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Helping people with learning disabilities exercise their right to autonomy

Helen Taylor Senior lecturer in health law, University of Worcester

This article aims to give readers an overview of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its role in supporting the right to autonomy of people who, because of their disability, may unreasonably and unjustifiably be excluded from decisions with which they should and can be involved. The article also considers situations in which people need support in making decisions and how such support can be given. Finally, it outlines the principles to be followed when making a decision on behalf of a person who lacks capacity.

Learning Disability Practice. 17, 7, 32-37. doi: 10.7748/ldp.17.7.32.e1567

Correspondence

h.taylor@worc.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Accepted: 07 March 2014

Keywords :

Mental Capacity Act 2005 - intellectual disabilities - intellectual disability - learning disabilities - learning disability - ethics - mental capacity - law - legislation - mental health - decision-making - decision-making process - shared decision-making