The 2026 Baron de Lancey Lecture
Schedule
Wed Mar 18 2026 at 05:00 pm to 07:00 pm
UTC+00:00Location
Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge | Cambridge, EN
About this Event
Each year, the Baron de Lancey Lecture brings a leading mind to Cambridge to discuss a contentious topic in medical law and ethics. This year, Professor Sir Ian Kennedy will speak on “Having the Last Word: Autonomy in Healthcare”, revisiting arguments first advanced in his 1980 Reith Lectures on the power imbalance between clinicians and patients and the need to place patient autonomy at the centre of medical decision-making.
Reflecting on developments over the past four decades, Professor Kennedy will examine how respect for autonomy has become embedded in medical law and practice, while also remaining a fragile and contested commitment. He will then consider how autonomy continues to challenge decision-makers across contemporary issues, including assisted dying and cosmetic surgery.
About the Speaker: Professor Sir Ian Kennedy KC(hon) FBA LLD is one of the UK’s foremost authorities on health law, ethics and policy. A pioneering figure in the development of medical law and ethics, he founded the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King’s College London in 1976, which became a model for the field. His scholarship and public engagement have helped shape modern understandings of patients’ rights, medical accountability and health governance. Beyond academia, Professor Kennedy has chaired major public inquiries and commissions, including the Bristol Royal Infirmary Public Inquiry (1998–2001), the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (1998–2002) and the Healthcare Commission (2002–2009). His contributions have been recognised with a knighthood (2002) and election as a Fellow of the British Academy.
About LML: The Centre for Law, Medicine and Life Sciences fosters legal research and teaching on a wide range of issues in medicine and life sciences, helping to promote responsible, effective, and affordable healthcare. Established in 2015/16 at the University of Cambridge (Faculty of Law), LML is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Join us for a compelling discussion on the balance of power, ethics, and choice in modern medicine.
Doors open at 16:45.
The lecture will run from 17:00-18:15, followed by a drinks reception.
The Baron de Lancey Lecture series is kindly supported by the Ver Heyden de Lancey Fund.
Where is it happening?
Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, 10 West Road, Cambridge, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
