Topic: Clinical decision making

Tony, aged 22, has a mild to moderate learning disability. Tony lives with his parents who are both now in their seventies. His mother is also the carer for his father who has COPD. Tony uses both speech and gesture to express himself but has trouble with processing incoming information particularly if he is anxious or agitated. He is a very sociable and outgoing person and loves his days at the day centre where he tends to be the “life and soul of the party”. His main fear is of doctors and hospitals following an admission for the treatment of an infected insect bite.

He now refuses to go to any place which he thinks might possibly involve “treatment”. With the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic vaccination programme his key worker and his Mum have been trying to explain to him about the injection and the reasons for it. Tony is adamant that he will not have it but because of his Dad’s condition and need for shielding it will be very difficult for Tony to remain living at home if he continues to be un-vaccinated.

What do you need to know more about with regards to this situation?

What specific elements of the MCA might apply?

How might your preconceptions/assumptions about this person influence you?

How would you ensure your approach is ethical and unbiased?

How do you ensure you are communicating in a way to involve the individual in the decisions made about them?

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