In advance of the planned commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, the Director of the Decision Support Service, Áine Flynn, outlines the changes that will be brought about by this new legislation and discusses how services can be ready for those changes.
The new Act will adopt guiding principles that are aligned to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland ratified in 2018. These principles include recognising a person’s right to privacy, dignity, autonomy and respect for individual will and preferences. It is expected that the Act and the Decision Support Service (based in the Mental Health Commission) will bring about important, long-awaited changes in the lives of adults with decision-making capacity difficulties, and the people who care for them. This is an Act for everyone as we can all plan ahead for a time when we may not have capacity to make our own decisions.
