The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – can the proposed law be applied practically and ethically? - 3PB Barristers

As the End of Life Bill is making its way through Parliament, you are invited to join 3PB's Court of Protection team for a discussion about the legislation thus far on Tuesday 1 April at 11am on Zoom.

Chaired by Stephen Wildblood KC, our panel will include 3PB Court of Protection barristers Jim Hirschmann and Jennifer Kotilaine as well as Dr Ben Wildblood, consultant geriatrician at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and Dr Lucy Pollock, consultant geriatrician at Somerset Foundation NHS Trust.

Our panel of legal and medical professionals will present the facts and consider the competing arguments raised by the current proposals. Our speakers’ presentation will be followed by an extended Q and A session thereafter.

The webinar will last for one hour. Time will be set aside for Q&As.

We would be delighted to see you on Zoom. Please register above so that we know we have enough Zoom spaces available.

About our Speakers

Chair: Stephen Wildblood KC is a 3PB Associate Member, Private FDR Judge, mediator, children and financial remedy arbitrator and early neutral evaluator. Stephen sits part-time in the Family and High Court (Family Division) and writes in a number of Family Law textbooks, including the Red Book. He also writes and directs plays in order to show the social reality behind the issues that arise in Family proceedings.

Presenters and panellists:

Dr Lucy Pollock is a consultant geriatrician at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. She is the author of The Book About Getting Older and The Golden Rule, both published by Penguin, using stories to give older people and those close to them the information that can help us negotiate the delicate medical, social, legal and ethical issues that arise in later life.

Jennifer Kotilaine is a barrister who practices in the Court of Protection and in the Family Division. In the Court of Protection she deals mainly with health and welfare matters up to the High Court. In the Family Division, she represents parents and children in public law proceedings.

Dr Ben Wildblood is a consultant physician at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, specialising in Care of the Elderly medicine and cardiology for the older person. He is a tutor with the Royal College of Physicians, and an expert witness in medical negligence and personal injury litigation.

Jim Hirschmann is a public law barrister. He is regularly instructed in court of protection, administrative court and public inquiry matters. In the medical context, he has experience of best interests decision making including disputes involving deprivation of liberty, addiction, rehabilitation and the way in which medication should be administered. He is ranked as a rising start in the Legal 500 for Court of Protection and Community Care.