Lasting powers of attorney.

A key justification for introducing a law that regulates decision-making for those who are unable to make choices because of incapacity, was to allow people to prepare for future incapacity, by choosing people they trust to make those decisions on their behalf. In England and Wales, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides the opportunity for adults to do this through the use of a lasting power of attorney (Mental Capacity Act 2005, sections 9-14). In this article, Richard Griffith considers lasting powers of attorney for health and care and their impact on district nurse practice.