{"id":4264,"date":"2019-05-31T18:10:22","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T18:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/?p=4264"},"modified":"2019-05-31T18:10:22","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T18:10:22","slug":"webcast-archive-guardianship-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2019\/05\/webcast-archive-guardianship-revisited\/","title":{"rendered":"Webcast archive: Guardianship, revisited"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1180\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9U6DxKvvNJQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In this episode of\u00a0<em>Euthanasia &amp; Disability<\/em>, Amy Hasbrouck, Christian Debray, and Taylor Hyatt discuss:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Guardianship, revisited<\/li>\n<li>Cadotte sentenced to two years for manslaughter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please note that this text is only a script and that our webcast contains additional commentary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GUARDIANSHIP, REVISITED<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>At the end of April, we discussed the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2019\/04\/webcast-archive-united-nations-special-rapporteur-on-the-rights-of-people-with-disabilities\/\">United Nations Special Rapporteur<\/a>\u2019s visit to Canada. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/NewsEvents\/Pages\/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24481&amp;LangID=E\">the statement summarizing her findings<\/a>, Catalina Devandas Aguilar said \u201cpersons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are systematically denied their legal capacity through substitute decision-making regimes, such as guardianship and curatorship\u201d which affected nearly 21,000 people in Ontario and 34,000 people in Quebec.<\/li>\n<li>A few years ago, the Canadian Association for Community Living released\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cacl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/CACL-Position-legal-capacity_0.pdf\">a policy document<\/a>\u00a0explaining that, under substitute decision-making systems like guardianship, people have \u201cno power to make, control, or even influence decisions about issues that are important to them.\u201d\u00a0 Substitute decision-making arrangements contribute to the perception \u201cthat the individual is not a full person, but rather an object to be managed by others.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Ms. Devandas pointed out that \u201csuccessful\u201d supported decision-making programs exist in British Columbia, though they \u201clack\u2026[a] legal framework\u201d that would allow them to be offered on a larger scale. She points out that \u201call [provincial and territorial] legislation on legal capacity contradicts article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Supported decision making is an alternative to guardianship that respects the person\u2019s rights, allowing them to have the final say in as many areas of life as possible. Contrary to common fears, true supported decision making occurs when \u2013 as an article in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Piers_Gooding\/publication\/271671099_Supported_Decision-Making_A_Rights-Based_Disability_Concept_and_its_Implications_for_Mental_Health_Law\/links\/583b557c08ae3a74b4a06b12\/Supported-Decision-Making-A-Rights-Based-Disability-Concept-and-its-Implications-for-Mental-Health-Law.pdf\">the Psychiatry, Psychology and Law journal<\/a>\u00a0states \u2013 \u201cthe individual [is] assisted to become aware of his or her responsibilities and of the implications of his or her choice.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>While supported decision making is most well-known in the context of intellectual disabilities, people with psychiatric disabilities benefit as well. The journal article notes that Canadian procedures were not designed with \u201cextreme mental stress\u201d in mind. Having difficulty making decisions doesn\u2019t mean a person should be deprived of the right to direct their life.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/development\/desa\/disabilities\/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities\/article-12-equal-recognition-before-the-law.html\">Article 12<\/a>\u00a0of the CRPD calls on member states to do the following:\n<ul>\n<li>\u201creaffirm that persons with disabilities have the right to recognition everywhere as persons before the law\u201d;<\/li>\n<li>\u201crecognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others\u00a0<strong>in all aspects of life<\/strong>\u201d;<\/li>\n<li>\u201cprovide access by persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity\u201d;<\/li>\n<li>\u201cprovide for appropriate and effective safeguards to prevent abuse in accordance with international human rights law.\u201d These safeguards must ensure that laws related to decision making:\n<ul>\n<li>\u201crespect the rights, will and preferences of the person\u201d;<\/li>\n<li>\u201care free of conflict of interest and undue influence\u201d;<\/li>\n<li>\u201care proportional and tailored to the person\u2019s circumstances\u201d;<\/li>\n<li>\u201capply for the shortest time possible,\u201d and;<\/li>\n<li>\u201care subject to regular review by a competent, independent and impartial authority.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Finally, states must \u201censure the equal right of persons with disabilities to own or inherit property, to control their own financial affairs and to have equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit.\u201d Countries must also \u201censure that persons with disabilities are not arbitrarily deprived of their property.\u201d Check out our webcast from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2018\/11\/webcast-archive-guardianship\/\">November 2, 2018<\/a>\u00a0to learn more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Canada ratified the CRPD in 2010, but added\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/treaties.un.org\/Pages\/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&amp;mtdsg_no=IV-15&amp;chapter=4&amp;clang=_en#EndDec\">a reservation to subsection 4<\/a>\u00a0of article 12: \u201cCanada\u00a0reserves the right to continue [the use of substitute decision-making arrangements] in appropriate circumstances and subject to appropriate and effective safeguards.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Canada also \u201creserves the right\u00a0<strong>not to subject all such measures to regular review by an independent authority<\/strong>, where such measures are already subject to review or appeal.\u201d Ms. Devandas strongly encouraged Canada to withdraw the reservation \u201cand speed up the process to eliminate all forms of substitute decision-making across the country.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Each province has its own approach to guardianship and legal capacity, McGill University\u2019s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism summarized them in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/webcache.googleusercontent.com\/search?q=cache:5oWCaIBhWZQJ:https:\/\/www.mcgill.ca\/humanrights\/files\/humanrights\/2017-chrlp_shadow-report_canada_compliance_with_crpd.docx+&amp;cd=5&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=ca\">a submission<\/a>\u00a0to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.mb.ca\/fs\/pwd\/vpact.html\">Manitoba\u2019s law<\/a>\u00a0recognizing supported decision-making only applies to people with cognitive disabilities \u2013 it does not include psychiatric conditions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bclaws.ca\/civix\/document\/id\/complete\/statreg\/96405_01\">British Columbia\u2019s law<\/a>\u00a0allows a representative to \u201cact as a bridge\u201d between the disabled person and any third parties dealing with \u201chealth care, personal care, legal affairs, [and] financial affairs.\u201d As a safeguard, financial decisions must involve a monitor or at least two representatives.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qp.alberta.ca\/documents\/Acts\/A04P2.pdf\">Alberta\u2019s law<\/a>\u00a0only covers supported decision making related to personal affairs, rather than property.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.curateur.gouv.qc.ca\/cura\/publications\/dep_tut_cur_maj_en.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Qu\u00e9bec<\/a>\u00a0has two types of guardianship:\n<ul>\n<li>A\u00a0<strong>tutor<\/strong>\u00a0legally represents someone who \u201cpartially or temporarily\u201d lacks capacity. The tutor does not need to represent the person at all times \u2013 it is possible for the person to make\u00a0<strong><em>some<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0decisions with no involvement, or assistance, from the tutor.<\/li>\n<li>A\u00a0<strong>curator<\/strong>\u00a0represents someone who lacks capacity permanently, in all areas of life.<\/li>\n<li>Tutors and curators can look after the person\u2019s daily affairs, their property, or both. Tutors must \u201cpreserve and maintain \u2026 the person\u2019s home and furnishings.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>The tutor or curator must approve any proposed medical treatment on the person\u2019s behalf, making sure that the treatment \u201cwill benefit the person\u2026is appropriate [given their] circumstances,\u201d and that any risks are proportionate to potential benefits.<\/li>\n<li>The tutor or curator must also represent the person in any legal action.<\/li>\n<li>A\u00a0<strong>tutorship council\u00a0<\/strong>made up of three relatives or friends supervises and helps the tutor or curator, including outlining what the tutor is authorized to do for the person in their care. The council can also ask provincial courts to replace a tutor who is not fulfilling their responsibilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Ontario has three laws related to decision making:\n<ul>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/laws\/statute\/92s30\">Substitute Decisions Act<\/a>\u00a0deals with property management, personal care, guardians and powers of attorney. Under this law, capacity is linked to cognitive abilities \u2013 either you have it, or you don\u2019t \u2013 rather than capacity being recognized as inherent in all people.\u00a0 Therefore, people whose conditions cause changes in their decision-making abilities are not accommodated. Nothing prevents a person\u2019s capacity from being called into question under this Act just because they have a disability.<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/laws\/statute\/96h02\">Health Care Consent Act<\/a>\u00a0deals with consent to medical treatment and admission to long-term care homes.<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/laws\/statute\/90m07\">Mental Health Act<\/a>\u00a0concerns a person\u2019s ability to manage property when entering or leaving a psychiatric institution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Guardianship can be a life-or-death matter.\u00a0 The events surrounding the 2005 death of\u00a0<u><a href=\"http:\/\/notdeadyet.org\/2010\/03\/my-2003-op-ed-on-terri-schiavo-and.html\">Terri Schiavo<\/a><\/u>\u00a0flowed directly from a conflict between her husband, who had guardianship over Terri, and her family, who believed that, as a disabled person, she had a right to life-sustaining treatment.<\/li>\n<li>Questions surrounding supported decision making when a person is suicidal or asks for AS\/E have received little attention.\n<ul>\n<li>What is the relationship between the dignity of risk and a person&#8217;s desire to intentionally harm themselves?<\/li>\n<li>What if the person\u2019s desire for AS\/E is a symptom of the impairment that limits their decision-making ability?<\/li>\n<li>If the person is subject to a substituted decision-making system, the very fact of being under guardianship may automatically make them ineligible for AS\/E; is this a good thing?<\/li>\n<li>What safeguards will ensure that the party who \u201chelps\u201d make the decision values the disabled person\u2019s life enough to pursue suicide prevention or other alternatives to AS\/E?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>CADOTTE SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR MANSLAUGHTER<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Michel Cadotte, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the suffocation death of his wife Jocelyne Lizotte in February of 2017, was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nationalpost.com\/news\/montreal-man-sentenced-to-two-years-for-killing-of-alzheimers-stricken-wife?utm_term=Autofeed&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1559073215\">sentenced this week<\/a>\u00a0to two years in prison, and three years\u2019 probation.<\/li>\n<li>The judge in the case called Cadotte\u2019s actions a \u201cquasi-murder\u201d since he intended to kill his wife, even if his state of mind was affected.<\/li>\n<li>Meanwhile a soon-to-be-released \u201cexpert\u201d report is expected to recommend that Qu\u00e9bec allow\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ledroit.com\/actualites\/le-fil-groupe-capitales-medias\/quebec-songe-a-offrir-laide-medicale-a-mourir-aux-gens-atteints-dalzheimer-1c541c7dbf450d6c66daf6bcabc4eee5?fbclid=IwAR2bKLDfcAnCJ8qIZbyyM7dj5U9Z-PoR_0LLdx-T5rsxFEs3LSlL19boQdA&amp;utm_medium=facebook&amp;utm_source=dlvr.it\">euthanasia by advance directive<\/a>, even if the person is unable to verify that they still want to die when the time comes to be killed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n   ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-summary\">\n<div class=\"entry-summary\">\nThis week, we look at Canada&#8217;s compliance with Article 12 of the CRPD, plus a brief update on the Cadotte case.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2019\/05\/webcast-archive-guardianship-revisited\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Webcast archive: Guardianship, revisited&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/2019\/05\/webcast-archive-guardianship-revisited\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Webcast archive: Guardianship, revisited&rdquo;<\/span>&hellip;<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[516,73,121,308,286,479,53,250,253,118],"class_list":["post-4264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-webcast-archive","tag-catalina-devandas-aguilar","tag-disability-rights","tag-euthanasia-disability","tag-guardianship","tag-jocelyne-lizotte","tag-michel-cadotte","tag-quebec-en","tag-terri-schiavo","tag-united-nations","tag-webcast","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4264"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4267,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4264\/revisions\/4267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvndy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}