Sometimes people with thinking problems (for example, due to a head injury, stroke, dementia, epilepsy or a learning delay) can have problems reliably making decisions about important issues.

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These difficulties can include problems deciding:

• whether to continue in a profession;

• who should be managing one’s finances and/or legal affairs;

• whether to make a will.

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Other important questions include whether:

• to pass on the running of a family business;

• to continue living independently;

• to undergo a medical intervention/surgery;

• to continue driving.

 

This can be a particularly difficult area if someone does not realise that they have a problem with their thinking.

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Unfortunately, GP and other medical services again generally offer only very brief, limited assessments of questionable sensitivity/specificity.

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Private neuropsychological assessment of decision-making capacity and related areas of functioning can be very useful when concerns are raised about judgement, memory, reasoning and other relevant areas of functioning. Such an assessment often forms a part of an application for Guardianship or Enduring Power of Attorney made through the relevant State or Commonwealth Tribunal.

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Assessment can be requested by individuals themselves, by family members or by lawyers who are concerned about their client’s capacity to run a business, complete a will or make other important financial and/or legal decisions.

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If you have concerns about someone’s capacity to make important decisions, it is prudent to consider whether neuropsychological assessment might be helpful.

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