Elder Law

Total 116 Posts

Update on MAiD: Mental Disorder as a Sole Underlying Medical Condition

In Canada, the law no longer restricts medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to people whose death is reasonably foreseeable: as of March 17, 2023, people with a mental disorder as a sole underlying medical condition (MD-SUMC) will be eligible for MAiD…..

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Capacity Law, Disability, Elder Care, Elder Law, Family Conflict, Geriatric Care Management, Healthcare, In the News, Medical Assistance in Dying, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Succession Planning

Too Ill to Make a Will: three practical tips for surviving deathbed retainers

A Dead Give-Away Did you know that deathbed wills are the original will? In medieval Europe, for all but those in high society, will-making was synonymous with efforts right before death. Luckily, this type of estate planning is no longer the status quo. However, deathbed wills have persisted as a reality of life to this date. So what should drafting solicitors keep in mind when they get the dreaded phone….

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Disability, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Uncategorized

Capacity to Consent to MAiD: A Suggestion For Amendment

I have found it uncommon for a family member or beneficiary to exert undue influence to pressure a patient to pursue MAiD. What worries me is the vulnerability of patients to undue influence from physicians who may embrace therapeutic nihilism and bias patients unduly towards MAiD. I suggest that, for capacity to consent to MAiD, the test of “ability to appreciate” should be expanded to require an appreciation of the views and wishes of supportive family members and friends…..

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Capacity Law, Disability, Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Healthcare, In the News, Medical Assistance in Dying, Power of Attorney, Spouse, Succession Planning, Testamentary Capacity, Undue influence

Dementia, Health Law and Discharge Planning Challenges

A clinical dilemma: a patient was diagnosed with dementia in the mild-to-moderate stage requested to be discharged home from hospital to live alone despite the opinion of the attorney for personal care and property that the patient is unsafe to do so. The clinical opinion was also that the patient could not live independently safely. This resulted in the need to confine the patient in hospital involuntarily under the Mental….

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Capacity Law, Caregiving, Disability, Elder Care, Elder Law, Fiduciary Professions, Geriatric Care Management, Guardianship, Healthcare, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes

The Importance of Fiduciary Duties

The Oxford Dictionary defines a fiduciary as a person in a position of trust, especially when it involves controlling money or property belonging to others. The law places particular emphasis on the trust relationship between a trustee and a third-party beneficiary. Among other duties, a fiduciary is required to: (1) act in the best interests of the beneficiary, (2) not put their own interests ahead of the beneficiary, and (3)….

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Elder Care, Elder Law, Fiduciary Professions, Guardianship, Liability, Passing Of Trustees’ and Executors’ Accounts, Power of Attorney, Powers Of Attorney and Guardianship Disputes, Trustee
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