World Mental Health Day: Mental Capacity And Power Of Attorney

Ahead of World Mental Health day next week I wanted to give a short summary of what I learned from my fellow panel members who spoke at the IAFL European Chapter conference 2019. I was joined by Dr Shruthi Guruswamy, Dr Jehanne Sosson, Esther Susin Carrasco, Oksana Voynarovska and Kesavan Nair. So what were the most interesting aspects of our session on legal capacity and the use of a Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney?

First of all, it came as a surprise to me when Oksana explained that it is not possible in Ukraine for a person to enter into a Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney. There were also some apprehensions from some audience members about how LPA/EPA's could be inappropriately used by the deputy - to their own benefit. When it came to considering whether and how EPAs/LPAs could be used in an international situation, where say, a party has entered into a EPA in one country but needs to use it in another, there was a healthy difference of opinion on the extent to which EPAs/LPAs were subject to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Adults which would allow them to be recognised by other signatory states.

Once we got into the section dealing with capacity to marry we learned from Esther that in Spain, if there is a history of mental ill health, an entry can be made on the records, which are produced to the registrar who is conducting the marriage. It is then up to the registrar to be satisfied that the person has the necessary legal capacity to marry. This is very different to the approach elsewhere, and in particular in Singapore, as explained by Kesavan, and England, where there is a presumption of capacity unless there are reasons to determine otherwise. If there is a question of whether a person has the required capacity, then of course, medical advice will be required. We heard from Dr Shruthi Guruswamy Consultant Psychiatrist, about many interesting examples in which she has been required to...