Capacity generally refers to “a patient’s ability to understand the significant benefits, risks, and alternatives to proposed healthcare and to make and communicate a healthcare decision. It is question- and decision-specific and should be documented relative to each decision. Capacity to consent should be assessed and documented for each treatment or plan of treatment. An individual is presumed to have capacity to make a healthcare decision, to give or revoke an advance directive, and to designate or disqualify a surrogate”.656 However, service providers and support staff must look to their national and local legal systems and professional standards for the definition applicable to their practice.

Informed consent is the process of communication between a service provider and a service recipient that results in the service recipient providing consent voluntarily and without threats, intimidation, or inducements, for a service, referral, or dissemination of the person’s private information. The service recipient must receive counselling about the services available and potential alternatives in a language and form that is understandable to the service recipient.

Reproductive rights are human rights recognized in national laws, international laws, and international human rights documents that uphold the rights of all people to decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. Women and young persons with disabilities, as with all rights-holders, must be free to make these decisions free of discrimination, coercion, or violence.