Accessibility Statement
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Birmingham Connect to Support

Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) helps people aged 16 years and over who lack mental capacity, and those who take decisions on their behalf.

It clarifies:

  • Aspects of common law relating to capacity and consent
  • Who can take decisions
  • How they should go about this

It affects anyone who has contact with people who lack capacity, for example, due to a learning disability, stroke, illness, mental disorder, effects of drugs or alcohol or brain injury, and also enables people to plan for a time when they may lose capacity.

It is important to remember that these conditions do not in themselves mean that a person lacks the capacity to make a particular decision.

The Mental Capacity Act is underpinned by five statutory principles:

  • A presumption of capacity – Every adult has the right to make their own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so, unless it is established that they lack capacity.
  • Individuals being supported to make their own decisions – A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him or her to do so have been taken without success.
  • Unwise decisions – A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because he or she makes an unwise decision.
  • Best interests – An act done or decision made under this Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in their best interests.
  • Least restrictive option – Anything done for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity should be the least restrictive of their rights and freedom of action.
Last updated: 6/22/2020

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