The Mental Capacity Act aims to protect vulnerable individuals to maintain their right to dignity and safety and is based on five principles:

Nod y Ddeddf Galluedd Meddyliol yw amddiffyn unigolyn sy'n agored i niwed, i gadw eu hawl i urddas a diogelwch ac mae'n seiliedig ar bum egwyddor:

  1. An individual (over 16) must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity.
  2. An individual is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success.
  3. An individual is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because he makes an unwise decision.
  4. An act done, or decision made, under this Act for or on behalf of an individual who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in his best interests.
  5. Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the individual’s rights & freedom of action.

Under the Act it is a criminal offence to wilfully neglect or ill-treat an adult lacking mental capacity to make a required decision - MCA Section 44(2).

  1. Rhaid tybio bod gan unigolyn (dros 16) allu meddyliol, oni bai iddo gael ei brofi nad oes ganddynt galluedd.
  2. Ni ddylai unrhyw un cael eu trin fel pe baent yn methu gwneud penderfyniad, oni bai bod pob cam posibl wedi ei gymryd i'w helpu, ond heb lwyddiant.
  3. Nid ddylai unigolyn cael ei drin fel pe bai'n methu gwneud penderfyniad dim ond achos ei fod wedi gwneud penderfyniad annoeth.
  4. Rhaid i weithred neu benderfyniad, sydd wedi ei wneud o dan y Ddeddf hon, ar ran unigolyn sydd â diffyg gallu, cael ei wneud er lles yr unigolyn.
  5. Cyn i'r weithred neu'r penderfyniad cael ei wneud, rhaid ystyried os mae'n bosib i'r anghenion cael eu cyflawni mewn ffordd sy'n effeithiol ond yn llai rhwystrol i hawliau a rhyddid yr unigolyn.

O dan y Ddeddf, mae'n drosedd i esgeuluso neu gam-drin oedolyn sydd heb allu meddyliol i wneud penderfyniad gofynnol - Adran 44 (2) MCA.

Before deciding an individual lacks capacity, it's important to take steps to enable them to try to make the decision themselves.
Watch the video to learn more:

Cyn penderfynu nad oes gan yr unigolyn y gallu meddyliol, mae'n bwysig cymryd camau i'w galluogi i geisio gwneud y penderfyniad eu hunain.
Gwyliwch y fideo i ddarganfod mwy:

Discuss with a partner all the ways you think you could help an individual try to make a decision for themselves.

Trafodwch gyda phartner pob ffordd rydych yn credu y gallech helpu unigolyn i geisio gwneud penderfyniad drostynt eu hunain.