Ethics & Law2 UKMLA questions
Mental Capacity Act — UKMLA Revision Notes
Mental Capacity Act is an important clinical condition in Ethics & Law that is tested in the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT). Medical students and doctors preparing for the UKMLA or PLAB 1 must understand the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, investigations, and evidence-based management of Mental Capacity Act as outlined in current NICE guidelines.
Key Facts
- Mental Capacity Act is a key condition on the GMC UKMLA Content Map
- Commonly tested in the Ethics & Law section of the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test
- Understand the pathophysiology, clinical features, investigations, and management
- NICE guidelines provide the evidence base for management decisions
- Consider differential diagnoses and red flag symptoms in clinical scenarios
Investigations
- Clinical history and examination
- FBC, U&E, LFTs
- Urine dipstick
- Blood pressure measurement
- Fasting lipids/glucose
- Relevant specialist referral
Management
- Patient education and lifestyle advice
- Pharmacological management per NICE guidelines
- Safety netting and follow-up
- Referral to secondary care if indicated
- Chronic disease management plan
- Shared decision-making