Capacity
Capacity (medicine)
Capacity (pronounced: /kəˈpasɪti/) in the field of medicine refers to a patient's ability to understand the nature and consequences of health care decisions and to make an informed choice. The term is often used in the context of mental health and legal competence.
Etymology
The term 'capacity' originates from the Latin 'capacitas', meaning 'ability' or 'capability'. In the medical context, it has been used since the late 19th century to refer to a patient's mental or physical ability to make or understand decisions about their health care.
Related Terms
- Competence (law): Legal determination of a person's ability to make decisions. In medicine, this often refers to a patient's ability to understand and consent to medical treatment.
- Informed consent: The process by which a healthcare provider educates a patient about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a given procedure or intervention.
- Mental health: A state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
- Health care decisions: Decisions made by an individual or a healthcare provider about the care and treatment of health conditions.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Capacity
- Wikipedia's article - Capacity
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