The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is designed to protect and empower people who may lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. It applies to people aged 16 and over.
It covers decisions about day-to-day things, like what to wear or what to buy for the weekly shop, or serious life-changing decisions.
In this episode of Safeguarding Matters, Laura Thorpe talks to ACT's safeguarding adults lead Lisa Curtis about the MCA. They talk about the key principles of the act, and who it applies to. They also discuss more detailed aspects of the MCA, such as lasting powers of attorney and the need for the "least restrictive" option in every decision.