The assessment of decisional capacity

Neurol Clin. 2011 Feb;29(1):115-26, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2010.10.001.

Abstract

The physician must explain the treatment or procedure in detail including risks, benefits, and alternative options; the patient's choice must be voluntary; the patient must demonstrate his or her ability to understand the risks and benefits of their choice; and the patient must be able to manipulate information in a logical way. These criteria must be met in order for the process of informed consent to be valid.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Akinetic Mutism / diagnosis
  • Akinetic Mutism / therapy
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Disclosure
  • Ethics, Medical
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent / psychology*
  • Male
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Physicians / psychology*
  • Risk Assessment*