It shall be the duty of
the guardian or limited guardian of the person:
(1) To file within three months after appointment a personal
care plan for the incapacitated person which shall include (a) an
assessment of the incapacitated person's physical, mental, and
emotional needs and of such person's ability to perform or assist
in activities of daily living, and (b) the guardian's specific
plan for meeting the identified and emerging personal care needs
of the incapacitated person.
(2) To file annually or, where a guardian of the estate has
been appointed, at the time an account is required to be filed
under RCW 11.92.040, a report on the status of the incapacitated
person, which shall include:
(a) The address and name of the incapacitated person and all
residential changes during the period;
(b) The services or programs which the incapacitated person
receives;
(c) The medical status of the incapacitated person;
(d) The mental status of the incapacitated person;
(e) Changes in the functional abilities of the incapacitated
person;
(f) Activities of the guardian for the period;
(g) Any recommended changes in the scope of the authority of
the guardian;
(h) The identity of any professionals who have assisted the
incapacitated person during the period.
(3) To report to the court within thirty days any
substantial change in the incapacitated person's condition, or
any changes in residence of the incapacitated person.
(4) Consistent with the powers granted by the court, to care
for and maintain the incapacitated person in the setting least
restrictive to the incapacitated person's freedom and appropriate
to the incapacitated person's personal care needs, assert the
incapacitated person's rights and best interests, and if the
incapacitated person is a minor or where otherwise appropriate,
to see that the incapacitated person receives appropriate
training and education and that the incapacitated person has the
opportunity to learn a trade, occupation, or profession.
(5) Consistent with RCW 7.70.065, to provide timely,
informed consent for health care of the incapacitated person,
except in the case of a limited guardian where such power is not
expressly provided for in the order of appointment or subsequent
modifying order as provided in RCW 11.88.125 as now or hereafter
amended, the standby guardian or standby limited guardian may
provide timely, informed consent to necessary medical procedures
if the guardian or limited guardian cannot be located within four
hours after the need for such consent arises. No guardian,
limited guardian, or standby guardian may involuntarily commit
for mental health treatment, observation, or evaluation an
alleged incapacitated person who is unable or unwilling to give
informed consent to such commitment unless the procedures for
involuntary commitment set forth in chapter 71.05 or 72.23 RCW
are followed. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
allow a guardian, limited guardian, or standby guardian to
consent to:
(a) Therapy or other procedure which induces convulsion;
(b) Surgery solely for the purpose of psychosurgery;
(c) Other psychiatric or mental health procedures that
restrict physical freedom of movement, or the rights set forth in
*RCW 71.05.370.
A guardian, limited guardian, or standby guardian who
believes these procedures are necessary for the proper care and
maintenance of the incapacitated person shall petition the court
for an order unless the court has previously approved the
procedure within the past thirty days. The court may order the
procedure only after an attorney is appointed in accordance with
RCW 11.88.045 if no attorney has previously appeared, notice is
given, and a hearing is held in accordance with RCW 11.88.040.
[1991 c 289 § 11; 1990 c 122 § 21.]
NOTES:
*Reviser's note: RCW 71.05.370 was recodified as RCW 71.05.217 pursuant to 2005 c 504 § 108, effective July 1, 2005.
Effective date -- 1990 c 122: See note following RCW 11.88.005.