A Casebook of Mental Capacity in US Legislation: Assessment and Legal Commentary employs an applied approach to the assessment of mental capacity. The text provides legal commentary to illustrate state laws and ethical principles from decision-making capacities in distinct settings to fortify its assessment.

Dr. Lynn A. Schaefer is a Fellow of the APA (Division 40) and National Academy of Neuropsychology and former Chair of the Ethics PIAC Subcommittee for the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology. Her interests include remediation of neurobehavioral disorders, educational outreach, and capacity. She has presented on the latter to both the APA and ABA.

Dr. Thomas J. Farrer is a neuropsychologist and an assistant professor at the Duke University Medical Center and adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina. He has published additional books and articles in neuropsychology and has research interests in dementia, brain imaging, and traumatic brain injury.

Part I: Introduction. 1. Introduction to decision-making capacity. 2. The role of the psychologist in the assessment of capacity. 3. Guiding principles and common pitfalls of capacity assessment. Part II: Case presentations and commentaries. 4. Capacity to consent to medical treatment. 5. Capacity to make decisions regarding welfare (discharge or where to live). 6. Capacity to enter into sexual and marital relations. 7. Capacity to make financial decisions. 8. Capacity to make and revoke a will. 9. Capacity to enter into legal proceedings, litigate, and contract. 10. Competence to stand trial. 11. Integrating culture and diversity in capacity evaluations. Part III. 12. Summary of key learning points.