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Understanding mental capacity
Understanding mental capacity

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1.1 Three points about mental capacity

The following three points about mental capacity are particularly important and form the basis of this course:

  • Mental capacity is a matter that relates to everyone, not just people with a disability or mental impairment.
  • Mental capacity depends on the ability of the person and can change with time.
  • Mental capacity, or the extent to which a person may lack it, involves an assessment and judgement of their ability to make a particular decision.

For the rest of this week you will consider the first two points.