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「家和萬事興」當然最好，但如果老友記真的遭遇不幸，身邊的人對您不好，可以怎樣做？這一節「長者法網智多聲」，就跟大家說說虐待長者，即是虐老。
現在香港並沒有法例定義何謂虐老，社會福利署就有「處理虐老個案程序指引」，將虐老歸納為六種形式，讓我們逐一為大家說一下。
第一種是「身體虐待」，即對長者造成身體傷害或痛苦。如果因為沒有提供預防措施而令老人家受傷，也算是身體虐待，但如果是意外導致的傷害，就不算是虐待。
第二種是「精神虐待」。出言侮辱、罵老人家、孤立他們、令老人家長期受驚、侵犯長者的私隱，或無必要地限制長者的活動範圍或自由等，都是精神虐待。
第三種是「疏忽照顧」，即嚴重或長期忽視長者生活上的基本需要，例如沒有為老人家提供足夠的飲食、衣服、住宿、醫療、護理等，以致危害他們的健康或性命。安老院舍、醫院等，如果沒有盡照顧長者的責任，令老人家受傷害，也算是疏忽照顧。
第四種是「侵吞財產」，包括任何涉及剝奪長者財富、或罔顧長者利益的行為。
第五種是「遺棄長者」。照顧者或監護人，如果沒有合理原因而離棄老人家，導致他們身體受傷或心理創傷，好像是將老人家送進醫院時虛報地址，令醫院沒法聯絡家人，就屬於這一種虐待。
最後是「性虐待」，亦即性侵犯長者，包括向老人家展示自己的性器官、非禮及強迫進行性行為。
雖然本港沒有法例專門處理虐老的個案，但有不少法例，其實也可以處理與虐老相關的個案的，好像是襲擊、傷人、非禮、盜竊、搶劫、欺詐相關的罪行等。《家庭暴力條例》就訂明，法庭可發出強制令，保護任何人，免受親屬的暴力對待。而安老院舍的經營，亦受法例規管。至於精神虐待、疏忽照顧和遺棄長者，就暫時沒有法例處理。
不過，無論遇到甚麼形式的虐待，受害人除了可以報警之外，還有很多機構和服務組織，願意伸出援手。衛生署提供了這些機構和組織的聯絡方法，有需要的老友記，可以參考長者社區法網文字版。
如果不幸受到虐待，千萬不要覺得家醜不外傳而啞忍，不要怕沒有面子，也不用怕，勇敢一點求助，很多人都樂意盡力幫忙的。希望這一節「長者法網智多聲」，可以幫助有需要的老友記吧。拜拜。
PrintAssistance to elders who are mentally incapacitated persons (MIP)
If the elder is a “mentally incapacitated person” (“MIP”) within the meaning of Section 2(1) of the Mental Health Ordinance (“MHO”), Cap.136, Laws of Hong Kong, a committee of the estate can be appointed under Part II of the Ordinance to protect the property and financial affairs of the MIP and a guardian can be appointed under Part IVB of the Ordinance to handle MIP’s bank accounts.
Guardianship Order
A guardianship Order is made by the Guardianship Board. The Guardianship Board is a legal quasi-judicial tribunal which conducts hearings in order to make guardianship orders for people aged 18 or above who are incapable of making sound decisions. The Board can appoint a private guardian (family member or friend) or a public guardian (the Director of Social Welfare).
A guardianship application under Part IVB of the MHO may be made on the grounds that:
- an MIP is suffering from a mental disorder or mental handicap of a nature or degree which warrants his or her reception into guardianship under Part IVB; and
- if it is necessary, in the interests of the welfare of the MIP or for the protection of other persons, that the MIP should be received into guardianship.
The application has to be accompanied by and founded on the written reports of two registered medical practitioners in accordance with section 59M(3) of the MHO. The medical report shall include:
- a statement that in the medical or other opinion of the practitioner, the grounds set out in section 59M(2) of the MHO are satisfied;
- the reasons for that opinion so far as it relates to the grounds set out in section 59M(2)(a) and section 59M(2)(b).
A Guardianship Order can last up to 12 months.
Emergency Guardianship Order
The process of application for a Guardianship Order can be time-consuming.
The Board can make an Emergency Guardianship Order under section 59Q of the MHO where it has reasons to believe that:
- a person concerned is in danger, or is being, or likely to be, maltreated or exploited;
- the person concerned is incapable of making reasonable decisions in relation to his personal circumstances; and
- it is necessary to make immediate provision to protect the person.
The applicants in such circumstances are likely to be a social worker, doctor, or a family member. However, an application for a normal Guardianship Order (under section 59M of the MHO) must be made first or simultaneously when applying for an Emergency Guardianship Order.
An Emergency Guardianship Order lasts for a maximum of 3 months.
For more details about Guardianship issues, please click here.