Rules of Professional Conduct

Rule 1.14: Client with Diminished Capacity

 (a)当客户就代理作出充分考虑的决定的能力减弱时, whether because of minority, mental impairment or for some other reason, the lawyer shall, as far as reasonably possible, maintain a typical client-lawyer relationship with the client.
   (b) When the lawyer reasonably believes that the client has diminished capacity, is at risk of substantial physical, 经济上或其他方面的损害，除非已采取行动且不能充分维护客户自身利益, the lawyer may take reasonably necessary protective action, 包括咨询有能力采取行动保护客户的个人或实体, in appropriate cases, seeking the appointment of a surrogate decision-maker.
   (c)与能力下降的当事人的代理有关的资料受规则1的保护.6. When taking protective action pursuant to paragraph (b), the lawyer is impliedly authorized under Rule 1.6(a) to reveal information about the client, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to protect the client’s interests.

Comment

   [1] The typical client-lawyer relationship is based on the assumption that the client, when properly advised and assisted, is capable of making decisions about important matters. When the client is a minor or suffers from a diminished mental capacity, however, maintaining the ordinary client-lawyer relationship may not be possible in all respects. 特别是，严重丧失行为能力的人可能没有权力作出具有法律约束力的决定. Nevertheless, a client with diminished capacity often has the ability to understand, deliberate upon, and reach conclusions about matters affecting the client’s own well-being. For example, children as young as five or six years of age, and certainly those of ten or twelve, 是否被认为在有关其监护权的法律诉讼中具有重要的意见. So also, 我们认识到，一些年长者可以完全有能力处理日常财务事务，但在重大交易中需要特别的法律保护. Many people with intellectual disabilities, while lacking sufficient capacity to make binding decisions, have, and are capable of expressing, opinions about a wide range of matters that affect their lives.
   [2]当事人有残疾这一事实并不减少澳门赌场官网对当事人给予关注和尊重的义务. Even if the person has a surrogate decision-maker, the lawyer should as far as possible accord the represented person the status of client, particularly in maintaining communication. “代理决策者”是指由法院指定或法律授权的个人或实体，代表在其生活的一个或多个重要领域缺乏决策能力的个人做出重要决定. The term “surrogate decision-maker” includes, but is not limited to, guardian ad litem, plenary or limited guardian or conservator, proxy decision-maker, or other legal representative.
   [3] The client may wish to have family members, lay advocates, or other persons participate in discussions with the lawyer. When necessary to assist in the representation, 这些人的存在一般不影响澳门赌场官网-当事人证据特权的适用. Nevertheless, the lawyer must keep the client’s interests foremost and, except for protective action authorized under paragraph (b), must look to the client, and not family members or others, to make decisions on the client’s behalf.
   [4] If a surrogate decision-maker has already been appointed for the client, the lawyer should ordinarily look to that person for decisions on behalf of the client. In matters involving a minor, 澳门赌场官网是否应将父母视为自然监护人，可能取决于澳门赌场官网代表未成年人的诉讼程序或事项的类型. In either case, the lawyer should consult with the represented person to the maximum extent possible, as indicated in comment [2] above.

Taking Protective Action
   [5] If a lawyer reasonably believes that a client is at risk of substantial physical, financial or other harm unless action is taken, 而且，典型的客户-澳门赌场官网关系无法维持(a)段所规定的，因为客户缺乏足够的能力就代理事宜进行沟通或作出充分考虑后的决定, then paragraph (b) permits the lawyer to take protective measures deemed necessary. Such measures could include: consulting with family members, using a reconsideration period to permit clarification or improvement of circumstances, using voluntary surrogate decision-making tools such as durable powers of attorney, or consulting with support groups, professional services, 成人保护机构或其他有能力保护客户的个人或实体. In taking any protective action, 澳门赌场官网应在已知程度上以委托人的愿望和价值观等因素为指导, the client’s best interests, the goals of intruding into the client’s decision-making autonomy to the least extent feasible, maximizing client capacities and respecting the client’s family and social connections.
   [6] In determining the extent of the client’s diminished capacity, 澳门赌场官网应考虑并平衡以下因素:客户在做出决定前的清晰推理能力, variability of state of mind, ability to appreciate the consequences of a decision, the substantive fairness of a decision, the consistency of a decision with the known long-term commitments and values of the client. In appropriate circumstances, the lawyer may seek guidance from an appropriate diagnostician.
   [7] If the client does not have a surrogate decision-maker, 澳门赌场官网应考虑是否有必要指定代理决策者来保护委托人的利益. Thus, 行为能力减退的当事人有实质性财产，应当出售以使当事人受益的, effective completion of the transaction may require appointment of a surrogate decision-maker. In addition, 诉讼程序规则有时规定，未成年人或行为能力减弱的人如果没有普通监护人，必须由监护人或下一位朋友代表. In many circumstances, however, the appointment of at least some types of surrogate decision-makers may be more expensive, intrusive, or traumatic for the client than circumstances in fact require. 对这种情况的评估是委托给澳门赌场官网的专业判断的事情. In considering alternatives, however, 澳门赌场官网应代表委托人主张对委托人的决策采取限制最少的干预形式.

Disclosure of the Client’s Condition
   [8] Disclosure of the client’s diminished capacity could adversely affect the client’s interests. For example, raising the question of diminished capacity could, in some circumstances, lead to proceedings for involuntary commitment. Information relating to the representation is protected by Rule 1.6. Therefore, unless authorized to do so, the lawyer may not disclose such information. When taking protective action pursuant to paragraph (b), the lawyer is impliedly authorized to make the necessary disclosures, even when the client directs the lawyer to the contrary. Nevertheless, given the risks of disclosure, (c)款限制澳门赌场官网在与其他个人或实体协商或寻求任命代理决策者时可以披露的内容. At the very least, 在讨论与客户有关的事项之前，澳门赌场官网应确定所咨询的个人或实体是否有可能对客户的利益产生不利影响. The lawyer’s position in such cases is an unavoidably difficult one.

Emergency Legal Assistance
   [9] In an emergency where the health, 行为能力严重下降的人的安全或经济利益受到迫在眉睫和无法弥补的损害的威胁, 澳门赌场官网可以代表当事人采取法律行动，即使当事人无法建立客户-澳门赌场官网关系，也无法就此事作出或表达经过深思熟虑的判断, 被代理人或者其他善意代理人与澳门赌场官网协商后. Even in such an emergency, however, 除非澳门赌场官网有理由相信当事人没有其他澳门赌场官网，否则澳门赌场官网不应采取行动, agent or other representative available. 澳门赌场官网只应在维持现状或避免迫在眉睫和不可挽回的损害的合理必要范围内代表当事人采取法律行动. 在这种紧急情况下代理当事人的澳门赌场官网根据本规则负有与澳门赌场官网对委托人相同的义务.
   [10]澳门赌场官网在紧急情况下代表行为能力严重受损的人行事时，应当像对待客户一样保守当事人的秘密, disclosing them only to the extent necessary to accomplish the intended protective action. 澳门赌场官网应向任何有关法庭和任何其他有关澳门赌场官网披露他或她与该人关系的性质. 澳门赌场官网应尽快采取措施使这种关系正常化或实施其他保护性解决办法. Normally, a lawyer would not seek compensation for such emergency actions taken.