The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
In Macpherson v Sunderland City Council, Mrs Justice Theis DBE found that Ms Macpherson had capacity to conduct proceedings, despite challenging behaviour and reliance on paper-based expert evidence. The judgment underscores key principles: capacity is decision- and time-specific; strong views or uncooperative conduct do not equate to incapacity; and courts must avoid paternalistic bias.
The ruling also warns against conflating eccentricity or persistence with incapacity, advocating for proportionate case management. This decision provides a vital toolkit for practitioners navigating complex capacity assessments and reinforces the primacy of autonomy in legal proceedings.
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