Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Ganzini, L. Articles by Derse, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Ganzini, L. Articles by Derse, A. Geriatric Psychiatry

Pitfalls in Assessment of Decision-Making Capacity

Received May 15, 2002; revision received Oct. 2, 2002; accepted Oct. 14, 2002. From the Mental Health Division, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC); the Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University; the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, E.N. Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, Mass.; the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Ethics in Health Care, New York; and the Center for the Study of Bioethics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Address reprint requests to Dr. Ganzini, P3MHDC, Mental Health Division, Portland VAMC, P.O. Box 1034, Portland, OR 97207; ganzinil{at}ohsu.edu (e-mail).

A total of 395 consultation-liaison psychiatrists, geriatricians, and geriatric psychologists responded to a survey that asked them to rate the frequency and importance to clinical care of 23 potential pitfalls and misunderstandings by clinicians who refer patients for assessment of decision-making capacity. Respondents also indicated which pitfalls were the most important to address in educating health care professionals. Overall, 22 of 23 pitfalls were rated as common by more than half of the respondents. Thirty-six percent of the respondents indicated that the most important pitfall to address in educating health care professionals was the tendency for health care practitioners to assume that a patient who lacks capacity for one type of medical decision also lacks capacity for all medical decisions. The results suggest that additional education is needed to improve clinicians' ability to evaluate patients' decision-making capacity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Moye, S. W. Butz, D. C. Marson, E. Wood, and the ABA APA Capacity Assessment of Older Adults Wo A Conceptual Model and Assessment Template for Capacity Evaluation in Adult Guardianship Gerontologist, October 1, 2007; 47(5): 591 - 603. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. White-Bateman, H. C. Schumacher, R. L. Sacco, and P. S. Appelbaum Consent for Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Stroke: Review and Future Directions Arch Neurol, June 1, 2007; 64(6): 785 - 792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Moye and D. C. Marson Assessment of Decision-Making Capacity in Older Adults: An Emerging Area of Practice and Research J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2007; 62(1): P3 - P11. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Gurrera, J. Moye, M. J. Karel, A. R. Azar, and J. C. Armesto Cognitive performance predicts treatment decisional abilities in mild to moderate dementia Neurology, May 9, 2006; 66(9): 1367 - 1372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. V Jeste, C. A Depp, and B. W Palmer Magnitude of Impairment in Decisional Capacity in People With Schizophrenia Compared to Normal Subjects: An Overview Schizophr Bull, January 1, 2006; 32(1): 121 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2003 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us