Dr. Stephen Weatherhead says, that the implementation of the mental capacity act by health and social care professionals often is insufficient.
He supervised, research conducted by Irram Waji is published in the journal of social care and Neurodisability. Research shows gaps in training and misunderstandings in the implementation of the complexities of the law.
Stephen said: "with an ageing population and more people survive serious physical injury, this law seems almost everyone at some point." "Whether Alzheimer's disease, autism or brain are injuries, people the mental capacity to decide where you live or whether hospital treatment is missing."
He said that professionals often varied between help to empower or to be too restrictive, if decisions.
"For example, if a lady with Alzheimer's, says she wants to leave, if she actually four grandchildren, what to do about their two grandchildren? This lady had forgotten the other two so somebody has to help you make this decision."
He said, specialized training is required to ensure that our experts know the subtle provisions of the Act.
"We need to go further than just made sure know and trust;" We must also ensure that the people know and sure apply confidence and uphold the principles of empowerment, on which the law was founded."