title: Significance of past statements: speech act theory.
abstract: In W v M, a judge concluded that M's past statements should not be given weight in a best interests assessment. Several commentators in the ethics literature have argued this approach ignored M's autonomy. In this short article I demonstrate how the basic tenets of speech act theory can be used to challenge the inherent assumption that past statements represent an individual's beliefs, choices or decisions. I conclude that speech act theory, as a conceptual tool, has a valuable contribution to make to this debate.
authors: Centre for Bioethics and Medical Law, Law School, Bowland North, Lancaster University, Lancaste rLA1 4YN, UK. joanne.gordon.adr@gmail.com
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Gordon
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016224:Living Wills / Q000941:ethics; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State; D026684:Personal Autonomy
keywords: Autonomy; Care of the Dying Patient; Clinical Ethics; Living Wills/Advance Directives
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