Mental Capacity Act of 2008

Relevant provisions:
Section 4: Personswholackcapacity
4.(1)ForthepurposesofthisAct,apersonlackscapacityinrelationtoamatterif
atthematerialtimeheisunabletomakeadecisionforhimselfinrelationtothe
matterbecauseofanimpairmentof,oradisturbanceinthefunctioningof,themind
orbrain.
(2) It does not matter whether the impairment or disturbance is permanent or
temporary.
(3)Alackofcapacitycannotbeestablishedmerelybyreferenceto
(a)apersonsageorappearance;or
(b)aconditionofhis,oranaspectofhisbehaviour,whichmightleadotherstomake
unjustifiedassumptionsabouthiscapacity.
(4) InproceedingsunderthisAct(otherthanproceedingsforoffencesunderthis
Act),anyquestionwhetherapersonlackscapacitywithinthemeaningofthisAct
mustbedecidedonthebalanceofprobabilities.
(5) Subjecttosection21,nopowerwhichaperson(D)mayexerciseunderthis
Act
(a)inrelationtoapersonwholackscapacity;or
(b)whereDreasonablythinksthatapersonlackscapacity,isexercisableinrelation
toapersonbelow21yearsofage.
Section 5: Inabilitytomakedecisions
5. (1) Forthepurposesofsection4,apersonisunabletomakeadecisionfor
himselfifheisunable
(a)tounderstandtheinformationrelevanttothedecision;
(b)toretainthatinformation;
(c)touseorweighthatinformationaspartoftheprocessofmakingthedecision;or
(d)tocommunicatehisdecision(whetherbytalking,usingsignlanguageoranyother
means).
(2)Apersonisnottoberegardedasunabletounderstandtheinformationrelevantto
adecisionifheisabletounderstandanexplanationofitgiventohiminawaythatis
appropriate to his circumstances (using simple language, visual aids or any other
means).
(3)Thefactthatapersonisabletoretaintheinformationrelevanttoadecisionfora
shortperiodonlydoesnotpreventhimfrombeingregarded asabletomake the
decision.
(4)Theinformationrelevanttoadecisionincludesinformationaboutthereasonably
foreseeableconsequencesof
(a)decidingonewayoranother;or
(b)failingtomakethedecision.

These two sections set out the requirements for assessing if

someone lacks capacity. A person lacks capacity in relation to a

matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for

himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or
disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain. The definition
signifies that lack of capacity is time-specific and decision-specific.
Time-specific means focusing on the particular time when a decision
has to be made, and decision-specific means considering on the
particular matter to which the decision relates, rather than the
ability to make the decisions generally.
A persons inability to make a decision must be caused by a
temporary or permanent impairment of or disturbance in the
functioning of the mind and brain. There should be a diagnostic
threshold to ensure that the test is strict enough not to catch or
cover large number of people who make unusual or unwise
decisions. The Office of the Public Guardian, one of the
implementing agencies of the Mental Capacity Act declared that
assessment of lack of capacity should be made based on objective
medical expertise by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a general
practitioner. This diagnostic threshold would give protection and
would not stigmatise those who are just in need of help in decisionmaking.
Womens Charter
Relevant Provisions:
InterpretationofthisPart
64.InthisPart,unlessthecontextotherwiserequires
"applicant" means the person who applies for a protection order or, where the
application is made by a person referred to in section 65(10), the child or
incapacitatedpersononwhosebehalftheapplicationismade;
"court"meansaDistrictCourtoraMagistratesCourt;
"expeditedorder"meansanordermadeundersection66(1);
"familymember",inrelationtoaperson,means
(a)aspouseorformerspouseoftheperson;
(b)achildoftheperson,includinganadoptedchildandastepchild;
(c)afatherormotheroftheperson;
(d)afatherinlawormotherinlawoftheperson;
(e)abrotherorsisteroftheperson;or
(f)anyotherrelativeofthepersonoranincapacitatedpersonwhointheopinionof
thecourtshould,inthecircumstances,ineithercaseberegardedasamemberofthe
familyoftheperson;
"familyviolence"meansthecommissionofanyofthefollowingacts:
(a)wilfullyorknowinglyplacing,orattemptingtoplace,afamilymemberinfearof
hurt;
(b)causinghurttoafamilymemberbysuchactwhichisknownoroughttohave
beenknownwouldresultinhurt;
(c)wrongfullyconfiningorrestrainingafamilymemberagainsthiswill;or
(d)causingcontinualharassmentwithintenttocauseorknowingthatitislikelyto
causeanguishtoafamilymember,butdoesnotincludeanyforcelawfullyusedin

selfdefence,orbywayofcorrectiontowardsachildbelow21yearsofage;
"hurt"meansbodilypain,diseaseorinfirmity;
"incapacitatedperson"meansapersonwhoiswhollyorpartiallyincapacitatedor
infirm,byreasonofphysicalormentaldisabilityorillhealthoroldage;
"protectedperson"meansapersonwhoisprotectedunderaprotectionorder;
"protectionorder"meansanordermadeundersection65;

"relative"includesapersonwhoisrelatedthroughmarriageoradoption;
"sharedresidence"meansthepremisesatwhichthepartiesare,orhavebeen,living
togetherasmembersofthesamehousehold.
Protectionorder
65. (1)Thecourtmay,uponsatisfactiononabalanceofprobabilitiesthatfamily
violencehasbeencommittedorislikelytobecommittedagainstafamilymember
andthatitisnecessaryfortheprotectionofthefamilymember,makeaprotection
order restraining the person against whom the order is made from using family
violenceagainstthefamilymember.
(2) An application for a protection order may be made by the family member
concernedoranypersonreferredtoinsubsection(10).
(3)Aprotectionordermaybemadesubjecttosuchexceptionsorconditionsasmay
bespecifiedintheorderandforsuchtermasmaybespecified.
(4)Thecourt,inmakingaprotectionorder,mayincludeaprovisionthattheperson
againstwhomtheorderismademaynotinciteorassistanyotherpersontocommit
familyviolenceagainsttheprotectedperson.
(5)Aprotectionordermay,wherethecourtissatisfiedonabalanceofprobabilities
thatitisnecessaryfortheprotectionorpersonalsafetyoftheapplicant,providefor
suchordersasthecourtthinksfithavingregardtoallthecircumstancesofthecase,
includinganyoneormoreofthefollowingorders:
(a)thegrantingoftherightofexclusiveoccupationtoanyprotectedpersonofthe
sharedresidenceoraspecifiedpartofthesharedresidencebyexcludingtheperson
againstwhomtheorderismadefromthesharedresidenceorspecifiedpartthereof,
regardlessofwhetherthesharedresidenceissolelyownedorleasedbytheperson
againstwhomtheorderismadeorjointlyownedorleasedbytheparties;
(b)referringthepersonagainstwhomtheorderismadeortheprotectedpersonor
bothortheirchildrentoattendcounsellingprovidedbysuchbodyastheMinistermay
approveorasthecourtmaydirect;and
(c)thegivingofanysuchdirectionasisnecessaryforandincidentaltotheproper
carryingintoeffectofanyordermadeunderthissection.
(6)Exceptsofarastheexercisebythepersonagainstwhomaprotectionorderis
madeofarighttothesharedresidenceissuspendedorrestricted,orprohibitedor
restrained,byvirtueofanordermadeundersubsection(5),suchordershallnotaffect
anytitle orinterestthatthepersonagainstwhomtheorderismadeoranyother
personmighthaveintheresidence.
(7)Whereapersonagainstwhomaprotectionorderoranexpeditedorderhasbeen
madecontravenestheorder,thecourtmay,inadditiontoanypenaltyprovidedfor
undersubsection(8),make,asthecasemaybe,anyoneormoreoftheordersunder

subsection(5),tocommencefromsuchdateasisspecifiedinsuchneworder.
(8)Anypersonwhowilfullycontravenesaprotectionorderoranexpeditedorderor
an order made by virtue of subsection (5), except an order made by virtue of
subsection(5)(b),shallbeguiltyofanoffenceandshallbeliableonconvictiontoa
finenotexceeding$2,000ortoimprisonmentforatermnotexceeding6monthsorto
bothand,inthecaseofasecondorsubsequentconviction,toafinenotexceeding
$5,000ortoimprisonmentforatermnotexceeding12monthsortoboth.
(9)Anyfailuretocomplywithanordermadebyvirtueofsubsection(5)(b)shallbe
punishableasacontemptofcourt.
(10)Inthecaseofachildbelowtheageof21yearsoranincapacitatedperson,an
applicationunderthissectionorsection66maybemadebyaguardianorrelativeor
personresponsibleforthecareofthechildorincapacitatedperson,asthecasemay
be,orbyanypersonappointedbytheMinister.
(11)Anoffenceundersubsection(8)shallbedeemedtobeaseizableoffencewithin
themeaningoftheCriminalProcedureCode(Cap.68).
Expeditedorder
66. (1)Where,uponanapplicationforaprotectionorderundersection65,the
courtissatisfiedthatthereisimminentdangeroffamilyviolencebeingcommitted
againsttheapplicant,thecourtmaymaketheprotectionordernotwithstanding
(a)thatthesummonshasnotbeenservedontherespondentorhasnotbeenservedon
therespondentwithinareasonabletimebeforethehearingoftheapplication;or
(b)thatthesummonsrequirestherespondenttoappearatsometimeorplace.
(2)Anexpeditedordershallnottakeeffectuntilthedateonwhichnoticeofthe
makingoftheorderisservedontherespondentinsuchmannerasmaybeprescribed
or,ifthecourthasspecifiedalaterdateasthedateonwhichtheorderistotake
effect,thatlaterdate,andanexpeditedordershallceasetohaveeffectonwhichever
ofthefollowingdatesoccursfirst:
(a)thedateoftheexpirationofaperiodof28daysbeginningwiththedateofthe
makingoftheorder;or
(b)thedateofcommencementofthehearingoftheapplicationforanorderunderthis
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the court may extend the duration of the
expeditedorder.
Supplementaryprovisionswithrespecttoordersundersections65and66
67. (1)Thecourtshall, onanapplication made bytheapplicant ortheperson
againstwhomaprotectionorderoranexpeditedorderismade,havepowerbyorder
tovary,suspendorrevokesuchorder.
(2)RulesofCourtmaybemadeforthepurposeofgivingeffecttosections65and66
andanysuchRulesmay,inparticular,makeprovisionforthehearingwithoutdelay
ofanyapplicationforanorderundersection65(5)(a).
(3)Theexpirybyvirtueofsection66(2)ofanexpeditedordershallnotprejudicethe
makingofafurtherexpeditedorderunderthatsection.
RulesofCourt
RelevantProvision:
Order54ApplicationforOrderforReviewofDetention11(O.54,r.1)

1.(1)[DeletedbyS806/2005]
(2)AnapplicationforanOrderforReviewofDetention 11mustbemadebyexparte
originatingsummonstoaJudgeand,subjecttoparagraph(3),mustbesupportedby
anaffidavitbythepersonrestrainedshowingthatitismadeathisinstanceandsetting
outthenatureoftherestraint.
(3)Wherethepersonrestrainedisunableforanyreasontomaketheaffidavitrequired
byparagraph(2),theaffidavitmaybemadebysomeotherpersononhisbehalfand
thataffidavitmuststatethatthepersonrestrainedisunabletomaketheaffidavit
himselfandforwhatreason.
PowerofCourttowhomexparteapplicationmade(O.54,r.2)
2.(1)TheJudgetowhomanapplicationunderRule1ismademay
(a)makeanOrderforReviewofDetention11forthwith;or
(b)directthatasummonsfortheOrderforReviewofDetention11beissued.
(2)Theexparteoriginatingsummons,theaffidavitinsupportthereof,theOrderof
Courtandthesummonsmustbeservedonthepersonagainstwhomtheissueofthe
writissoughtandonsuchotherpersonsastheJudgemaydirectand,unlesstheJudge
otherwise directs, there must be at least 8 clear days between the service of the
summonsandthedatenamedthereinforthehearing.
Copiesofaffidavitstobesupplied(O.54,r.3)
3.EverypartytoanapplicationforanOrderforReviewofDetention 11mustservea
copyofeachoftheaffidavitswhichheproposestouseatthehearingoneveryother
party.
Powertoorderreleaseofpersonrestrained(O.54,r.4)
4. (1)Without prejudicetoRule2(1),theJudgehearinganapplication foran
OrderforReviewofDetention11mayinhisdiscretionorderthatthepersonrestrained
bereleased,andsuchordershallbeasufficientwarranttoanysuperintendentofa
prisonorotherpersonforthereleaseofthepersonunderrestraint.
(2)DuringthehearingofanapplicationforanOrderforReviewofDetention 11,the
personrestrainedneednotbebroughtbeforetheCourtunlesstheJudgeotherwise
directs.
ReturndateforOrderforReviewofDetention11(O.54,r.5)
5.WhereanOrderforReviewofDetention11ismade,theJudgebywhomtheorderis
madeshallgivedirectionsastothedateonwhichthepersonunderrestraintistobe
broughtbeforetheCourt.
ServiceofOrderforReviewofDetention11(O.54,r.6)
6.(1)Subjecttoparagraph(2),anOrderforReviewofDetention 11mustbeserved
personallyoneachofthepersonstowhomitisdirected.
(2)IfitisnotpossibletoservetheOrderforReviewofDetention 11personally,orifit
isdirectedtoasuperintendentofaprisonorotherpublicofficial,itmustbeservedby
leavingitwithanemployeeoragentofthepersontowhomtheOrderforReviewof
Detention11 is directed at the place where the person restrained is confined or
restrained.
(3)[Deleted]
(4)[Deleted]
Releaseandotherdirections(O.54,r.7)
7. (1)UpontheproductionofthepersonunderrestraintinCourt,theCourtmay
orderthathebereleasedforthwithorgivesuchotherdirectionsasitdeemsfit.

(2)[Deleted]
FormofOrderforReviewofDetention11(O.54,r.8)
8.AnOrderforReviewofDetention11mustbeinForm111.
Application(O.54,r.9)
9.ThisOrderisnotapplicabletotheSubordinateCourts