What is a capacity assessment, and who can perform it?

• A. A financial capacity assessment conducted by financial planners.
• B. Evaluation of a patient's ability to understand risks, benefits, and consequences of decisions, performed by clinicians such as physicians, psychiatrists, or psychologists.
• C. A general nursing check of decision-making ability.
• D. An administrative review of consent forms.

Answer: (B)

A capacity assessment is a clinical judgment about whether a person can understand information, appreciate the consequences of decisions, reason about options, and communicate a choice. It is task- and time-specific, and it is conducted by qualified clinicians such as physicians, psychiatrists, or psychologists who have training in evaluating decision-making ability. This concept centers on the patient’s ability to grasp risks, benefits, and consequences of a decision and to explain their choice.

It isn’t a financial capacity evaluation done by financial planners, a general nursing check, or an administrative review of consent forms, which are not formal assessments of the patient’s decision-making capacity. Also, note that capacity is distinct from legal competence, which is a determination made by a court. If capacity is lacking, decisions may be made by an legally authorized surrogate.