In a new episode of the University of Virginia Law School podcast, Common Law, two professors explore why advocates are using the language of medicine to discuss and address civil rights issues.
In the season finale, University of Virginia Law Professor Craig Konos and University of Pennsylvania Law Professor Karen Tani join host Lisa Goluboff, who is also dean of the faculty, to explore the impact of the “medicalization” of civil rights and why policymakers embraced the concept of disability in the late 20th century.
Konos, the Martha Rubin Kirsch and Bruce A. Kirsch Bicentennial Professor of Law at the University of Virginia, is an expert on health and civil rights, health data regulation, and LGBT rights. He previously served as a Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice and recently served as a Greenwell Foundation Fellow.
Tani, the Seaman Family University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, is a legal historian who writes frequently about the history of disability law in the late 20th century. Her research focuses on the role of social welfare law, government agencies, and rights in the contemporary American state.
The starting point for this episode is Konos’ article, “Medicalization and the New Civil Rights,” which examines the use of civil rights arguments that rely on medical language, such as using Medicaid funds to address homelessness or highlighting the psychological trauma of racism to demand systemic reform.
Serving as an introduction to a similarly themed symposium, Tani’s article on “Framing Disability,” co-authored with Jasmine Harris, explores the impact and consequences of using disability as a lens to address social issues.
In the sixth season of the podcast, “Free Exchange,” guests debate and discuss timely legal topics. The show is available on popular podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, YouTube and Spotify. “Common Law” is produced by Emily Richardson Llorente.
Past seasons have focused on “The Future of Law,” “When Law Changed the World,” “Law and Fairness,” and “Common Counsel” in seasons four and five.
You can follow the show on our website at CommonLawPodcast.com or on Twitter. translator.