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Reform of legal capacity law in Austria

Reform of legal capacity law in Austria. Impact on families In special regard to medical issues By Bernhard Schmid. Capacity Law - Impact on Families (1) .

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Reform of legal capacity law in Austria

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  1. Reform of legal capacity law in Austria Impact on families In specialregardtomedicalissues By Bernhard Schmid

  2. Capacity Law - Impact on Families (1) • Parentsoftenremainthemostimportantpersonsoftrustandsupportforthewholelife-time ofpeoplewithintellectualdisabilities • Especiallyforpeoplewithcomplexsupportneeds Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  3. Capacity Law - Impact on Families (2) • If parents are not or no longer available, often siblings take over their role and take care for their brother or sister Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  4. Capacity Law - Impact on Families (3) • Not alwaystheyactas legal representativesfor all issues • Theirrightsareoften limited tothenecessaryminimum • Ortheyareevennorepresentative at all, asthereareno legal issuesto manage Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  5. Capacity Law - Impact on Families (4) • Also forpersonswith mild learningdisabilitiesfamiliesfamiliesareimportantassistantsandpartners • Theyareoften not legal guardians • but theygiveadviceandassistancetocontributeto a self-determinedlife Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  6. Capacity Law - Impact on Families (5) • Familiesarepermanentlystrugglingforcontributingto a balance- ofhelp, protectionand care on theonesideand- ofself-determination, developmentand individual self-fulfilment on theotherside Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  7. Capacity Law - RolesforFamilies (1) • Statutoryrepresentative • Not onlyforparents, but also forsiblings, grand-parents, nephewsandnieces • More thanonefamilymembercanberepresentatives at the same time, but for DIFFERENT issues • Issuesarebroadlydefined, but limited to real, concreteissues • Ends after threeyears at latest Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  8. Capacity Law - RolesforFamilies (2) • Statutoryrepresentative • In spiteoftherightofthe legal representativetodecideandact on behalf ofthepersonwithdisability, theyarealwaystobeassumedaslegallycapable in eachnewsituation • They still cancomplete legal actionsofdailylife, ifthey do not exceedtheirusualdimensionsandwhentheyarecompletelypaid off Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  9. Capacity Law - RolesforFamilies (3) • Electiverepresentative • Person withdisabilityelectsonepersonoftrustas legal representative, e.g. a familymember • Theyagree upon a very individual setofissuesandconcreteactionsthatthepersonwithdisabilitywantstoberepresented • Also different kindsofco-decisioncanbeagreed • Hasno limited duration, endsonlybydisclaimer • Requires a minimumofunderstandingofthatkindofrepresentation Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  10. Capacity Law – Medical Issues (1) • The doctorhastoassumethateachandeverypatienthasthe potential capacitytounderstandthereasonsforandtheconsequencesof a specificdiagnosis, treatmentorintervention Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  11. Capacity Law – Medical Issues (2) • In ordertoreachunderstandingandinformedconsentofthepatientwithintellectualdisability – • The doctorhastotrytoexplainthemedicalcircumstancesasunderstandableaspossible • He is not obligedtobesuccessul, but he hasto do hisbesttoreach a success • He islegallyobligedtodocumentwhat he hastried Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  12. Capacity Law – Medical Issues (3) • If he could not reach an understandingandinformedconsent – • The doctorisobligedtomakeuseofsupportingpersonsavailable, oftenfamilymembers • The familymembersshouldhelpasmediatorsortranslators, but NOT asrepresentatives! • The doctorshould also makeuseofcommunicationaids like pictures, symbols, computers Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  13. Capacity Law – Medical Issues (4) • Ifthereis still nobasisfor an informedconsent, then a representativecangive a consent(ifthereisoneformedicalissues in place) • A representativecan NEVER overrule a denialfromthepersonwithintellectualdisability! • Ifthereiscontradictionbetweenthepersonwithdisabilityandtherepresentative, thecourthastodecide Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  14. Capacity Law – Medical Issues (5) • Ifthereis real dangerforthehealthorthelifeofthepatient, and an urgent decisionisrequired, thedoctorcandecidebyhimself Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

  15. THANK YOU! • Bernhard Schmid • Secretary General of Lebenshilfe Vienna, Austria • b.schmid@lebenshilfe.wien • Tel.: +43-1-812 26 35 / 47 Reform of legal capacity law in Austria, By Bernhard Schmid, Lebenshife Wien

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