American journal of public health
-
Historical Article
Approaching 4 decades of legislation in the national family planning program: an analysis of Title X's history from 1970 to 2008.
Family planning is an important public health activity. Title X (Pub L No. 91-572), enacted in 1970, remains the only national family planning program in the United States dedicated to providing voluntary and confidential services to all individuals. We conducted a thematic analysis of Title X's legislative history. ⋯ Regardless of the proposed challenges, limited changes have been adopted. Except for technical amendments, bills involving restrictions accounted for the highest percentage of enacted bills, demonstrating efforts to undermine reproductive health rights. Title X requires political will and bipartisan support if it is to continue to protect individuals' reproductive rights.
-
We assessed the progress since 2005 of state plans for pandemic influenza and found that 7 states had recommended steps to further clarify ethical processes or decisions; 6 states had made some progress but almost exclusively in hospital preparedness. Having a high-level public health leader, such as a health department director, committed to ethics was the key determinant of progress. Some state health departments may be destined to gain an appreciation for ethics through ethical mishaps.