A surgeon asks you to urgently assess a 44 year old waitress who has been drinking increasingly since the death
of her husband 4 weeks previously. While attending her annual routine wellwoman clinic appointment a breast
lump was found on examination. Mammography revealed malignancy. The surgeon recommended to her that she would
require a mastectomy but she refuses all treatment. He is concerned that she is severely depressed and possibly suicidal.
- How would you manage the situation?
- How do you assess someone's mental capacity?
You assess her and find her to be be suffering from an adjustment reaction with alcohol abuse. She strongly
denied any suicidal ideas to you. The surgeon wants you to implement Section 3 of the MHA 1983?
3. How would you respond to his request?
