ACHIEVING RESPECT FOR THE ADULT’S RIGHTS, WILL AND PREFERENCES – 1
Capacity assessments, the meaning of ‘capacity’, appropriateness of capacity thresholds, support for the exercise of legal capacity, supported decision-making (the role of, types, anticipatory and advance care and treatment planning, supported decision-making in challenging circumstances), equality and non-discrimination, substitute/proxy decision-making, and supported decision-making.
ACHIEVING RESPECT FOR THE ADULT’S RIGHTS, WILL AND PREFERENCES – 2
The role of guardians/deputies/trustees and attorneys (financial and welfare), undue influence and conflict of interest, the balance between autonomy and protection, concepts of vulnerability, support and protection of adults at risk of harm, the interface between laws and services.
MONITORING, REGULATION, REMEDIES AND ENFORCEMENT
The role and activities of Public Guardians, NHRIs, and Commissions, the role of courts and tribunals, specialist courts and tribunals, access to justice, legal representation, cross-border issues, the police.
LAW, POLICY AND PRACTICE REVIEW AND REFORM
Examples, lessons learned, lived experience and family/carer involvement, achieving UNCRPD compliance, unified mental health and capacity legislation, achieving underlying culture change.
RIGHTS, ETHICS AND THE LAW DURING NATIONAL EMERGENCIES
Experiences from COVID-19 including lessons learned, use of emergency measures, resource allocation, human rights, the ethics of care and treatment including equality of access, supporting the adult, anticipatory care and treatment planning in emergencies.
THE ADULT AND RESEARCH
Clinical and social research, ethical issues, inter and multi-disciplinary research, benefits, disadvantages, valid consent to participate in research. Whilst the above listed congress topics are aimed to provide an overview of the overall structure of WCAC 2022, the congress organisers appreciate the dynamic and fast moving nature of these themes and shall accommodate any future developments and topics of interest.