Tool provides easy method to assess competency
Studies point to instrument’s necessity
The MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR) is the latest in the MacArthur capacity instrument series of tools that assess competency among mentally ill and mentally disabled populations. Created by Paul S. Appelbaum, MD, and Thomas Grisso, PhD, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, the tools have been used for legal and medical purposes and now will provide guidance for assessing capacity among research subjects.
Here’s where you can obtain more information about MacCAT-CR:
• Professional Resource Press, P.O. Box 15560, Sarasota, FL 34277-1560, sells the MacCAT-CR for $22. Contact the company at (800) 443-3364; web site: www.prpress.com/mactcrfr.html.
• A paper, Competency to Decide on Treatment and Research; The MacArthur Capacity Instruments, by Elyn R. Saks, discusses MacCAT-CR and its use, benefits, and drawbacks in an evaluation that considers goals of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC). The paper is part of the NBAC’s March 1999 report, Research Involving Persons with Mental Disorders That May Affect Decision-Making Capacity, Commissioned Papers. The report is available on-line at the web site: http://bioethics.georgetown.edu/nbac/pubs.html.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content