Choosing Self-Neglect

University of Brighton Philosophy Society lecture by Pam Laidman, University of Brighton. 

Self-neglect - we all do it at some time - drink and eat too much, lie in bed all Sunday morning, put off the cleaning, washing and other domestic chores. We get away with it and our lives carry on as usual. We survive with our health and well-being intact and, apart from the occasional cryptic comment, it goes largely unnoticed. We can be un-virtuous without being unduly criticised. So why do some individuals (especially older people) become identified as self-neglecting by health and social care practitioners? Why do they become labelled as ignorant or incompetent or lacking in capacity for doing the same as we all do? What is so special about their self-neglect that it moves practitioners to implement their 'Duty of Care' in response? And, if we are free to choose how to live our own lives, should it? This paper will introduce some key aspects of self-neglect and ask can we choose self-neglect? Any answers provided by those attending will be very welcome.