Abstract
By itself, the concept of competency is one that we rarely think about. It is only when doubt arises about someone’s mental ability to make rational decisions regarding his person or property that decisions about competency become important to us. The law presumes that adults are competent to manage their personal lives and their finances. In contrast, those under 18 years of age are deemed “minors” and for most purposes are considered legally incompetent. Competency forms the basis for being able to exercise our legal rights. These cover a wide range of areas, from personal decision making, such as marriage and refusal of treatment, to commercial transactions, such as purchasing a home. Legal competence serves as the foundation for participating in a variety of activities sanctioned by law, ranging from voting for elected officials to holding a professional license. One form of legal competence is required to participate in the trial process as a defendant and another to participate as a witness in court.
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Bibliography
I. Competency A. Cases
Application of President and Directors of Georgetown College, 331 F.2d 1000 (D.C.Cir. 1964). [refusal of blood transfusion due to religious beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness]
In re Guardianship of Mikulanec, 356 N.W.2d 683 (Minn.Sup.Ct. 1984). [competency to marry] Taylor v. Garinger, 507 N.E.2d 406 (Ohio App. 1986). [testamentary capacity after legal incompetence]
Blattner v. Blattner, 411 N.W.2d 24 (Minn.App. 1987). [competency to divorce]
In the Matter of Beth Israel Medical Center, 519 N.Y.S.2d 511 (Sup. 1987). [competency to consent to surgery]
Julius Cohen Jeweler v. Succession of Jumon ville, 506 So. 2d 535 (La. App. 1987). [competency to contract to buy jewelry]
In re Milton, 505 N.E.2d 255 (Ohio Sup.Ct. 1987). [treatment refusal due to religious belief in faith healing]
Succession of Sauls, 510 So.2d 715 (La. App. 1987). [testamentary capacity after legal incompetence]
Heights Realty v. Phillips, 749 P.2d 77 (N.M.Sup.Ct. 1988). [competency to sign real-estate-listing contract]
Feiden v. Feiden, 542 N.Y.S.2d 860 (A.D. 1989). [competency to execute deed]
Harper v. Rogers, 387 S.E.2d 547 (Sup.Ct.W.Va. 1989). [competency to execute deed]
loyd v. Jordan, 544 So.2d 957 (Ala.Sup.Ct. 1989). [competency to sign annuity contract]
Weir by Gasper v. Estate of CIAO, 556 A.2d 819 (Sup.Ct.Pa. 1989). [competency to transfer real estate]
Craig v. Perry, 565 So.2d 171 (Ala.Sup.Ct. 1990). [testamentary capacity]
Payne v. Marion General Hospital, 549 N.E.2d 1043 (Ind.App. 1990). [competency to request do not resuscitate order]
In the matter of Romero, 790 P.2d 819 (Sup.Ct.Colo. 1990). [competency to consent to sterilization]
Wilcox v. Willard Shopping Center, 579 A.2d 130 (Conn. App. 1990). [competency to bid on property]
In re Marriage of Davis, 576 N.E.2d 972 (111. App. 1991). [competency to marry]
Pape v. Byrd, 582 N.E.2d 164 (Sup.Ct.Ill. 1991). [competency to marry]
Shoals Ford v. Clardy, 588 So.2d 879 (Ala.Sup.Ct. 1991). [competency of person in manic episode to buy truck]
Syno v. Syno, 594 A.2d 307 (Pa.Super. 1991). [competency to divorce]
Annotation: Power of court or other public agencies, in the absence of statutory authority, to order compulsory medical care for adult, 9 A.L.R.3d 1391.
Annotation: Mental competency of patient to consent to surgical operation or medical treatment, 25 A.L.R.3d 1439.
I. Competency B. Articles and Books
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II. Guardianship and Substituted Decision Making A. Cases
Vecchione v. Wohlgemuth, 426 F.Supp. 1297 (E.D.Pa. 1977); 558 F.2d 150 (3rd Cir. 1977).
Estate of Early, 673 P.2d 209 (Sup.Ct. Cal. 1983).
In re Gardner, 459 N.E.2d 17 (Ill.App. 1984).
In the Matter of the Guardianship of Opal Ingram, 689 P.2d 1363 (Wash.Sup.Ct. 1984). [court approval needed for amputation]
Pace v. Pace, 513 N.E.2d 1357 (Ohio App. 1986).
Detzel v. Detzel, 521 N.Y.S.2d 6 (A.D. 1987).
In the Matter of the Guardianship of K.N.K., 407 N.W.2d 281 (Wis.App. 1987).
In re Guardianship of Osterman, 515 So.2d 1066 (Fla.App. 1987).
Werner v. Wright, 737 S.W.2d 761 (Mo.App. 1987).
In re Conservatorship of Goodman, 766 P.2d 1010 (Okla.App. 1988).
In re Conservatorship of Estate of Martin, 421 N.W.2d 463 (Neb.Sup.Ct. 1988). [“prudent man” proxy decision-making standard]
In re Interdiction of Thomas, 535 So.2d 1315 (La.App. 1988).
Wahlenmaier, v. Wahlenmaier, 762 S.W.2d 575 (Tex.Sup.Ct. 1988). [guardian’s right to obtain divorce for ward]
In re Bailey, 771 S.W.2d 779 (Ark.Sup.Ct. 1989).
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Bean, 558 A.2d 170 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1989).
Goldman v. Krane, 786 P.2d.437 (Colo.App. 1989).
Hill v. Jones, 773 S.W.2d 55 (Tex.Ct.App. 1989).
Pate v. Bobo, 540 So.2d 660 (Sup.Ct.Ala. 1989).
In re Lundgaard, 453 N.W.2d 58 (Minn.App. 1990).
Bryan v. Hölzer, 589 So.2d 648 (Sup.Ct.Miss. 1991). [fraud by conservator]
In the Matter of Grinker, 573 N.E.2d 536 (N.Y.Ct.App. 1991). [conservator may not commit ward to nursing home]
In the Matter of Estate of Logan, 815 P.2d 35 (Idaho App. 1991). [guardian’s failure to keep records]
Guardianship of Doe, 583 N.E.2d 1263 (Mass.Sup.Jud.Ct. 1992). [terminate feeding and hydration from never competent person]
Annotation: Effect of guardianship of adult on testamentary capacity, 89 ALR 2d 1120.
Annotation: Validity of guardianship proceeding based on brainwashing of subject by religious, political, or social organization, 44 ALR 4th 1207.
II. Guardianship and Substituted Decision Making B. Articles and Books
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Peters, R., Schmidt, W. C, & Miller, K. S. (1985). Guardianship of the elderly in Tallahassee, Florida. Gerontologist, 25, 532–538.
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Pleak, R. R., & Appelbaum, P. S. (1985). The clinician’s role in protecting patient’s rights in guardianship proceedings. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 36, 77–79.
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Schmidt, W. C., & Peters, R. (1987). Legal incompetents’ need for guardians in Florida. Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 15, 69–83.
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III. Elder Abuse and Protective Services
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IV. Advance Directives A. Cases
Barber v. Superior Court, 195 Cal.Rptr. 484 (1983).
Bartling v. Superior Court, 209 Cal.Rptr. 220 (App. 1984).
John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital v. Bludworth, 452 So.2d 921 (Fla. 1984).
In Re Conroy, 486 A.2d 1209 (NJ.Sup.Ct. 1985).
Saunders v. State, 492 N.YS.2d 510 (Sup.Ct. 1985).
Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health, 110 S.Ct. 2841 (1990).
IV. Advance Directives B. Articles and Books
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Weiner, B.A., Wettstein, R.M. (1993). Competency and Guardianship. In: Legal Issues in Mental Health Care. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1654-9_9
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