Intensive Care Consultants and their obligation from the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015

Area of Science:

• Medical Law
• Healthcare Compliance
• Patient Rights

Background:

• The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 governs decision-making for individuals lacking capacity.
• Intensive care settings present complex scenarios for applying this legislation.
• Understanding healthcare professionals' awareness is vital for effective implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Intensive Care Consultants' knowledge of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
• To evaluate preparedness for legal obligations concerning patient decision-making in intensive care.
• To identify gaps in understanding and training needs.

Main Methods:

• Review of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015.
• Development and distribution of a binary-response questionnaire to Intensive Care Consultants.
• Anonymous online survey collection and qualitative analysis of responses.

Main Results:

• Only 35% of surveyed ICU physicians completed the questionnaire.
• A majority (86%) were aware of the Act, but only 64% could identify a 'relevant person'.
• Crucially, 0% could identify all statutory criteria for decision-making capacity, and only 26% reported changing their practice.

Conclusions:

• Significant deficits in knowledge and preparedness regarding the Act were observed among Intensive Care Consultants.
• Lack of training and understanding poses risks of non-compliance and legal liability.
• Urgent need for comprehensive training to ensure adherence to the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is highlighted.