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Comparisons of guardianship laws and surrogate decision-making practices in China, Japan, Thailand and Australia: a review by the Asia Consortium, International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) capacity taskforce

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2015

Joshua Tsoh ,
Carmelle Peisah ,
Jin Narumoto ,
Nahathai Wongpakaran ,
Tinakon Wongpakaran ,
Nick O’Neill ,
Tao Jiang ,
Shoichi Ogano ,
Masaru Mimura  and
Yuka Kato
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Joshua Tsoh*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), People's Republic of China Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, HKSAR, People's Republic of China Capacity Australia, Sydney, Australia
Carmelle Peisah
Affiliation:
Capacity Australia, Sydney, Australia University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney University, Australia
Jin Narumoto
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan Japan Science and Technology Agency, Center of Innovation Program
Nahathai Wongpakaran
Affiliation:
Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Tinakon Wongpakaran
Affiliation:
Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Nick O’Neill
Affiliation:
Capacity Australia, Sydney, Australia University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney University, Australia
Tao Jiang
Affiliation:
Japan Science and Technology Agency, Center of Innovation Program Faculty of Law, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, People's Republic of China
Shoichi Ogano
Affiliation:
Japan Science and Technology Agency, Center of Innovation Program Faculty of Law, politics and Economics, Department of Policy Studies, Chiba, Japan
Masaru Mimura
Affiliation:
Japan Science and Technology Agency, Center of Innovation Program Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Yuka Kato
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan Japan Science and Technology Agency, Center of Innovation Program
Helen Chiu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), People's Republic of China Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, HKSAR, People's Republic of China
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Joshua Tsoh, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, Hong Kong, C/O Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong. Phone: +852-2636-7748; Fax: +852-2635-8950. Email: tsohmy@ha.org.hk.
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Abstract

Background:

The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) capacity taskforce was established to promote the autonomy, proper access to care, and dignity of persons with decision-making disabilities (DMDs) across nations. The Asia Consortium of the taskforce was established to pursue these goals in the Asia-Pacific region. This paper is part of the Asia Consortium's initiative to promote understanding and advocacy in regard to surrogate decision-making across the region.

Method:

The current guardianship laws are compared, and jurisdictional variations in the processes for proxy decision-making to support persons with DMDs and other health and social needs in China, Japan, Thailand, and Australia are explored.

Results:

The different Asia-Pacific countries have various proxy decision-making mechanisms in place for persons with DMDs, which are both formalized according to common law, civil law, and other legislation, and shaped by cultural practices. Various processes for guardianship and mechanisms for medical decision-making and asset management exist across the region. Processes that are still evolving across the region include those that facilitate advanced planning as a result of the paucity of legal structures for enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and guardianship in some regions, and the struggle to achieve consensual positions in regard to end-of-life decision-making. Formal processes for supporting decision-making are yet to be developed.

Conclusions:

The diverse legal approaches to guardianship and administration must be understood to meet the challenges of the rapidly ageing population in the Asia-Pacific region. Commonalities in the solutions and difficulties faced in encountering these challenges have global significance.

Keywords

AustraliaChinaHong KongJapanThailandagedAsiadementia
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , June 2015 , pp. 1029 - 1037
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

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