Decision Making
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Memory
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Learning
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What is a decision making capacity assessment?
A decision making capacity assessment (also known as a mental capacity assessment) is a neuropsychological evaluation used to determine a person’s ability to make logical, informed and reasonable decisions. These assessments may also identify impairments linked to conditions such as dementia, intellectual disability, illness or brain injury that may affect a person’s decision making ability.
These assessments play an important role in legal and medical settings by determining whether someone can make decisions independently or if they may require a legal guardian or litigation guardian. Common areas include assessments to test legal and financial capacity, cognitive function after brain injury, and specific tests for testamentary capacity.
At Invictus Health, our experienced neuropsychologists provide decision making capacity assessments for the medico legal industry, including tribunals and other legal matters. Whether you require a dementia-related decision making test, financial decision making assessment or a formal medico legal report, we offer services across Melbourne, Tasmania and throughout Australia. Enquire now or book an appointment today.
Advanced Investigative Skills
Our clinical medico legal neuropsychologists have advanced skills in investigating and understanding the cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects of your brain. We provide you with highly informative, accurate, and detailed information about assessments of cognitive capacity - all outlined in a comprehensive capacity assessment medico legal report.
Variety of Disorders
Whether you’re experiencing difficulties with memory, mood, attention, language, reading, problem solving, decision-making or in other areas of neuropsychological health, we offer you a wealth of experience and knowledge in assessment of decision making capacity.
Tailored Decision Making Capacity Assessments
Depending on the requirements of the specific tribunal or government body, we’re able to tailor a comprehensive decision making capacity assessment and medico legal report for you, ensuring it meets the relevant requirements and regulations.
What does a mental capacity assessment involve?
Generally, decision making and mental capacity assessments involve a series of questions and cognitive tests that evaluate how well a person can make a reasonable and informed decision.
The main areas that mental capacity assessments review include the individual’s ability to:
- Understand relevant information provided
- Retain information and problem-solve
- Be able to coherently and logically communicate their decisions with reasoning
When should decision making capacity be assessed?
Decision making capacity assessments should be carried out when there is a question of whether an individual lacks the capacity to make informed and reasonable decisions, particularly in situations where legal capacity is in question or decisions may significantly affect their lifestyle.
Some situations where a decision making capacity assessment may be needed include:
- The individual continues to make ill-informed decisions that negatively impact their quality of life
- The individual experiences difficulty in remembering events, especially recent occurrences, which may signal changes in cognitive function
- The individual feels confused very often and experiences dramatic mood swings
- The individual is diagnosed with an illness, condition or dementia that may affect their ability to make reasonable and informed decisions
Demonstrating capacity for courts & legal proceedings
If you’re involved in court proceedings or a legal process such as those held by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), and need to demonstrate decision making capacity in a civil or criminal context, our expert team of medico legal psychologists can assist
At Invictus Health, our decision making capacity assessments help evaluate an individual’s ability to:
- Make financial, medical, lifestyle or personal decisions
- Appoint an enduring Power of Attorney
- Appoint a Medical Treatment Decision Maker
- Participate in court matters or legal proceedings without requiring a legal guardian
- Make or update a will (testamentary capacity assessment)
Our assessments can also be used in other situations where a legal or medical demonstration of capacity is required, including where dementia or cognitive decline may be involved. All assessments are tailored to meet the relevant legal guidelines and reporting requirements.
What are decision making capacity assessments dependent upon?
The specific questions and cognitive tests carried out in decision making capacity assessments depend upon each individual’s situation. Therefore each capacity assessment and medico legal report we provide will vary on a case-by-case basis.
Some of the factors that are considered include:
- The specific referral questions
- Any questions you or your doctor may have
- Any specific health complaints
- Any reported symptoms
- Observations made by your Clinical Neuropsychologist
Additional considerations we address to strengthen your legal case
Ensuring a deeper level analysis is key in dealing with state tribunals and other legal proceedings. When it comes to a particular event, we’ll factor in a number of environmental circumstances, strengthening your case as much as possible.
Additional areas we consider with our decision making capacity assessments to strengthen your legal case include:
- Time of day
- Location
- Noise levels
- Other parties present
- Levels of stress or anxiety
- Medication
- Infection
- Presence of drugs or alcohol
For more information on our capacity assessments, get in touch with the expert team of medico legal psychologists at Invictus Health today – we offer our tailored decision making capacity assessments in Melbourne, Tasmania and all across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although we can’t tell you exactly what will be asked, we can say that the assessment includes two sections. The first is the interview stage, where you and the Neuropsychologist will discuss topics of interest. The second is the ‘pen and paper’ stage where the cognitive testing happens.
During the interview stage of the assessment the Neuropsychologist will gear some of the questions towards the specific decision-making capacity topic of interest. These questions help our Neuropsychologist make sure the assessee can comprehend and retain the information relevant to the topic, and is able to make decisions without putting themselves or people around them at risk. The standard test forms used may also differ to suit the needs of the assessee.
Decision-making capacity is used to assist an individual in making decisions to improve their quality of life, and is not to be used to inhibit someone’s ability to make choices within their lives. A person’s capacity to make a decision is ‘decision-specific’. If someone is identified as unable to make some decisions, it does not mean they are unable to make all decisions. The results of a decision-making capacity assessment can vary from allowing a person to regain financial independence to recommendations for future planning and implementing surrounding supports.
Consistent, standardised testing
The formal neuropsychological assessment you’ll undergo with Invictus Health is fully standardised, so it is administered in a consistent manner for all patients and scored using a consistent approach each, and every time.
Secure data collection & storage
You can rest assured that the data that is collected on you is done so in a responsible and ethical manner, and that such data is only kept on file in situations where it is absolutely necessary.
Regular professional development
Our team undergoes continuous learning and mentoring, ensuring best practice across all modalities and areas of neuropsychology, with ongoing professional development undertaken and strict adherence to APS Guidelines maintained.
In good hands
Led by Dr Judy Tang, with over 10 years of neuropsychological experience, Dr Tang has covered all aspects of law and court proceedings in her career.
Your personalised assessment will be reviewed in detail by Dr Tang personally, ensuring all details are correct and presented in accordance with all relevant requirements and regulations, including:
- Australian Psychology Society (APS) guidelines
- The Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
- The Health Records Act 2001
Why choose Invictus Health as your Neuropsychology Specialists?
A team of experiences and professional health experts.
Friendly and informative approach to health and wellbeing
A holistic and collaborative approach to health
No GP referral needed