Decision making for adults with developmental disability

To provide health care for an adult with developmental disability, practitioners need to establish whether they have capacity for decision making, if they need decision making support, or whether they have a medical treatment decision maker or ‘person responsible’. Even if the person with developmental disability lacks capacity for decision making, their preferences (whether expressed verbally or non-verbally), should be sought wherever possible. For advice, see Consent, capacity and decision making in people with developmental disability.