Irish Independent

Thousands of people with an intellectual disability are effectively barred from deciding for themselves whether to undergo serious medical procedures, a new report has warned. The report, which will be launched today, calls on the Government to deliver on its promise to establish a panel of guardians who would assist people with a disability faced with ust such choices.

At the moment, everybody over the age of 16 has the right to make their own healthcare decisions - unless they have a disability. The report, in the form of an information booklet, for parents and carers, highlights the current legal quagmire.

Disagreements

"Family members may end up disagreeing on whether somebody should have a medical procedure. This is wholly unsatisfactory," said Deirdre Carroll, of Inclusion Ireland, which produced the booklet. "It is left to medical professionals to make the final decision."

Inclusion Ireland argues that the stance means people with disabilities are denied autonomy and are discriminated against. The booklet points out that there is no system for assessing whether a person has the mental capacity to consent to medical treatment.

The Law Reform Co mmission has already called for more assisted decision making, where an advocate or panel would help a person with an intellectual disability to make a decision.