The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a very important piece of legislation, because it makes a real difference to the lives of people who may not have mental capacity. The act will allow patients to make their own decision; It will also protect people who lack capacity by providing them with a flexible framework that places individuals at the center of decision-making. It will ensure that patients who lack capacity participate as much as possible in any decisions taken on their behalf and that these are made in their best interests. It also allows people to plan ahead for a time in the future when they may not have the ability, for a variety of reasons, to make decisions for themselves. The law covers a wide range of decisions and circumstances; the act is supported by practice guidance and code of practice which provides information on how the act works in practice. (http://www.direct.gov.uk 2007) The law was created to assist and support people who may lack understanding and to discourage anyone involved in the care of someone who lacks understanding. ...