Factors influencing decision-making capacity assessments in involuntary care and treatment in Norway: A qualitative exploration of multi-stakeholder perspectives

DMC assessments appear to be influenced by several factors, including resource availability, health professionals' values and practices, legal interpretations by supervisory bodies, and political signals from health authorities. Combined with a lack of systematic training and validated tools, these factors may have raised the threshold for accessing mental healthcare beyond what systematic DMC assessments would suggest, contributing to increased illness severity among patients and rising involuntary care rates post-2017. Further research is needed to better understand the complex dynamics involved in DMC assessments and how to effectively implement capacity-based health laws.