Which statement about capacity criteria is true?

• A. Capacity criteria include understanding information only
• B. Capacity includes the ability to retain information
• C. Capacity requires understanding, appreciating consequences, reasoning, and communicating a choice
• D. Capacity is only assessed for adults over 65

Answer: (C)

Capacity criteria for medical decision-making require more than simply recalling facts. To have capacity, a patient must understand the information relevant to the decision, appreciate the situation and the potential consequences, reason about the options, and be able to communicate a clear decision. This combination ensures the person can make an autonomous decision rather than just echoing information or deferring to others. Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific and applies to adults of any age who can meet these criteria; it is not limited to those over 65. Retention of information by itself does not establish capacity, and understanding information alone is incomplete without evaluating consequences and reasoning about options. Therefore, the statement describing understanding, appreciating consequences, reasoning, and communicating a choice is true.