C1Part 1Persons who lack capacity

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Preliminary

5Acts in connection with care or treatment

1

If a person (“D”) does an act in connection with the care or treatment of another person (“P”), the act is one to which this section applies if—

a

before doing the act, D takes reasonable steps to establish whether P lacks capacity in relation to the matter in question, and

b

when doing the act, D reasonably believes—

i

that P lacks capacity in relation to the matter, and

ii

that it will be in P's best interests for the act to be done.

2

D does not incur any liability in relation to the act that he would not have incurred if P—

a

had had capacity to consent in relation to the matter, and

b

had consented to D's doing the act.

3

Nothing in this section excludes a person's civil liability for loss or damage, or his criminal liability, resulting from his negligence in doing the act.

4

Nothing in this section affects the operation of sections 24 to 26 (advance decisions to refuse treatment).