Tag : ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY

  • EXPERT INSIGHT
    Mental incapacity: Prepare and protect while still capable, don’t wait till it is regrettableMental incapacity: Prepare and protect while still capable, don’t wait till it is regrettable

    In routine clinical practice, a treatment decision can only legally proceed after patients are adequately informed and have voluntarily granted their consent for said decision. However, in patients whose mental capacity are compromised, a decision made on their behalf from an unauthorized third party may have legal, practical, or ethical repercussions especially when rapid treatment decisions are required. In a recent interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Jess Leung brought out the issues encountered by persons without decision-making capacity (i.e., also known as mentally incapacitated persons, MIPs) and their carers. As everyone has a risk of losing their mental capacity, Dr. Leung called for earlier preparation by introducing the enduring power of attorney (EPA), advance directives (AD) and will, collectively known as the ‘3 instruments of peace (平安三寶)', to protect our interests while we are still mentally sound.

    doctor name

    Dr. Leung, Lam-Ming Jess

    Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong