Best interest assessment
A professional may be appointed when an important decision needs to be made about a person who has:
- lost capacity to make decisions for themselves
- no lasting power of attorney in place
- no relatives or friends willing to act as a deputy
The professional could be:
- a social worker
- a doctor
- someone else who is responsible for the person's day-to-day care
The professional carries out a ‘best interest assessment’.
They are required to work through a checklist and to consult as widely as practical with people who know the person and their situation.
Their aims are to:
- determine what the person's wishes would have been if they had not lost capacity
- achieve the best possible outcome for the person
For more detailed information, see: Mind website - Mental Capacity Act 2005.
