Adrian Ward

Convener of MHDC from 1989, co-convener of Working Group. Directly relevant experience includes first proposal for mental health and incapacity reform, to Scottish Law Commission (November 1986), external expert with Scottish Law Commission preparing Incapable Adults Report and draft Bill (from 1991), Chair of two NHS Trusts providing relevant services (1992 – 1997), work as expert to World Health Organisation (from 1993), continuing roles on AWI reform (1997 to date), member of expert working party drafting Council of Europe Ministerial Recommendation on powers of attorney and advance directives, thereafter consultant assessing implementation and writing Report “Enabling citizens to plan for incapacity” (2008 – 2018). Joint author of European Law Institute paper for European Commission on inter alia advance directives (2022). Member of Hague Conference Working Party drafting practical handbook on inter alia status of advance directives under Hague Convention 35 of 2000 on the International Protection of Adults (2021-2022, continuing). Currently – work, presentations and authorship on development of advance directives and relevant Covid-related issues.

Background: practising solicitor from 1967, non-practising from 2016, author and joint author of several textbooks including “Adult Incapacity” (2003), “Adults with Incapacity Legislation” (2008), “The International Protection of Adults” (2015), “Court of Protection Practice” annually from 2010, 3rd edition (2015) and 4th edition (2018) of “Mental Capacity Law and Practice”, textbooks in several overseas countries and languages.