01/10/2007
New Act To Protect The Elderly
A new law to protect vulnerable people came into force today in England and Wales.
The Mental Capacity Act will offer people in England and Wales a choice to create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), which replaces the current Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).
Under the new law, greater protection will be given to elderly or vulnerable people who are unable to make important decisions for themselves.
It will also provide for a new Court of Protection to make decisions in relation to the property and affairs, healthcare and personal welfare of adults (and children in a few cases) who lack capacity.
The Court also has the power to make declarations about whether someone has the capacity to make a particular decision; it will have the same powers in relation to mental capacity matters as the High Court.
On Friday, the government launched The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), an agency that will support the Court of Protection in registering EPAs, LPAs and supervising Court appointed Deputies. The agency will replace the Public Guardianship Office, the former administrative arm of the Court of Protection.
Paul Farmer of Mental Health Charity Mind, said: "This Act is an important development, introducing new safeguards to protect the rights of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
"It gives people with mental health problems more control over their lives, so that they can choose how they are treated if they are unable to make decisions in the future."
(LC/JM)
The Mental Capacity Act will offer people in England and Wales a choice to create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), which replaces the current Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).
Under the new law, greater protection will be given to elderly or vulnerable people who are unable to make important decisions for themselves.
It will also provide for a new Court of Protection to make decisions in relation to the property and affairs, healthcare and personal welfare of adults (and children in a few cases) who lack capacity.
The Court also has the power to make declarations about whether someone has the capacity to make a particular decision; it will have the same powers in relation to mental capacity matters as the High Court.
On Friday, the government launched The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), an agency that will support the Court of Protection in registering EPAs, LPAs and supervising Court appointed Deputies. The agency will replace the Public Guardianship Office, the former administrative arm of the Court of Protection.
Paul Farmer of Mental Health Charity Mind, said: "This Act is an important development, introducing new safeguards to protect the rights of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
"It gives people with mental health problems more control over their lives, so that they can choose how they are treated if they are unable to make decisions in the future."
(LC/JM)
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11 July 2006
Family court hearings to be more accessible
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29 May 2009
Widespread Use Of Aspirin Slammed
A new study in The Lancet medical journal has found that healthy people who take aspirin reduced their already small risk of heart attack or stroke by just 12%. However, the small risk of internal bleeding increased by a third.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.