文章基本信息

标题：Mediation in Guardianship Proceedings for the Elderly: An Australian Perspective
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作者：Robyn Carroll ; Anita Smith
期刊名称：Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice
印刷版ISSN：0710-0841
出版年度：2010
卷号：28
期号：1
页码：53-80
DOI：10.22329/wyaj.v28i1.4490
出版社：University of Windsor
摘要：Recognition of the benefits that mediation offers to litigants andto the court and tribunal systems has led to formal recognitionand institutionalization of the process in Australia, Canada, theUSA and many other countries. In many instances, these benefitsinclude flexibility of process, informality, a more conciliatoryapproach to dispute resolution and reduced costs to parties.Some of these benefits, when compared to more traditional andadversarial court processes, have also flowed from the introductionof tribunals in many jurisdictions, including guardianship.Guardianship proceedings in Australia are by tribunals, notcourts, and they use flexible procedures, are generally timely, informal,non-adversial and rarely involve extensive legal costs. Inapplications made pursuant to guardianship legislation in Australia,guardianship tribunals are required to consider the wishesof the person about whom a guardianship application is made,find the outcome that is the least restrictive of that person’s freedomof decision or action and make decisions that are in the bestinterests of that person. In this tribunal environment a numberof questions arise regarding the use of mediation in guardianshipproceedings. Firstly, if the process is already efficacious andinexpensive, do the usual inducements for using mediation arise?Secondly, effective mediation requires that one party is not at asignificant disadvantage to another during the mediation process.What measures, if any, are in place to ensure that an elderlyperson with a disability is able to participate in mediation in ameaningful way? Thirdly, given the legislative principles to beapplied by guardianship tribunals once an application is beforethem, is it ever appropriate that an application be resolved byconsensus between the parties and if so, when? This article addressesthese questions and other issues that need to be addressed ifmediation is to play a larger role in resolving guardianship issues.La reconnaissance des bénéfices qu’offre la médiation aux partiesen litige ainsi qu’aux cours et aux systèmes de tribunaux a mené à la reconnaissance formelle et l’institutionnalisation du processusen Australie, au Canada, aux Etats-Unis et dans plusieurs autres pays. Dans beaucoup de cas, ces bénéfices comprennent la souplesse du processus, l’absence de forme, une approche plus conciliante à la résolution de différends et des coûts réduits pour les parties. Certains de ces bénéfices, lorsque l’on fait la comparaison avec les processus plus traditionnels et accusatoires des cours, ont aussi découlé de la mise en place dans plusieurs pays de tribunaux, y compris des tribunaux de tutelle. En Australie, les instances de tutelle ont lieu devant des tribunaux et non des cours; on y utilise des procédures souples, ils sont généralement assez rapides, sans formalités, sans recours à la confrontation, et entraînent rarement des coûts légaux élevés. Lorsqu’une requête est faite conformément à la législation sur la tutelle en Australie, les tribunaux de tutelle doivent tenir compte des désirs de la personne visée dans la requête, identifier le résultat qui restreint le moins la liberté de décision et d’action de cette personne et faire des décisions conformes à l’intérêt véritable de cette personne. Dans ce contexte de tribunaux, un nombre de questions se présentent quant à l’utilisation de la médiation dans des instances de tutelle. D’abord, si le processus est déjà efficace et pas cher, les incitations habituelles à l’utilisation de la médiation se présentent-ils? Deuxièmement, pour que la médiation soit efficace, il ne faut pas qu’une des parties soit en position désavantageuse par rapport à l’autre pendant le processus de médiation. Quelles mesures, s’il y en a, sont en place pour assurer qu’une personne âgée ayant une déficience puisse participer à la médiation de façon significative? Troisièmement, vu les principes légaux qui doivent être appliqués par les tribunaux de tutelle lorsqu’ils sont saisis d’une requête, est-ce jamais approprié qu’une requête soit résolue par consentement entre les parties, et si oui, dans quelles circonstances? Cet article traite de ces questions et d’autres questions à considérer si la médiation va jouer un plus grand rôle dans la résolution de problèmes de tutelle.
其他摘要：Recognition of the benefits that mediation offers to litigants andto the court and tribunal systems has led to formal recognitionand institutionalization of the process in Australia, Canada, theUSA and many other countries. In many instances, these benefitsinclude flexibility of process, informality, a more conciliatoryapproach to dispute resolution and reduced costs to parties.Some of these benefits, when compared to more traditional andadversarial court processes, have also flowed from the introductionof tribunals in many jurisdictions, including guardianship.Guardianship proceedings in Australia are by tribunals, notcourts, and they use flexible procedures, are generally timely, informal,non-adversial and rarely involve extensive legal costs. Inapplications made pursuant to guardianship legislation in Australia,guardianship tribunals are required to consider the wishesof the person about whom a guardianship application is made,find the outcome that is the least restrictive of that person’s freedomof decision or action and make decisions that are in the bestinterests of that person. In this tribunal environment a numberof questions arise regarding the use of mediation in guardianshipproceedings. Firstly, if the process is already efficacious andinexpensive, do the usual inducements for using mediation arise?Secondly, effective mediation requires that one party is not at asignificant disadvantage to another during the mediation process.What measures, if any, are in place to ensure that an elderlyperson with a disability is able to participate in mediation in ameaningful way? Thirdly, given the legislative principles to beapplied by guardianship tribunals once an application is beforethem, is it ever appropriate that an application be resolved byconsensus between the parties and if so, when? This article addressesthese questions and other issues that need to be addressed ifmediation is to play a larger role in resolving guardianship issues.