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Explore our complete collection of focused, expert-written guides designed to help you build the knowledge, confidence and interview technique needed for your MMI.
Medical Ethics Guide.
Understand the ethical principles, professional responsibilities and legal frameworks that shape modern healthcare. Learn how to approach ethical MMI scenarios with balanced reasoning and confidence.
Inside this guide
- The Four Pillars of Medical Ethics
- Capacity
- Consent
- Gillick Competence & Fraser Guidelines
- Confidentiality
Plus Duty of Candour, Safeguarding, Raising Concerns and many more topics on medical ethics.
Medical Case Studies Guide.
Explore important UK healthcare cases and landmark reports that regularly appear in MMI discussions, understanding what happened, why it matters and the lessons future doctors should take away.
Inside this guide
- Lord Darzi Report
- Francis Reports
- Martha’s Rule
- Max and Keira’s Law
- Dr Bawa-Garba Case
Plus Harold Shipman, Lucy Letby, Charlie Gard and many more medical case studies.
Station Techniques Guide.
Learn how different MMI stations work, what interviewers are assessing and practical frameworks for approaching every station confidently.
Inside this guide
- Understanding the MMI
- Personal Statement Station
- Motivation for Medicine
- Ethical Decision-Making
- Role Play Stations
Plus Breaking Bad News, Teamwork Stations, Explaining Medical Information and many more MMI station techniques.
NHS Constitution Guide.
Develop a clear understanding of how the NHS works, the principles behind it and the values expected of every future doctor.
Inside this guide
- History of the NHS
- NHS Constitution
- Seven Principles of the NHS
- NHS Core Values
- Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Care
Plus MDTs, Integrated Care Systems, NHS England and many more resources on the NHS Constitution.
NHS Hot Topics Guide.
Stay informed on the latest issues affecting UK healthcare so you can confidently discuss current challenges during your interviews.
Inside this guide
- NHS Waiting Lists
- The 7-Day NHS
- NHS Postcode Lottery
- Winter Pressures
- Racism & Equality
Plus Workforce Shortages, Social Care Crisis, Ageing Population and many more NHS Hot Topics.
Interview Tips Guide.
Master the practical skills that separate average applicants from outstanding candidates, from structuring answers to staying calm under pressure.
Inside this guide
- How Interviewers Actually Mark You
- Buying Time
- What If You Don’t Know the Answer?
- What If Your Mind Goes Blank?
- Body Language & First Impressions
Plus Time Management, Difficult Questions, Structuring Answers and Medily’s Golden Rules.
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Explore a preview of our Capacity resource from the Medical Ethics Guide.
Capacity
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Topic 2 of 12 · Medical Ethics
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Topic Introduction
Capacity refers to a person’s ability to make a specific decision at a specific time. In UK healthcare, respecting a patient’s capacity is fundamental to autonomous, dignified and lawful medical practice. Understanding capacity is central to consent, confidentiality and safeguarding — and it is one of the ethical concepts MMI panels most commonly test.
Doctors must be able to assess whether a patient can understand information, weigh it against their own values and communicate a decision. A capacity assessment is always decision-specific and time-specific — a patient may have capacity for one choice but not another.
Key Concepts
Autonomy
Adults with capacity have the right to make decisions about their own care, even if others disagree with those decisions.
Decision-specific
Capacity is assessed for a particular decision at a particular moment — never a global label.
Presumption of capacity
Every adult is presumed to have capacity unless proven otherwise.
Support before assessment
All practicable steps must be taken to help someone make their own decision before concluding they lack capacity.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA)
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is the foundational legislation that governs how capacity is assessed and how decisions are made for people who cannot decide for themselves in England and Wales. It sets out five statutory principles that any clinician must apply…
- Principle 1 · Presume capacity.
- Principle 2 · Support the person to decide.
- Principle 3 · Unwise decisions are still valid decisions.
- Principle 4 · Act in the person’s best interests.
- Principle 5 · Choose the least restrictive option.
The two-stage test of capacity: (1) does the person have an impairment of, or a disturbance in, the functioning of the mind or brain? (2) if so, does that impairment mean the person is unable to make the specific decision when they need to?
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