The guiding principles of the Act require healthcare workers to:
- Presume every person has the capacity to make decisions about their life
- Support each person as much as possible to make their own decisions
- Not assume a person lacks capacity just because they are making, have made or are likely to make an ‘unwise’ decision
- Take action only where it is really necessary
- Take the least restrictive action on a person’s rights and freedoms
- Consider how urgent the action is
- Give effect to the person’s will and preferences
- Consider the views of other people
- Use information appropriately.
It is important to remember that this Act supports and builds on existing clinical practice and guidelines on person centred care.