The authors describe the various tests of competency to consent to
treatment used today, which include the following: 1)evidencing a choice,
2)"reasonable" outcome of choice, 3)choice based on "rational" reasons,
4)ability to understand, and 5)actual understanding. They analyze the
applicability of these tests to patients' decisions to accept or refuse
psychiatric treatment and illustrate the problems of ap-lying these tests
by citing clinical case examples. They find that the circumstances in which
competency becomes an issue determine which elements of which tests are
stressed and which are underplayed.Abstract Teaser