Making decisions : helping people who have difficulty deciding for themselves : a guide for legal practitioners.

  • Great Britain. Lord Chancellor's Department.
Date:
2003
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Making decisions : helping people who have difficulty deciding for themselves : a guide for legal practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    22/40 (page 20)
    » to confirm that the person lacks capacity to consent to medical treatment » that the proposed treatment is in the person’s best interests » that health professionals would not be acting unlawfully if they carried out the proposed treatment » whether the person should have certain types of irreversible medical treatment, such as sterilisation for contraception purposes; or » whether the person should have certain medical treatment withdrawn, such as artificial nutrition and hydration from someone in a permanent vegetative state. The Court can also make a declaration on the following personal welfare matters: >» where the person should live, for example with particular family members or in residential or nursing home care » whether the person should have contact with other family members, for example after the family has been split by divorce; or » where there is serious uncertainty as to the patient’s best interests or Capacity to consent. In health or welfare cases where the person lacks capacity to be able to instruct their own solicitor, the Official Solicitor will usually be appointed to act on the person’s behalf.