The Mental Capacity Act and social care research

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 came in to force in 2007 in England and Wales and provides a legal framework to protect people who lack the capacity to make decisions for themselves. It has significant implications for health and social care practice, details of which are covered in some excellent resources (for example see SCIE guidance). The Act also has implications for researchers in the field. Michael Clark, from the NIHR School for Social Care Research, describes what should be considered when planning to include people who lack capacity to make decisions in research projects.