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Mental capacity: legislation and medical treatment decisions in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Vincent IO Agyapong  and
Margo Wrigley
Vincent IO Agyapong*
Affiliation:
St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland
Margo Wrigley
Affiliation:
Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland
*
*Correspondence israelhans@hotmail.com
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Abstract

This paper examines mental capacity legislation in Ireland and its implications for medical treatment decisions for people whose capacities are believed to be impaired. It draws on inferences from case laws and legislations in other jurisdictions and concludes that there is an urgent need for the enactment of appropriate mental capacity legislation in Ireland.

Keywords

Mental capacityLegislationCommon LawActHealthTreatment
Type
Reviews
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 37 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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