This week we will explore the concept of liberty and how it relates to personal autonomy. The discussion will be framed and moderated by Marios Anastasiadis who has been doing research with the Essex Autonomy Project on legislation within the UK (Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act, European Deceleration of Human Rights) concerning the above topics.
It is a real paradox that, in legal or care settings, once one is deemed as not having the capacity to decide for themselves, a Best-Interests Assessor does that for them. However, it is not an explicit requirement of mentally fit individuals to act in their Best Interest. Evidence of that is all the "bad" decisions each of us makes almost on a daily basis.
Questions that we will consider:
1. Does the right to liberty include a right to autonomous decision making?
2. Should autonomy assume that one is acting in their best interest?
3. How do we define best interest?
4. To what extent do mentally competent individuals act in their own best interest?
5. When should individuals be deprived of their liberty?
6. Can euthanasia and eugenics ever be considered as being in one's best interest?