decisional capacities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decisional capacities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to the ability to make decisions, often in legal, psychological, or medical discussions. Example: "The court must assess the decisional capacities of the individual before making a ruling on their ability to consent."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The CAT-PAD has three scales that assess decisional capacities regarding the nature and value of PADs and a specific treatment choice: Understanding, Appreciation, and Reasoning.

Comprehensive Psychiatry

For patients lacking decisional capacities, permission was obtained from a legal proxy.

BMC Palliative Care

Judging from previous studies on MacCAT-CR and MacCAT-T in adults with compromised decisional capacities [ 18, 37- 39], our proposed sample size of N = 160 is justifiable.

BMC Pediatrics

Additionally, the informed consent process for longitudinal studies and studies that will result in the creation of long-term databases must be viewed as a continuous process, with reconsent procedures that fit children's maturing decisional capacities and parental concerns.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Several studies have shown the effectiveness of targeted educational efforts in improving the comprehension and decisional capacities of research participants [ 25- 27], including a positive effect on TM in some groups [ 28].

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Decisional capacity in pregnancy: a complex case of pregnancy termination.

Harvard University

This study was designed to assess decisional capacity and susceptibility to coercion in prison research subjects.

Comprehensive Psychiatry

"Every person who comes through the door at age 60 or above has a significant chance of losing decisional capacity".

The New York Times - Health

However, when decisional capacity was measured quantitatively, prisoners performed significantly worse regarding two aspects of this ability.

Comprehensive Psychiatry

Euthanasia advocates insist that some children, even very young ones, may possess the same decisional capacity as some adults, and it's therefore discriminatory to deny them the freedom to choose euthanasia based on an arbitrary age limit.

The Washington Post

Neuropsychological functioning was strongly positively correlated with decisional capacity and negatively correlated with susceptibility to possible coercion, whereas psychiatric symptoms were only weakly correlated with these variables.

Comprehensive Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or medical contexts, use "decisional capacities" to refer to an individual's ability to make informed decisions about their health or well-being. This term carries a specific weight in professional settings.

Common error

While technically correct, "decisional capacities" can sound overly formal or clinical in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "decision-making abilities" unless you specifically need the precision the term provides.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decisional capacities" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. Ludwig AI confirms it's usable in written English. It refers to the abilities someone has to make decisions, often within legal, medical, or psychological contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

Academia

20%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decisional capacities" is a grammatically correct noun phrase that describes the ability to make informed decisions, predominantly within legal, medical, or psychological contexts. Ludwig AI indicates its proper usage in written English, though simpler alternatives exist for casual conversation. While it appears less frequently than other phrases, it maintains a strong presence in academic and scientific writing. Its assessment involves understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and the ability to express a choice. Related terms include "decision-making abilities" and "competence to make decisions", each with slightly nuanced meanings. When discussing medical and legal topics it's better to use "decisional capacities" for a precise and professional tone. Most common errors include the overuse of this term in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Decision-making abilities

Focuses on the general skill and capability in making decisions.

Capacity for decision-making

Emphasizes the potential or inherent ability to make decisions.

Competence to make decisions

Highlights the legal or formal recognition of someone's ability.

Ability to consent

Specifically relates to the capacity to give informed consent, often in medical or research contexts.

Mental capacity to decide

Emphasizes the cognitive and psychological aspects of decision-making.

Cognitive capacity for decisions

Highlights the cognitive functions needed to make choices.

Soundness of judgment

Focuses on the quality and rationality of the decisions made.

Discernment skills

Emphasizes the ability to distinguish between options and make informed choices.

Intellectual capacity for choices

Refers to the intellectual abilities needed to evaluate choices.

Rational decision-making skills

Highlights the rational and logical aspects of decision-making.

FAQs

How is "decisional capacities" assessed in healthcare?

Assessment typically involves evaluating a patient's understanding of information, appreciation of their situation, reasoning abilities, and ability to express a choice. Tools like the CAT-PAD are used to evaluate these areas.

What factors can affect a person's "decisional capacities"?

Factors include cognitive impairments (such as dementia), mental health conditions, intoxication, and even temporary states like severe stress or fatigue. Age can also influence "decisional capacities", especially in children as they mature.

Is "decisional capacity" the same as "competence"?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but "decisional capacity" usually refers to a specific decision at a specific time, while "competence" can imply a more general and ongoing ability. Both relate to the ability to make informed choices.

What happens if someone lacks "decisional capacities"?

If an individual lacks the "decisional capacities" to make a decision, a legal proxy (such as a guardian or designated healthcare representative) may be authorized to make decisions on their behalf, adhering to the principle of substituted judgment or acting in their best interests.