, or a will, differs based upon the type of transaction | ||
*Use to consent to medical procedures | *Use to consent to medical procedures | ||
*[[Mini mental status exam]] (MMSE) <19 are correlated with lack of capacity | *[[Mini mental status exam]] (MMSE) <19 are correlated with lack of capacity | ||
Revision as of 11:16, 5 July 2015
Background
- Capacity is the ability to understand the nature and effect of one’s acts
- May have capacity in one moment and lack capacity in another
- Does the patient have the ability to understand the nature and effect of his or her acts in a specific moment in time?
- The level of capacity needed to enter into legal documents, such as a durable power of attorney, contract, or a will, differs based upon the type of transaction
- Use to consent to medical procedures
- Mini mental status exam (MMSE) <19 are correlated with lack of capacity
Application
- Medical Consent: Does the patient have the ability to:
- Communicate
- Understand the medical procedure
- Understand a description of the procedure, its risks, its benefits, and its alternatives?
- Voluntarily consent?
- Give consent because he or she is competent?