Journal of Disability and Oral Health
- Cover Date:
- March 2010
- Print ISSN:
- 1470-8558
- Vol:
- 11
- Issue:
- 1
The Mental Capacity Act 2005: implementation within Special Care Dental services
There are certain patient groups within Special Care Dentistry for whom the Mental Capacity Act 2005 will have particular relevance. Once the principles and legal implications of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) have been understood, the dental team must apply and integrate these principles into their patient assessment and oral health care plans. Implementation of the Act will involve raising awareness amongst patients, family, friends and others who provide care for vulnerable adults. Factors that may affect capacity are discussed including how they may impact on the delivery of oral healthcare, and some of the challenges which clinicians may face in assessing capacity. The importance of the Capacity Test and the Best Interest Checklist, along with their documentation is discussed. The role of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service (IMCAS) and the situations when they may be required are outlined, with particular reference to what may be defined as serious medical treatment within the context of special care dentistry.
Key words: Mental Capacity Act, Code of Practice, documentation, implementation, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service (IMCAS)
- Article Price
- £15.00
- Institution Article Price
- £
- Page Start
- 25
- Page End
- 31
- Authors
- A Kaul, D Mudie, S Berman
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