About Public Guardians
Sometimes people become incapable of making minimally adequate decisions about medical treatment or everyday life and as a result their health or safety are in jeopardy. Under Utah law, a court may appoint a guardian to make decisions for a person when this happens.A person may become incapacitated because of:
- A severe developmental disability
- An acute, serious mental illness
- Alzheimer's disease and similar problems that can occur with aging
- A serious illness or accident
- Alcoholism or drug abuse
However, it is important to remember that many people who experience these problems are quite capable of making their own decisions and do not need a guardian.
