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Competency and use of the Mental Health Act — a matrix to aid decision-making

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The Park Hospital for Children, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX5 7LQ

Martin Elphick, Consultant Psychiatrist

The Elms Clinic, Oxford

Abstract

AIMS AND METHOD

Competence in patients with mental illness is an issue of growing importance. We present a matrix that provides a new tool to separate the elements involved.

RESULTS

This matrix is compatible with, and makes explicit, the Richardson Committee's suggestions concerning the incorporation of a test of capacity in Mental Health Act assessments.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We suggest that use of this matrix may offer practical help to clinicians in arriving at a clear understanding of each clinical situation and guide good practice in the use of the Mental Health Act, particularly in problematic cases.