RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Mental Capacity Act 2005 JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 169 OP 173 DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.6-2-169 VO 6 IS 2 A1 Darren Shickle YR 2006 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/6/2/169.abstract AB The Mental Capacity Act 2005 covers all decisions on personal welfare including financial matters, relating to people who temporarily or permanently lack mental capacity. This paper outlines the most important provisions of the Act and describes some of the implications for healthcare professionals. For example, the Act permits advance decisions to refuse healthcare; the appointment of a person to have a Lasting Power of Attorney to act on a person's behalf at some point in the future; the appointment of a court-appointed deputy to act on behalf of a person lacking mental capacity; and research involving people who lack mental capacity in specific circumstances. The Court of Protection will now have a role in resolving difficult ethical problems in clinical cases.