Doctors, elder abuse, and enduring powers of attorney.
There is widespread ignorance among doctors and other professionals dealing with incapacitated patients, about the scope and nature of powers granted when an enduring power of attorney is donated. This article discusses some of the shortcomings in the legislation contained in Part IX of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act (1988), and the appropriate course of action for those who think that attorneys are misusing their powers and failing to act in the best interests of incapacitated patients.
Matthews
Frances
F
Bioethics Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. gwenllian28@xtra.co.nz
D000368:Aged; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D033241:Lawyers; D007872:Legal Guardians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009520:New Zealand; D010820:Physicians; D019727:Proxy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020458:Third-Party Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence