Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, all health professionals are expected to consult with family members when a young person with profound and multiple learning disabilities does not have the capacity to make medical decisions for themselves.
But a Mencap report in February into deaths of people with learning disabilities found that healthcare professionals often fail to consult or listen to the views of family carers.
In a bid to tackle this, Mencap has produced a guide to the act to help carers have a greater say over the care provided to their family members.
Funded by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the guide includes sections to help family carers understand both their rights and responsibilities towards children and young people in their care.
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