To have capacity means that you understand the implications of the decisions you make regarding your health care treatment. If you have capacity you:

• Understand the facts involved

• Understand the choices

• Are able to weigh up the consequences of the choices

• Understand how the consequences affect you

• Can communicate your decisions

If there is doubt about capacity a Doctor is required to confirm this.

Where a person does not have capacity, such as individuals with severe acquired brain injury, advanced dementia or people born with an intellectual disability, health care professionals look to a substitute decision maker to make decisions on their behalf.