Decision-Making Capacity

Abstract

Many diagnostic and treatment options are available in medicine. Determining whether these interventions support a patient’s values or goals requires patient participation in the decision-making. This is the process of informed consent. Decision-making capacity is the patient’s ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of health care treatment decisions. Demonstrating medical decision-making capacity is a required element in the process of informed consent. In this chapter, we will discuss the process of determining decision-making capacity and factors that may influence a patient’s medical decision-making capacity, including “pseudo-incapacity.”.