Assessment of Decision-Making Capacity

Decision-making capacity (rather than “competence,” a legal term) is the ability to make decisions about one’s own medical care. Having decision-making capacity rests on the patient’s understanding their healthcare options and choosing an option consistent with their stable value system. Capacity is decision relative, meaning that the criteria to have decisional capacity depend on the complexity of the decision and the seriousness of possible outcomes. Individuals can have fluctuating decision-making capacity.