Protocol for the Assessment of Patient Capacity to Make End-of-Life Treatment Decisions

Patients' right to decide what happens to their bodies, especially around the end of life, is enshrined in legislation across the world, but questions often arise about whether a patient is capable of meaningfully participating in such decisions. Because of uncertainties about capacity, care providers and administrative agencies often must decide whether to honor, or even to elicit, patients' wishes. General decision-making capacity has been well studied, but few clear protocols exist for ascertaining capacity at the end of life.

Source: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association - December 26, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Richard B. Stuart, Stephen Thielke Tags: Special Article Source Type: research