Issues involved in assessing competency.

A psychiatric competency assessment entails more than merely conducting a few clinical tests to diagnose the cause of a cognitive impairment. The psychiatrist may need to explore other aspects of the patient's life, including his or her interpersonal relationships and functional abilities. To provide a truly useful consult for other physicians, legal professional, family members, and the patient, the psychiatrist must be able to integrate the medical findings along with all relevant personal information and apply this information to the legal standards of the particular jurisdiction. By being able to apply both medical and legal knowledge of proxy decision making, the psychiatrist will be better prepared to make recommendations that will facilitate the proper care and services for the cognitively impaired patient.