Is a court-ordered relationship in which a judge appoints one person (a guardian) to manage the health care, personal care and placement decisions of another. A protected person under a guardianship is someone who is determined to be legally incapacitated. A protected person can be a child or an adult. What does “incapacitated” mean in Oregon law? Incapacitated is defined in Oregon law as “a condition in which a person’s ability to receive and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions is impaired to such an extent that the person presently lacks the capacity to meet the essential requirements for the person’s physical health or safety.” Guardianship assures that these needs are met.