Important legal principles of consent and mental capacity

Important legal principles of consent and mental capacity
Iwan Dowie
British Journal of Community Nursing, 4 July 2024
Abstract
Consent is an essential part of healthcare practice, allowing patients to make autonomous decisions. However, this changes when a patient has mental incapacity or is unable to make decisions for themselves for a duration of time. This month’s Policy column looks at some of the key principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and how this can be applied in community nursing practice.