The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is the legal framework that governs how decisions should be made on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make them independently. It applies to health, welfare, property, and financial decisions, and underpins the use of Lasting Powers of Attorney, Advance Decisions, and the role of the Court of Protection.
Legal Reference
The Act applies in England and Wales and establishes key principles such as assuming capacity unless proven otherwise, acting in a person’s best interests, and choosing the least restrictive option. The Act introduced the Office of the Public Guardian and regulates how attorneys and deputies operate.
Sources
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_Capacity_Act_2005
Wikidata – https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q314816
Knowledge Graph – https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0285cry
Legislation.gov.uk – https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9
DBpedia – http://dbpedia.org/resource/Mental_Capacity_Act_2005
Product Ontology – http://www.productontology.org/id/Mental_Capacity_Act_2005