University Hamburg
Model Approaches to Elder Abuse Prevention and Intervention in Legal Guardianship Cases
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
World Congress on Adult Guardianship
May 29, 2014
University Hamburg
Introduction
Abuse in financial affairs (Financial Management/Guardian of the Estate) of wards/clientsMethods: Qualitative- and quantitative-empirical research methodsWhat sorts of crime cases were committed by Public Guardians etc.?
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Introduction
Results Numerous criminal offences (e.g.: fraud, theft, misappropriation) are committed on wards/clients by legal guardians etc.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Introduction
Failures of transparency, fraud and corruption in the area of nursing and care of the elderly and people with disabilitiesThese legal facts are confirmed by Transparency International Germany e.V.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Transparency International Germany/Requests
in the area of juridical care:
1. Supervision and control of juridical care is significantly strengthen, but also to use additional human resources in the area of juridical care.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
2. In all German court districts, there should be installed registries for professional guardian and national databases for comparison of number of cases of compliant and violations by professional guardians and for interaction between all courts of Germany
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
Transparency International Germany/Requests
in the area of juridical care:
University Hamburg
3. In the case of court order and juridical investigation of the assets of wards, these main tasks should be separated from the serial juridical care and implemented by the ongoing support management of juridical care. The four eyes principle of guardians and juridical officers should strictly be applied and create a precise documentation through the process of identification.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
Transparency International Germany/Requests
in the area of juridical care:
University Hamburg
4. Guardians should be obliged to the Commitment Law. Therefore the public official would be subjected to the strict criminal rules of giving/taking unfair advantages.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
Transparency International Germany/Requests
in the area of juridical care:
University Hamburg
Questions
Is „the system of the German custodianship“ an effective tool?Do we need to resolve the abuse of financial affairs by custodianship courts in Germany?Does the German custodianship need a higher compatibility with Art. 12 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Questions
Should the German legislative create a new balanced and fair system of support in the social fields?Could lawyers and other court appointed custodians benefit from training in the social fields?
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Questions
Should it be required that the officials of the custodianship court were trained further in social and medical fields?
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Contemplation
Various associations and experts are actively involved in these subjects in Germany. Some of them are arguing that their own ideas like a form of „Supported Decision-Making“ required by the UN Convention were implemented.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussion
Agreement made by persons without power of representation (ohne Vertretungsmacht)Agreement made by persons with separate power of representation by custodianship court (mit gesonderter Ermächtigung des Gerichtes dann gesetzliche Vertretungsmacht)
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussionGraded assistance/guardianship according to Swiss model (abgestufte Beistandschaften nach Schweizer Modell)Private mandate/authorization (private Mandatierungen)Only social legal assistance according to British Columbia model – Power of Attorney(nur sozialrechtliche Unterstützung)
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussion
The German organization of Guardianship Auditors proposes a model „Agreement made by person without power of representation“ (ohne Vertretungsmacht):
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussion
The so-called „Expression of Intention“ conveys solely the „Declaration of will“ of another without this person himself authorized to represent the other person. The condition is: the will, in the event of a legal „Declaration“ for legal capacity or legal „Right to Act“, be of expected or required as authorized legal correctness and accuracy.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussion
The „procedural status“ means that someone asserts the rights by law of another under his own name. He is not a „representative“, but the appropriate rights by law have been transferred. This transfer can be done by a contract or an order or by a judicial decision or legislation. The transfer could also be designed without restriction of the rights of the affected person.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussion
That is now the case in that it lies with the responsible proceeding assistant who legally, rightfully, can assert in his own name all rights of the affected person in the procedure without disregarding the rights of the affected person. To the relationship of the parties concerned, the legal assistance has no legal power.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Proposals for discussion
Vice versa: Agreement made by person with separate power of representation by custodianship court (mit gesonderter Ermächtigung des Gerichtes dann gesetzliche Vertretungsmacht).
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Questionnaire responses
Hamburg:8 districts of probate courts
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
absolutly yes rather yes
rather noabsolutely
no
0.005.00
10.0015.0020.0025.0030.0035.0040.00
Judges
Jud. Officer
Guardians
Power of attorney (B.C./Germany)
per c
ent
University Hamburg
Questionnaire responses
Niedersachsen:66 districts of probate courts
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
absolutly yes rather yes
rather noabsolutely
no
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Judges
Jud. Officer
Guardians
Power of attorney (B.C./Germany)
per c
ent
University Hamburg
Questionnaire responses
Schleswig-Holstein:26 districts of probate courts
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
absolutly yesrather yes
rather noabsolutely no
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Judges
Jud. Officer
Guardians
Power of attorney (B.C./Germany)
per c
ent
University Hamburg
Developing an approach
Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical StudentApril 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am
The German custodianship law is with its few critical elements, such as electoral-law suspension and restriction consent or approval, in line with the convention (requirement).
University Hamburg
Developing an approach
The practice of custodianship law unfortunately is lagging behind in many areas of the law, also behind the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These issues are in urgent need of handling through regular training of judges, juridical officers and also the guardianship auditor.
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Developing an approach
German law lacks a low-key-system (fehlt ein niederschwelliges System) for support for people with disabilities in exercising their capacity to act outside the legal care or within through flexible rules.This support system that is being demanded from various segments, must be adjusted to the obligatory safety requirements of the convention (law).
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Thank youfor your Attention!
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Literature/Literatur:
Transparenzmängel, Betrug und Korruption im Bereich der Pflege und BetreuungSchwachstellenanalyse von Transparency DeutschlandAuthors: Barbara Stolterfoht, Dr. Anke Martiny1. Auflage 2013, Berlin, Germany
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Literature/Literatur:
„Das Representation Agreement in British Columbia (Canada) – ein Modell für Deutschland? in Bt/Prax 6/2013Authors: Prof.Dr.Lipp/Katharina Baniewski/Benjamin Dankert/Rebecca Newell„Reform des Erwachsenenschutzes in der Schweiz“Authors: Dr. Walter Boente
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
University Hamburg
Literature/Literatur:
„Die UN-Behindertenrechtskonvention und das Betreuungsrecht“, in BtPrax„Assistenz vor Stellvertretung“, in BtPraxAuthor: Uwe Harm, Dipl.-GuardianshipAuditorin Bad Segeberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
April 2014, 10:15 am - 11.15 am Gabriela Kluge, LLM, Medical Student
