Derek Andrews is a doctoral student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His research interests lie primarily in the fields of bioethics and metaphysics, centering on questions around personal identity, the nature of mental disorders, and healthcare access issues for marginalized populations. His current project examines the tension between Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAiD) legislation and the goal of maintaining patient autonomy for persons with mental health challenges.
What excites you about philosophy?
What excites me most about philosophy is its ability to break down complex problems, shed light on the distinctions that drive the way we reason about these problems, and critically examine those distinctions – especially when it isn’t obvious what distinctions or assumptions are operating in the background of these complex problems. In short, I’ve always been excited by the problem-solving tools that philosophy offers, particularly when those tools lead us to reassess our positions or reach plausible solutions to difficult questions.
What are you most proud of in your professional life?
In my professional life, the thing I’m most proud of is winning a doctoral fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the federal research funding agency for the humanities and social sciences in Canada, earlier this year. I received the news that my application was successful during a period when I was beginning to doubt myself and question the direction I wanted to take my research, so it was a real weight off my shoulders to know that folks outside of my network thought that my research was worth supporting. As much as the financial support means, the sense of validation that came along with the award means so much more.
What are you working on right now?
My doctoral research is focused on what I see as a major problem with Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAiD) legislation, Bill C-14. While the legislation does a lot of good, access to MAiD is currently restricted to mentally competent persons of the age of majority who are in a state of advanced and irreversible decline, suffering intolerable distress, and whose deaths are reasonably foreseeable. This has the effect of excluding several vulnerable groups, such as mature minors and persons for whom a mental illness is the sole reason for their desire to access MAiD, even though, on compassionate grounds, it seems they should not be.
My work focuses specifically on the case of persons with dementia and related conditions, who, barring the presence of comorbid conditions, are virtually barred from accessing MAiD. This is because persons with early-stage dementia do not meet the reasonable foreseeability criterion, and those with late-stage dementia cannot consent to the procedure. This is at odds with the goal of preserving patient autonomy in patient-centered approaches to healthcare, as well as with the compassionate attitudes that led to the introduction of Bill C-14. The goal of my project is to work toward a resolution of this tension.
What do you like to do outside work?
When I’m not working, I try to make sure I take time to keep in touch with friends. Usually this means carving out some time to get a coffee, share a meal, or have a few drinks – the sort of things that allow me to keep my feet on the ground and maintain relationships with others. I have a very real tendency to get wrapped up in my work to the exclusion of most other things – which, of course, is not ideal for maintaining social relationships outside of work – so taking this time is very important to me.
What time of day are you most productive and creative?
Definitely in the afternoon and evening – I’ve never been a morning person! For some reason I’ve always felt more productive and able to think creatively when I begin and end my day later than what is probably the norm for most people. One part of this I’ve always appreciated is that I tend to travel between home and work after rush hour has more or less finished, which affords me some time to let my mind wander and to mull over problems I’m working on when I would otherwise be distracted by the hustle and bustle around me.
Where is your favorite place you have ever traveled and why?
I’ve spent a fair amount of time living, working, and traveling in Germany, and it’s probably my favourite country to travel to in general. But in terms of particular cities, Berlin definitely takes the cake. It’s a city full of contrasts, where people from all sorts of places and walks of life pursue their projects together, which is something I really love. Every neighborhood feels distinct from the others, each with their own distinct culture, and every time I visit I discover something new.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
