This guidance provides a framework to help doctors to make decisions with their patient about their treatment and care. By following it, it will help doctors make sure they have informed consent from their patients. And that they involve families and others when it’s appropriate. It has advice on: what to tell a patient when talking about risks; what to do if a patient doesn’t want to hear information that may be relevant; when to obtain written consent; what needs to be recorded. The guidance will also help doctors when their patients lack capacity (Part 3). It includes a list of things they should consider and has advice on dealing with disagreements.

This interactive tool will help health professionals decide what to do when in doubt about their patient’s capacity to make decisions about their care. The advice is based on the principles in BMA guidance ‘Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together’ and ‘Treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision-making’.

This document sets out to define the process that professionals should follow when making judgements about a person’s capacity to consent to medical treatment.

This factsheet explains how advance decisions and advance statements work,
and what they can and cannot do. It also provides practical advice to help
draft an advance decision.

Findings from a study to gather information from people who have experienced Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) decision making, both since and prior to the Coronavirus pandemic. The report shows a worrying picture around the rights of involvement in care and treatment decisions, including DNARs. The evidence depicts serious issues of discrimination related to disability and age, and the intersection between the two, as well as other factors. Coronavirus has shone a spotlight on this, and some reported an increase in worrying DNAR decisions; but none of this is new, these problems are ongoing. The report’s key findings are: 100% of people involved said there needs to be more easily accessible information about human rights; almost 60% of people involved said they had received no information about their right to life during Coronavirus; 65% of people involved said that they (or a person they care for/about) had a DNAR order put on your medical file. 21% said they didn’t know; of those who had seen a DNAR order put in place almost half (47%) were not related to end-of-life care; less than a third of people (29%) who were involved in DNAR decision-making felt fully listened to, most felt listened to a bit (46%), and 25% felt not listened to; 91% of people involved felt that discrimination was an issue in the DNAR decisions they’d experienced.

This toolkit provides practical guidance to assist doctors in making decisions in the best interests of adults who lack capacity in England and Wales. It sets out an overview of the law; outlines a clear decision-making process to follow; and provides detailed practical advice as to who doctors should consult and the information they need in reaching a decision.

This toolkit acts as a prompt to doctors when they are providing care and treatment for people who lack, or who may lack, the mental capacity to make decisions on their own behalf.

This factsheet explains what advance decisions to refuse treatment (‘living will’) and advance statements are, why individuals might want to prepare one or both of them, requirements for drawing them up, and ways to ensure other people know they exist.

This resource explains different aspects of planning ahead for people who have dementia (‘advance care planning’). Sections cover: what is an advance statement; why should I consider making an advance decision or advance statement; will the doctor have to follow my advance decision or advance statement; what an advance decision cannot do; how to make an advance decision; frequently asked questions.

Examines the practical implications of the dual legislative regime governing involuntary treatment and how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983 interface. Whilst the MCA is concerned with individuals who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves, and legal protection for their carers/care workers, the MHA is concerned with minimising the undesirable effects of mental disorder by maximising patient safety and wellbeing and by protecting other people from harm.

This form is to be used where it would be usual to seek written consent but an adult patient (16 or over) lacks capacity to give or withhold consent to treatment.

Consent form for examination, care, treatment or support.