Assessing Mental Competency in Patients
Introduction
Assessing mental competency in patients requires a thorough evaluation of their mental and physical health, and healthcare professionals must consider the ethical implications of making decisions for their patients. This essay will go through the factors to consider when determining a patient’s mental capacity, as well as how decisions made by patients may be impacted if they don’t seem to make sense. It will also examine the ethical implications of assessing mental competency and how healthcare professionals can best support their patients in making decisions.
Components to Consider While Evaluating Patients’ Mental Competence
When assessing mental competency in patients, there are several elements to consider. First, the patient’s ability to understand the purpose and consequences of the decision must be assessed. This involves their comprehension of the decision’s hazards and advantages as well as their capacity to recognize the decision’s personal aspect (Busch et al., 2019). Second, the patient should be able to communicate their decision. This includes the ability to communicate in a clear and understandable manner about their understanding of the decision they are making. Third, the patient must have the ability to reason and make judgments. This includes the ability to reason logically, take into account relevant facts, and the ability to make informed decisions. Finally, the patient must have the capacity to act on their decisions. This includes the ability to carry out their decisions in a manner that is consistent with the decision that has been made.
Consequences of the Patient’s Choice in Circumstances Where It Doesn’t Seem To Make Sense
In situations where the decision made by a patient does not appear to make sense, the health professional needs to take the time to discuss the options with the patient and to ensure that they understand the potential risks and benefits of their decision. It is vital to ensure that the patient is not influenced by family, friends, or other external factors that could compromise their ability to make an informed decision (Bonner et al., 2021). Additionally, the health professional should provide additional resources and services that could help the patient make a more informed and appropriate decision.
Conclusion
Assessing mental competency in patients is an important responsibility for healthcare professionals. It is essential to consider the elements that must be assessed to evaluate a patient’s mental capacity and ability to make informed decisions. Also, it is critical to comprehend how a patient’s decision can be impacted when it does not seem to make sense and to take the appropriate precautions to guarantee that the patient makes judgments with a full comprehension of the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
References
Bonner, C., Trevena, L. J., Gaissmaier, W., Han, P. K. J., Okan, Y., Ozanne, E., Peters, E., Timmermans, D., & Zikmund-Fisher, B. J. (2021). Current Best Practice for Presenting Probabilities in Patient Decision Aids: Fundamental Principles. Medical Decision Making, 41(7), 821–833. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272989×21996328
Busch, I. M., Moretti, F., Travaini, G., Wu, A. W., & Rimondini, M. (2019). Humanization of Care: Key Elements Identified by Patients, Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers. A Systematic Review. The Patient – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-019-00370-1
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Question 
Discuss the elements to use when assessing mental competency in patients.
Assessing Mental Competency in Patients
How could a patient’s decision be affected in situations where the decisions do not appear to make sense?