Spring into BABEL Webinar Series 2022
Across four 90 minute webinars, the Spring Into BABEL webinar series aims to explore the theory and practice around ‘best interests’ decisions in healthcare. We will consider what it means and what it involves – for patients, those close to them, professionals, and researchers. We will also reflect on what is working well, as well as what could be improved going forward. All webinars will be held on Zoom, and attendees need to register for each session individually using the links below.
Webinar 1: Best interests in healthcare: Theory and practice.
This webinar was held on Thursday 28 April, 12:00-13:30 (Online). A recorded version will be uploaded to our website in due course.
Webinar 2: In the best interests of the child patient?
This webinar was held on Thursday 5th May 2022, 12:00-13:30 (Online). A recorded version will be uploaded to our website in due course.
Webinar 3: In the best interests of the adult patient?
This webinar was held on Tuesday 10 May, 12:00-13:30 (Online). A recorded version will be uploaded to our website in due course.
Webinar 4: Thinking differently about ‘best interests’ decisions?
Monday 16 May, 12:00-13:30 (Online)
The fourth and final webinar for the 2022 Spring series is Thinking differently about ‘best interests’ decisions? This webinar will explore international perspectives and approaches to healthcare decisions for people who lack ‘capacity’ or ‘competence’.
Micah Hester will join us from the USA to offer some insights into possible alternative approaches to making healthcare decisions with and for those who lack the capacity to do so. Micah is Chair of the Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, and Professor of Medical Humanities and Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Micah isalso a clinical ethicist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.Amongst his research interests, Micah has published a book on the ethical aspects of end-of-life decision-making.
Gareth Owen is a Reader at King’s College London and an honorary consultant psychiatrist at the South London Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. His research has focused on decision-making capacity and related areas, spanning theoretical to practical issues as well as policy impact. He leads the Wellcome Trust Mental Health and Justice Project.
Aoife Finnerty will outline the approaches to healthcare decision-making for adults lacking capacity that have been taken by the law in other jurisdictions, such as Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Aoife is a researcher on the BABEL project, based in the Centre for Health, Law and Society.
Emanuele Valenti will reflect on findings from BABEL's national review of empirical studies of best interests decision-making in healthcare, and some key findings from an international review. Emanuele is a researcher on the BABEL project, based in the Centre for Ethics in Medicine.
We will hear brief presentations from the speakers and time will be allowed for discussion and questions from the audience. The chair for this webinar will be Sheelagh McGuinness. A Professor of Law at the University of Bristol, Sheelagh is a co-workstream lead on the BABEL project.
If you would like to attend, you will need to register. The webinar is open to anyone who would like to attend, including members of the public.
