How do you assess decision-making capacity in a patient facing a medical treatment decision?

How do you assess decision-making capacity in a patient facing a medical treatment decision?

• A. Evaluate understanding of information, appreciation of consequences, ability to reason about options, and ability to communicate a choice; capacity is task-specific and may be supported or aided; involve surrogates if lacking.
• B. Capacity is a global, unchangeable trait.
• C. Patient must understand everything perfectly.
• D. Capacity equals legal competency.

Answer: (A)