Implications of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 on advance care planning at the end of life

Foster, Julie and Turner, Mary (2007) Implications of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 on advance care planning at the end of life. Nursing Standard, 22 (2). pp. 35-39. ISSN 0029-6570

Abstract

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is concerned with decisions that are made on behalf of adults who lack the capacity to make those decisions for themselves. It has profound implications for decision making in end-of-life care. This article explores some of the issues raised by this legislation and highlights the need for health and social care professionals who are engaged in providing end-of-life care to understand their legal duty in relation to the act.