The public petitions system has now closed ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May 2026. It is not possible to submit a new petition to the Scottish Parliament or sign a petition until after the election.
The petitions system will reopen at the start of the new parliamentary session.
For more information about the petitions process, please contact the committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot.
For more information about the election campaign period and the dissolution of the current parliament, please visit the Scottish Parliament’s Election 2026 webpage: https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/election-2026
Closed petition PE2194: Amend the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act to prevent abuse of power of attorney
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 in line with recommendations of the Scott Review, to make it fit for purpose and to protect vulnerable adults from abuse of the use of powers of attorney.
Background information
During COVID it became evident that vulnerable adults were at risk of being abused. My mother Letty was one of those adults. In trying to improve things for her, I found myself at odds with her Power of Attorney.
I approached organisations including the Office of the Public Guardian and the Mental Welfare Commission. They advised me that the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 was not fit for purpose - the gaps within it did not adequately allow for thorough oversight of the Power of Attorney role. This remains the case.
In my quest for those most vulnerable adults to be protected I continue to call for a “Letty’s Law”, in remembrance of my late mother, and for the Act to be amended in line with recommendations of the Scott Review, to prevent abuse of Powers of Attorney.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
324 signatures