Jonas-Sébastien Beaudry

Jonas-Sébastien Beaudry is an Associate Professor at McGill University's Faculty of Law with joint appointments at the School of Population and Global Health (2023-present) and previously at the Institute for Health and Social Policy (2018-2023). He holds the Canada Research Chair in Health, Inclusion and Policy and serves as founder and lead convenor of McGill's Disability Working Group, an interdisciplinary initiative advancing disability rights scholarship and practice.

Education:

• Doctor of Laws (D.Phil.), University of Oxford, 2014
• Master of Laws, Harvard Law School, 2007
• BCL/LLB program, McGill University, 2004
• Admission to the Quebec Bar, 2006

Professor Beaudry's research critically examines disability rights, particularly for people with severe cognitive disabilities, within legal and ethical frameworks. His work bridges health law, bioethics, and human rights theory, with significant contributions to understanding autonomy, equality, and social inclusion for marginalized populations. His scholarship challenges conventional legal paradigms through interdisciplinary approaches that integrate philosophy, ethics, and social justice perspectives.

His recent publications reveal a growing focus on bioethical questions surrounding medical aid in dying, euthanasia, and the rights of intellectually disabled individuals, while maintaining consistent engagement with disability law fundamentals. His work spans legal theory, medical ethics, and social justice, demonstrating remarkable interdisciplinary breadth while preserving a clear commitment to disability rights and inclusion across multiple domains.

Scientific Awards:

• Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholar
• Canada Research Chair in Health, Inclusion and Policy
• Boulton Fund Scholar
• Henigson Human Rights Fellowship

Professor Beaudry has advised disability organizations on strategic litigation since 2015 and has been consulted by the Quebec Bar, federal Department of Justice, and Senate on health policy and equality issues. His research has received funding from FQRSC, SSHRC, and the Quebec Bar Foundation. He actively supervises graduate students working on health law, disability ethics, animal law, and human rights theory.

Through the Disability Working Group, Professor Beaudry has established a significant interdisciplinary forum connecting academic research with practical applications in disability rights advocacy. His volunteer work with L'Arche and engagement with disability communities demonstrates his commitment to grounding theoretical scholarship in lived experience and practical applications.