Decision-Making and Capacity

Guide for Assessing Medical Decision‐Making Capacity

The patient with decision-making capacity is the appropriate decision-maker unless the patient has delegated that authority to another.

Determining the Appropriate Decision-Maker

Decision-making capacity will be determined by the primary physician or supervising health care provider unless the patient has directed that another make that determination in a written advance directive. Capacity may vary and the patient may have capacity for some decisions and not for others. Patients should be allowed to make as many of the health care decisions as possible.