Coverage Of Legislation Research Articles

THE DIRECT EFFECT OF COMMUNITY-LEVEL RISK FACTORS ON LUNG CANCER INCIDENCE IN FOUR NEW ENGLAND STATES

Abstract Lung cancer is the most common cancer globally and 70% of diagnoses are among the 65+ population. This study identifies what town-level risk factors are contributing to geographic disparities in 65+ lung cancer in N=796 towns in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Multiple spatial-based analyses (e.g., Moran’s I, Getis-Ord Gi*, mapping) were conducted before running a series of spatial regression models to determine the association between town-level risk factors (i.e., environmental exposures, respiratory conditions prevalence, education rates, smoke free legislation) and lung cancer incidence. Mapping and Moran’s I test suggested the 65+ rates of lung cancer in our sample were non-randomly distributed and clusters of high and low rates were present. A hot spot analysis was conducted in ArcMap 10.8 which identified several significant clusters of 65+ lung cancer. Spatial regression models showed that community rates of comorbid respiratory conditions (65+ asthma, COPD, and tobacco use disorder (TUD)) increased lung cancer incidence by 7%, while increasing ozone emissions were directly associated with a 10% increase in incidence. Comprehensive smoke free legislation coverage was significantly associated with lung cancer incidence, but no increasing or decreasing relationship was found. No effects were found for the percentage of 65+ with low education, or 60+ who were current or former smokers. Spatial regression models allow for results which are specific to the geographic sample used and this study suggests that comorbid respiratory conditions and ozone emissions are directly associated with increased rates of 65+ lung cancer incidence in our sample.

Theoretical and practical approaches to pharmaceutical safety

Over the years the pharmaceutical system of the Republic of Moldova as a component of the healthcare system has faced many problems, such as the reduction of both availability due to the disappearance of vital medicines from the pharmaceutical market, and affordability due to the imperfection of the drug pricing mechanism; the involvement of non-specialists in pharmaceutical activities, which leads to a drastic decrease in the quality of pharmaceutical services; monopolization of some processes and products in the chain of drug supply actions, etc. In recent years, various aspects that directly or indirectly related to pharmaceutical safety (PS) and related health risks have been increasingly discussed in the Republic of Moldova.
 Aim. To substantiate theoretically and scientifically the concepts of PS using the principles of the systematic approach and assess the quality and degree of legislative support for pharmaceutical safety in the Republic of Moldova. 
 Materials and methods. The research was conducted according to the methodology based on the systemic approach, including analysis and synthesis; the study of factors and processes; decomposition and construction of systems; the analysis of legislation; the argumentation and preparation of draft legislative acts, norms, strategies, programs.
 Results. The analysis conducted in the course of the study demonstrates that the concept of “pharmaceutical safety” in different countries by different authors covers several aspects – the quality, safety and effectiveness of medicines, their transportation and storage according to the requirements, availability and import independence, their ethical development and promotion, their rational use, etc. In the course of the study, the definition of factors affecting and characterizing the PS system was proposed – “elements that determine the functionality and characterize the state of the pharmaceutical safety system in the country”. Three groups of factors affecting and characterizing the PS system of the Republic of Moldova were argued. Based on the classification of the factors, the method of analysis using the quantitative and qualitative expertise was developed. The quality of the PS system in the Republic of Moldova was assessed taking into account the current state of the safety level. To assess the quality of this system, the 7-point scale was used, the relative quality coefficient was determined, which was – 1.03; experts rated the quality of the PS system as “low”. To determine the degree of legislative coverage of the PS system, the algorithm was developed; it was used as a methodological tool for determining the degree of legislative and regulatory coverage of the PS system. The results of the studies allowed the elaboration of legislative proposals, which were put forward and adopted.
 Conclusions. The legislative framework of the PS system was created by the adoption of Law No. 312 of 30.11.2018, which amended the Law on pharmaceutical activities, the Law on medicines, the Law on health protection, the Law on state material reserves and mobilization. The advanced training program in the field of pharmaceutical management and legislation to train practicing pharmacists has been supplemented with the topic “Pharmaceutical safety”.

Композиція порівняльних характеристик соціальної політики європейських країн

The aim of the study is a scientific substantiation and compositional presentation of comparative characteristics of social policy trends in a number of European countries, taking into account a certain set of social security criteria and drawing analytical conclusions about their changes. The relevance of expanding the spheres of implementation of social policy, conditioned by the current transformations of social values and rapid technological development of the world economy, is substantiated. This requires constant monitoring of social changes and analysis of the impact of the global environment on the socioeconomic development of countries. Some comparative characterizations of social security of the population of several European countries are provided according to a number of criteria (ratification of the updated ILO Conventions on Social Security, effective social protection coverage (including the SDG indicators 1.3.1, 3.8.1), expenditures on health care and social protection, legislative coverage of social protection, child and family benefits, maternity protection, sickness assistance, protection against occupational injuries, protection against unemployment, disability benefits, old age pensions). The clear difference between the social policy of Ukraine and the European countries, which is mainly related to the socioeconomic situation of our country and has intensified since the beginning of the aggravation of hybrid threats and the need for military protection, is emphasized. The tendencies that determine the critical necessity of the current reforms in social policy and having a significant impact on the socioeconomic situation of the European countries are allocated. The further deepening of social problems and the need for even more active reform of the social sphere are emphasized. It is concluded that the main task of Ukraine in the current conditions is to meet the basic needs and interests of society, to maintain the basic processes of life of society, to ensure the development and creation of social values at a sufficient level.

An event study analysis of the effects of collective bargaining legislation on strike outcomes

AbstractI consider the effects of legislation for conciliation and cooling‐off periods, which were introduced in the Canadian Industrial Disputes and Investigation Act of 1907, on strike duration and person‐days lost to strikes. I estimate the effects of this legislation on strike duration and persons‐days lost to strikes using bargaining pair level data from 1901 to 1915 with a differences‐in‐difference model as well as an event study methodology. Both of these methodologies exploit variation in legislative coverage because there were some industries that were not covered by the legislation, and so were untreated.

Crowdfunding for Gender-Affirming Mastectomy: Balancing Fundraising With Loss of Privacy.

Limitations in insurance coverage may cause patients to turn to crowdfunding to raise money for gender-affirming procedures. In this study, we analyze the impact of Medicaid insurance coverage on gender-affirming mastectomy campaigns posted on GoFundMe.com. Between March 1 and 12, 2021, we accessed GoFundMe.com to analyze available campaigns requesting monetary contributions for gender-affirming mastectomy. Campaigns were identified using the search term "top surgery" followed by the state's name. Duplicate campaigns, campaigns whose primary goal was not gender-affirming mastectomy, and ongoing campaigns were excluded. Campaigns were then categorized according to their state's coverage of gender-affirming surgery: explicit exclusion (EE), explicit inclusion (EI), or no explicit statement of gender-affirming care. We collected data on the number of donors and shares, the fundraising goal, and the total amount raised for each campaign. Common themes within campaign narratives were identified and assessed by each reviewer. Finally, we collected data on the photographs posted by campaign creators. Our search yielded 790 campaigns, with an overall mean of 58 ± 99 donors and 212 ± 288 shares. The mean fundraising goal and amount raised among all campaigns were $6811 ± $5027 and $2579 ± $3072, respectively. Fundraising goals were most likely to be met in an EI state than an EE state (26.3% vs 8.1%; P < 0.001). The mean amount sought was highest in EE states and lowest in EI states, whereas the mean amount raised was lowest in EE states and highest in EI states. Of the campaigns, 97.1% mentioned personal or situational characteristics in the narrative section; 16.2% of all campaigns expressed negative feelings about posting on GoFundMe.com to raise money for their surgeries. Disparities in health care coverage of gender-affirming surgeries were seen between state categories, with a decreased need for crowdfunding in states explicitly including coverage of gender-affirming surgery. Many transgender patients used crowdfunding to pay for transition-related health care costs, relying on the kindness of strangers and their social network at the expense of their personal privacy. Expansion of legislative coverage of gender-affirming surgeries may alleviate some of this financial burden and reduce transgender patients' reliance on crowdfunding campaigns.

The essence of parallel import and problems of its regulation in the Republic of Uzbekistan

This article discusses the definitions of various scholars given to the concept of parallel import, phenomenon’s ever-increasing actuality and economic significance, as well as the issues of its legal regulation by states. The importance of exhaustion regime of intellectual property rights, its reflection in international agreements and the role in WTO system and international trade at large are mentioned. The problems associated with legislation coverage of this concept in our national civil and customs law are discussed and the procedure for parallel imports and exhaustion in the Republic of Uzbekistan are reviewed in the case of courts. Furthermore, this paper articulates that economic analysis of parallel imports and their effects is of high importance when adopting Article 6 of TRIPS Agreement. The relationship between parallel imports and access to pharmaceuticals is analyzed and the author made a judgment on what factors should be considered by governments on complying national legislation with international norms that permit parallel trade of IP objects

АКТ ПРО ЦИФРОВІ РИНКИ: НОВА ФІЛОСОФІЯ РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ КОНКУРЕНЦІЇ В ЄС

Конкурентна політика ЄС стоїть на порозі істотного реформування. Основні положення реформи викладено в проєкті законодавчого документа – Акта про цифрові ринки, ініційованого Європейською комісією. Проте його суть виходить за межі даного Акта. Проєкт підлягає детальному і багатосторонньому обговоренню в ЄС. З огляду на безпосередній зв’язок між економіками ЄС та України і перспектив членства України в ЄС, відбувається загальна адаптація українського законодавства і технічних положень до вимог і стандартів ЄС. Природно, що і дана реформа незабаром стане частиною гармонізаційних процесів. З урахуванням комплексності й багатогранності даної реформи, не лише охоплення нею положень законодавства, але й зміни самої модальності відносин між органами конкурентної політики та найбільшими учасниками цифрової економіки, доцільно ініціювати таку дискусію вже сьогодні, поки даний законопроєкт перебуває на стадії розробки. З огляду на це, а також на загальну новизну даного процесу, проаналізовано три основних компоненти реформи. Розглянуто зовнішні передумови, що спонукали Європейську комісію до таких інноваційних (і досить контраверсійних) законодавчих кроків, описано контекст і рушійні сили. Виокремлено основні процесуальні елементи законопроєкту, показано оригінальну формулу виділення з-поміж суб’єктів цифрової економіки виключно її найбільших системних учасників і накладання на них широкого спектра зобов’язань, покликаних захистити і спонукати конкуренцію на цифрових ринках ЄС. Описано матеріальний бік нових обов’язків, передбачених реформою, наголошено на важливості її прийняття або принаймні глибокого аналізу для України.

Study on the Rights and Interests of Subject in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are essential measures to determine the efficacy and safety of drugs. Clinical trials of new drugs and new medical devices have also received strong support at the national level. In the case of more and more clinical trial cases, how to better protect the rights of the subject becomes a problem that needs to be discussed in more depth. Based on the background of the development of clinical trials, this paper describes the lack of rights protection under the traditional support methods of clinical trial subject and then analyzes the problems of the subject’s right to life, body autonomy, informed consent, privacy and compensation. Problems with current subject rights protection and possible safeguards. The paper believes that the development and application of new life technologies make the clinical trial process more complicated and the results more uncertain. Therefore, the protection of traditional subject rights is not perfect, we need to expand legislative coverage, improve the rights dimension of subject rights protection and the structural dimension analysis of the ethics review committee which are effective measures to protect the rights of subject. Keywords: clinical trial, subject rights, rights protection DOI : 10.7176/PPAR/9-12-01 Publication date: December 31 st 2019

The Employment Standards Enforcement Gap and the Overtime Pay Exemption in Ontario

Employment Standards (es) legislation sets minimum terms and conditions of employment in areas such as wages, working time, vacations and leaves, and termination and severance. es legislation is designed to provide minimum workplace protections, particularly for those with little bargaining power in the labour market. In practice, however, es legislation includes ways in which legislated standards may be avoided, including through exemptions that exclude specified employee groups, fully or partially, from legislative coverage. With a focus on the Ontario Employment Standards Act, this article develops a case study of exemptions to the overtime pay provision of the act and regulations and examines in closer detail three specific areas in which exemptions apply. Through this study of the overtime pay exemption, the system of exemptions is presented as a contradictory approach to the regulation of es that, in effect, reduces es coverage, contributes to the avoidance of key legislated standards, and undermines the goal of providing protection for workers in precarious jobs.&#x0D; &#x0D; La Loi sur les normes d’emploi fixe des conditions minimales d’emploi dans des domaines tels que les salaires, la durée du travail, les vacances et les congés, ainsi que les licenciements et les indemnités de départ. Cette loi vise à fournir une protection minimale sur le lieu de travail, en particulier pour ceux qui ont un faible pouvoir de négociation sur le marché du travail. Cependant, dans la pratique, la Loi sur les normes d’emploi comprend des moyens pour éviter les normes législatives, notamment par le biais d’exemptions excluant totalement ou partiellement certains groupes d’employés de la couverture législative. En mettant l’accent sur la Loi sur les normes d’emploi de l’Ontario, cet article élabore une étude de cas sur les exemptions à la disposition de la loi et de ses règlements sur la rémunération des heures supplémentaires et examine plus en détail trois domaines spécifiques dans lesquels les exemptions s’appliquent. Dans cette étude sur l’exemption des heures supplémentaires, le système d’exemptions est présenté comme une approche contradictoire de la réglementation de la Loi sur les normes d’emploi qui, en réalité, réduit sa couverture, contribue à éviter les normes clés définies par la loi et sape l’objectif de protection des travailleurs qui occupent des emplois précaires.

Advanced noise-induced deafness among workers in singapore - what has changed?

Context:Noise-induced deafness (NID) contributes a significant disease burden internationally, and is a leading occupational disease in Singapore.Aims:This study profiles the epidemiological characteristics of advanced noise-induced deafness (NID(A)) cases and explores whether these have evolved with time.Settings and Design:A quantitative retrospective analysis of prior NID(A) cases was performed. National records of NID(A) cases from 2001 to 2010 were obtained, with permission from the Ministry of Manpower, consisting of worker audiograms, case records, and noise monitoring reports.Methods and Material:Comparison was made with data from a prior study (127 cases, 1985–1994) to identify shifts in NID(A) epidemiology; 71 out of 73 NID(A) case records (2001–2010) from the national data were reviewed.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM) was used for statistical analysis.Results:Mean noise exposure (24–29.6 years) and age at diagnosis (48–54.6 years) have risen. Total case numbers (127 to 73 cases), average hearing loss levels (61.5 to 56.0 A-weighted decibels), and delayed reporting of NID(A) cases (82.7% to 47.9%) have decreased. Metal manufacturing and marine industries remain top contributors (69.1%, from 68.5%); 31% were noncompliant with hearing protector (personal protective equipment, PPE) use and 38% did not use PPE properly.Conclusions:NID(A) case profiles have shifted over time, with reduced case numbers, lower hearing loss levels at diagnosis, and earlier case notification, possibly linked to improvements in legislative coverage and NID prevention programs. Changes in age and average duration of noise exposure may be related to these improvements. Early case notification, PPE compliance, and proper usage should be focus areas for NID prevention and hearing conservation programs.

Language rights and interpreting services in Spanish prisons

Abstract Criminal justice systems throughout the world are becoming increasingly aware of the challenges posed by language barriers. However, that awareness is still limited to the realm of court proceedings, whereas legislation aiming to protect language rights of foreign prisoners is scarce and vague. In the particular case of Spain, only a few provisions in the Prison Rules envisage the notion of language assistance, making it explicit that such support is to be provided by other prisoners or staff. This paper aims to analyze the implications of an underdeveloped language policy in the realm of Spanish penitentiary institutions, focusing on how the specific measures stemming from that policy affect the rights of imprisoned foreign nationals. Against the backdrop of the limited legislative coverage of language issues, communication strategies seem to be based on the linguistic assimilation of foreign language-speaking inmates, either to communicate directly with staff or to serve as interpreters for newly arrived fellow inmates. Causes and consequences of these strategies are discussed in this paper, including an analysis of the quality of the interpretations that nonprofessional prisoner-interpreters are able to provide.

A view of the legislative scenario for rainwater harvesting in Brazil

The use of rainwater as a complement to municipal water supply networks has gained importance in the efforts to mitigate the strain on fresh water resources around the world. Governments play a crucial role in these efforts by setting out policies that regulate and incentivize the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems. In Brazil these policies are scattered, making it difficult to visualize where the country stands in the regulation of the rainwater sector. This article attempts to create a legislative picture of the Brazilian regulation. Laws and other regulations at federal, state and municipal levels were analyzed and summarized in order to provide a clear view of the current situation. The research showed a fragmented approach from the different levels of governmental powers. Local policies make up most, albeit insufficient, of the legislative coverage in the Brazilian territory. The results obtained for this investigation may serve as a tool for the comparison of the policies implemented in other countries and determine were Brazil stands as an emerging power in implementation of low impact policies and technologies.

Legislation coverage for child injury prevention in China.

ObjectiveTo examine the extent to which effective interventions to prevent unintentional child injury are reflected in the laws and regulations of China.MethodsWe focused on the six common causes of fatal child injuries – drowning, road traffic injury, falls, poisoning, burns and suffocation. We investigated 27 interventions recommended by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization or the European Child Safety Alliance. We searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Lawyee for Chinese legislations using keywords and synonyms for the 27 interventions. We reviewed the identified legislations for statements specifying the responsible implementation department.FindingsSeven national laws, nine regulations of the State Council and 46 departmental regulations were found to relate to at least one of the interventions. Although seven of the 27 internationally recommended interventions were covered by Chinese laws, 10 were not covered by any current Chinese law or regulation. None of the interventions against drowning and falls that we investigated was covered by national laws. The implementation responsibilities for effective interventions were either not specified or were assigned to multiple governmental departments in 11 or 20 legislative documents, respectively.ConclusionIn Chinese laws and regulations, interventions proven to prevent major causes of unintentional child injuries are underrepresented and the associated implementation responsibilities are often poorly defined. China should include all such interventions in laws and regulations, and assign implementation responsibility for each to a single department of the national government.

Reform Legislation Coverage

Reform Legislation Coverage

Mis-SHAPEing Public Health Policy

On June 19, 2009, the Heart Attack Prevention Bill, a bill mandating health insurance coverage of radiographic screening tests to detect asymptomatic atherosclerosis, was passed through the Texas legislature and enacted in September.1 The bill, written by the SHAPE (Screening for Heart Attack Prevention and Education) Task Force and championed by Representative Rene O. Oliveira, was first introduced in 2007, but failed at that time because of a lack of scientific data. However, without further evidence or modification, the bill was recently reintroduced and passed, requiring health insurance companies to cover the costs for either cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan to measure coronary artery calcium score or ultrasound to measure carotid artery intimal thickness every 5 years for all men aged 45 to 75 and women aged 55 to 75, along with persons of any age who have diabetes mellitus or an intermediate Framingham Risk Score.1 The Heart Attack Prevention Bill introduces complex questions about the level of scientific evidence needed to support legislative mandates for medical coverage. Neither screening test has demonstrated clinical efficacy in preventing acute myocardial infarctions nor is supported as a primary prevention strategy by any of the major guideline committees.2 In the absence of validating data, mandating medical coverage for these procedures raises concerns of unwarranted costs or harm to patients and potential for conflicts of interest. This article (1) considers the rationale for mandating insurance coverage, (2) considers criteria for evaluating the merits of such policies, and (3) applies these criteria to evaluate the rationale and merits of the Heart Attack Prevention bill, including the political, economic, and social forces at play. As health coverage and payment reform efforts gain increasing momentum, it is critical that legislative coverage mandates qualify as effective public health policy. Currently, most health insurance coverage decisions …

Comment

Comment

Perceived Barriers to Self-Management in Malaysian Women with Breast Cancer

Naturalistic inquiry using focus group interviews was undertaken to explore experiences and perceived barriers to self management in women with breast cancer. The aim was to identify their perceived barriers to self management to aid the development of rehabilitation programmes. Successful programmes are strongly linked to patients' perceived needs. Four focus groups consisted of 39 women, were purposively recruited. Women's needs within the three areas of medical, emotional and role management of breast cancer were explored. The main barriers were unavailability of information, inability to access services-and-support, and socioeconomic-cultural issues (entrenched myths, low-socioeconomic status, and inadequate insurance-health legislative coverage). The findings provide the critically lacking 'expert-view' of survivors, who verified the importance of the medical, emotional and role management tasks, and highlighted barriers and structural solutions. With breast cancer becoming recognised as a form of chronic illness, this study is timely.

Anti-spam legislation: An analysis of laws and their effectiveness

More than half of worldwide e-mail traffic (an estimated total of several billion e-mails per day) consists of spam. This is becoming a considerable disturbance to telecommunications. Spam is also closely related to other kinds of cybercrime as it possibly contains malicious software or is pursuing some kind of fraudulent aim such as phishing. As well as technical and organizational measures, many countries have introduced anti-spam legislation. However, today's worldwide legislative coverage of spam is heterogeneous, and its effectiveness is discussed controversially. This article describes important parameters by which anti-spam legislation can vary and gives an overview and analysis of worldwide anti-spam legislation, including the European Directive 2002/58/EC and the United States CANSPAM Act 2003, and international cooperation, such as the London Action Plan. The article then proceeds to discuss the effectiveness of current laws and identifies problems resulting from the fact that an international phenomenon is being addressed by national legislation. Finally, the article presents suggestions for overcoming some of these problems.

Sexual Harassment and Australian Anti-Discrimination Law

This paper examines the law of sexual harassment in Australia and concludes that, while there is extensive legislative coverage at Commonwealth, State and Territory levels, this coverage is uneven. The differences and resulting outcomes between local jurisdictions are considered. The differences between Australian laws and overseas jurisdictions are also considered, particularly with respect to procedure in sexual harassment cases and remedies in a jurisdiction where punitive damages are not allowed. The paper considers the positive and negative features of the Australian law and argues that greater education of the legal profession is needed to allow the adequate delivery of justice to people who have been sexually harassed.

Sexual Harassment Laws in Canada

This paper analyses the law of sexual harassment in Canada, including the notion of the ‘reasonable woman’, indicating a broad legislative coverage. However, despite the recognition of a clear human rights base and the quasi-constitutional character bestowed on the law by the courts, awards remain low and a compelling and consistent body of supportive jurisprudence is yet to emerge.