Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity
This emergency guidance is for health and social care staff in England and Wales who are caring for or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity during the coronavirus outbreak.
The guidance ensures that decision-makers are clear about the steps they need to take during this period. It focuses on new scenarios and potential ‘deprivations of liberty’ created by the outbreak.
During the outbreak, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the safeguards provided by the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) still apply.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides protections for people who lack or may lack the relevant mental capacity to make decisions about different aspects of their life.
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are an important part of this act and provide further safeguards for those who need to be deprived of their liberty in order to receive care or treatment in a care home or hospital, but do not have the capacity to consent to those arrangements.