The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will present the 106th Detroit Mercy Law Review Symposium: "Governing Bodies: Bodily Autonomy and the Law" virtually on Friday, March 4 from noon to 5:15 p.m.
Bodily autonomy has been regulated or banned on many levels throughout history, ranging from slavery to the right to an abortion, assisted suicide, transgender rights, and even issues surrounding the present COVID-19 pandemic. While these laws and regulations have led to controversy and protest, it remains unclear where exactly the line should be drawn limiting government power over citizens' bodies, or if there should be a line at all.
The virtual symposium consists of three panels featuring scholars, legal professionals, and community leaders from across the country:
• Introduction/Autonomy at Life's Beginning and End
• Abigail Matthews & Rebecca Kreitzer, "Viewing Bodily Autonomy Issues Across the States"
• Shaakirrah Sanders, "The Fetal Equality Gap"
• Alexandra Klein, "Choosing how the State Kills"
• Bernadette Nunley, "Regulating Autonomy at Life's End"
• Autonomy & Inequality
• Katherine Macfarlane, "Disability Law's Coercive Medical Encounters"
• Joonu Coste, "Intersectional Legal Analysis of Disability, Mental Illness, Race, and State Violence"
• Brittany Raposa, "Reproductive Slavery: The Exclusion of Women of Color from Reproductive Autonomy and Liberty"
• Jennifer Brobst, "Civil Liability for Systemic Risks of Sexual Violence"
• Exemptions & Exceptions to Autonomy
• Prianka Nair, "Guardianship and the Deprivation of Bodily Autonomy"
• Amber Polk, "The Interpersonal Dimension of Individual Freedom: Why Vaccines Are Not Entirely a Matter of Individual Choice"
• Shanthi Senthe, "Losses and Gains: Regulating Bodies in a Players' Market"
• John Browning, "Is the Devil in the Details?"
Each panel will provide time for questions and answers.
The event will be streamed virtually for the public.
To register, visit https://law.udmercy.edu and scroll down to upcoming events.
For questions regarding the Law Review Symposium, contact Symposium Director Mackenzie Clark at clarkme1@udmercy.edu.
