The editorial “Revamp laws for legal guardians” (April 24, TribLIVE) supporting Pennsylvania Senate Bill 506 inaccurately states that the bill requires steps to preclude guardians’ conflicts of interest like those highlighted by Spotlight PA. In fact, nothing in the bill prevents nursing homes from nominating specific professional guardians.
The bill also allows an attorney for an alleged incapacitated person to argue for a guardianship to protect the person’s assets. Legal experts have supported financial protective order laws, but the Pennsylvania Senate disregarded this option in favor of draconian and expensive guardianships. SB 506 also does not require that attorneys for persons facing guardianship be experienced in disability rights law. Bloomberg Law recently profiled the successes of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN). LACSN’s Guardianship Advocacy Program was established after the scandal satirized in the movie “I Care a Lot.” LACSN attorneys have prevented 25% of guardianship petitions from being approved.
Pennsylvania citizens deserve the same protection from unnecessary and oppressive guardianships.
Dr. Mary Dvorak
Harrison