Early Career Work in Progress Seminar (Tuesday - Week 7, MT25)
Tuesday 28 November, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Ryle Room (20.339), Schwarzman Centre
Joe Gough (Merton): 'Understanding ‘Dignity’ and ‘Autonomy’ in Assisted Dying'
Abstract: Concerns about dignity and autonomy are among the most-frequently cited reasons for opting for assisted dying. Disability rights organizations sometimes express the worry that those opting for assisted dying systematically do not understand the kind of socially-scaffolded dignity and autonomy available to those experiencing severe disability, even in light of a terminal diagnosis. I will consider whether this can reasonably be construed as a failure of 'understanding' of the sort relevant to the law that governs whether people have the capacity to make decisions for themselves, or whether this sets too high a bar for decision-making.
