The Law, Health and Society Research Unit would like to warmly invite you to a panel discussion on Capacity and Autonomy: The Legal and Medical Interface for Decision-Making.
Our ability to make decisions is central to our autonomy and agency. We make choices about our health, lifestyle, relationships and finances. We are also entitled to make mistakes and decisions which have poor outcomes. Over time, health conditions and ageing can affect this ability, and in some cases, individuals may lose their capacity to make decisions. As we near the end of life, there are important decisions that must be made, including end of life care, financial planning and navigating the complexities of relationships.
Abstract
What does it mean to be capable of making decisions? Why are some decisions more complex than others? Our ability to make decisions for ourselves is one of the cornerstones of autonomy and agency as individuals. We are responsible for making decisions regarding our health, lifestyle, relationships and finances. We are entitled to make mistakes and decisions which have poor outcomes.
However, health issues and ageing may mean that we require support when making a decision. In some instances, individuals lose their capacity to make decisions. This is a significant determination, because by law, we no longer have that capacity, and this infringes upon our autonomy. As we near the end of life, there are important decisions that must be made, including end of life care, financial planning and navigating the complexities of relationships. Overall, capacity to make decisions forms an integral part of our lives.
The notion of decision-making capacity is nuanced and raised in a number of contexts. But from a legal and medical understanding, what does it mean to have decision-making capacity?
Dr Olga Pandos, Lecturer in Health Law and Ethics, will be chairing the panel. We will be joined by highly esteemed panellists, including:
- Dr Duncan McKellar (Older Person Psychiatrist)
- Dr Chloe Furst (Geriatrician and Palliative Care Physician); and
- Mr Ashley Roberts (Dementia Consultant).
In this panel, we will examine the legal and medical interface of decision-making capacity in various contexts, including engaging in relationships, medical treatment, end of life care and voluntary assisted dying and financial decisions. We will explore how to foster honest conversations about difficult topics including quality of life, autonomy and dignity.
For any enquiries, please contact Dr Olga Pandos.