As the name implies, the purpose of this meeting is to determine the best interests of the patient with regard to their treatment, and to identify actions to support these interests. The meeting will usually involve the prescriber, pharmacist, family member, carer or advocate, a care home staff member and possibly a member of the community psychiatric team. If the patient has appointed someone who has a lasting power of attorney for their personal welfare, then this person must also attend the meeting.

When deciding on what is considered in the patient's best interests it is important to consider the patient's current wishes, their prior wishes if known, and also the opinions of those people who care for or are closest to the person. Ideally the patient should also be involved in the decision making process as far as is possible. The patient's prior wishes could be documented in an advance decision to refuse specific treatments in the event of specific circumstances.

The meeting should also consider:

• actions that have been taken to encourage the person to take their medication as prescribed.
• potential alternative methods of administration that are more respectful to the person's choice.
• why each medication the person is prescribed is considered essential for their health.

Where the patient's incapacity is temporary it may be possible to postpone making a decision until the patient is able to make it themselves. Decisions that relate to life-sustaining treatment should not be based on a desire to speed up the person's death. Decisions made in the person's 'best interests' should not be influenced or based on the person's age, appearance, condition or behaviour. Similarly the interests of the practitioner, team, or organisation should not determine any decisions about covert administration.

The best interests meeting will also consider whether a 'Mental Health Act' or 'Deprivation of Liberty' safeguard (DoLs) is appropriate. Some forms of forced or disguised administration are permitted by law such as following detention under relevant mental health legislation. These procedures are outside of the scope of this module.