Confidentiality in Mental Health
LO1:Understanding how principles of support are implemented in health & social care practice.
Principles of Health & Social Care in Mental Health
The Act is underpinned by five key principles (Section 1, MCA)
Principle 1: A presumption of capacity – every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so unless it is proved otherwise. This means that you cannot assume that someone cannot make a decision for themselves just because they have a particular medical condition or disability.
Principle 2: Individuals being supported to make their own decisions – a person must be given all practicable help before anyone treats them as not being able to make their own decisions. This means you should make every effort to encourage and support people to make the decision for themselves. If lack of capacity is established, it is still important that you involve the person as far as possible in making decisions.
Principle 3: Unwise decisions – people have the right to make decisions that others might regard as unwise or eccentric. You cannot treat someone as lacking capacity for this reason. Everyone has their own values, beliefs and preferences which may not be the same as those of other people.
Principle 4: Best interests – anything done for or on behalf of a person who lacks mental capacity must be done in their best interests.
Principle 5: Less restrictive option – someone making a decision or acting on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must consider whether it is possible to decide or act in a way that would interfere less with the person’s rights and freedoms of action, or whether there is a need to decide or act at all. Any intervention should be weighed up in the particular circumstances of the case. Social Care for Excellence (2009)
Confidentiality in Mental Health
Confidentiality has become one of my values because it is important for me to be aware of how I handle confidential information.
Principles of Health & Social Care in Mental Health
The Act is underpinned by five key principles (Section 1, MCA)
Principle 1: A presumption of capacity – every adult has the right to make his or her own decisions and must be assumed to have capacity to do so unless it is proved otherwise. This means that you cannot assume that someone cannot make a decision for themselves just because they have a particular medical condition or disability.
Principle 2: Individuals being supported to make their own decisions – a person must be given all practicable help before anyone treats them as not being able to make their own decisions. This means you should make every effort to encourage and support people to make the decision for themselves. If lack of capacity is established, it is still important that you involve the person as far as possible in making decisions.
Principle 3: Unwise decisions – people have the right to make decisions that others might regard as unwise or eccentric. You cannot treat someone as lacking capacity for this reason. Everyone has their own values, beliefs and preferences which may not be the same as those of other people.
Principle 4: Best interests – anything done for or on behalf of a person who lacks mental capacity must be done in their best interests.
Principle 5: Less restrictive option – someone making a decision or acting on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must consider whether it is possible to decide or act in a way that would interfere less with the person’s rights and freedoms of action, or whether there is a need to decide or act at all. Any intervention should be weighed up in the particular circumstances of the case. Social Care for Excellence (2009)
Confidentiality in Mental Health
Confidentiality has become one of my values because it is important for me to be aware of how I handle confidential information.
Bibliography: British Geriatrics Society (2011) Mental Capacity [online] United Kingdom London available from www.bgs.org.uk [last accessed] 3 January 2012 Communitycare.co.uk (2008) Mental Health Act 1983 and 2007 [online] London available from www.communitycare.co.uk [last accessed] 3 January 2012 Health Affairs (2012) Mental Disorder Diagnostic Theory and Practical Reality: An Evolutionary Perspective [online] London available from www.content.healthaffairs.org [last accessed] 3 January 2012 Social Care Institute for Excellence (2009) Mental Capacity Act 2005. 5 key principles [online] London available from www.scie.org.uk [last accessed] 3 January 2012