Medicine and law
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The aims of this study are to present an argument that emphasizes the usefulness of an analysis framework for analyzing public health law and legal systems; identifying methods for improving the application of this framework, including its academic value for public health law; and enhancing the future use of the framework for supporting global health governance. To help formulate the initial analysis framework and tool, we have, along with expert consultations, conducted a literature review on global health governance and public health law. Meetings were also held with World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) technical staff members on the applicability and benefits of the framework and tool. Monitoring public health laws and legal systems of countries can be used to understand governance and improve people's health.
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The relationship between public interest and privacy is complex, particularly in healthcare. If public interest overrides the right to privacy, medical staff may be forced to break confidentiality beyond what is permitted by law. ⋯ Once a person dies, his right to privacy of health information should be with his heirs. Voyeurism should not be elevated to become a tool for legalising violations of health confidentiality.
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In Nigeria, just like in many other parts of the world, one of the most extensively discussed issues on the public agenda today is the increase in prison population. The aims of imprisonment are protection, retribution, deterrence, reformation and vindication. Investigations revealed that the prison services have been,neglected more than any other criminal justice agency in Nigeria. ⋯ This article discusses the Nigerian Prison System and challenges, trends and the related Human Rights and Ethical issues in Nigerian prisons. Some of the unmet needs of Nigerian prisoners which include, inter alia, living in unwholesome cells, delayed trial of inmates, lack of voting rights, access to information, lack of conjugal facilities for married prisoners, poor and inadequate nutrition, poor medical care, torture, inhumane treatment and the need to protect prisoners in a changing world. The present report has policy implications for reforming prison services in Nigeria, and countries that sing from the same song sheet with Nigeria on prison services, to conform to the Fundamental Human Rights of prisoners in the 21St century.
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The traditional approach towards end-of-life decision-making in Italy has changed. Whilst article 32 of the Italian Constitution recognizes the 'right to health' that grants patients to withhold or withdraw medical treatment, the Italian Medical Ethics Code neglects any kind of assistance during death or euthanasia. ⋯ On one hand, ethicist and lawyers, valuing the patient's autonomy, believe that letting die cannot be punished. On the other hand, however, some conservative ethicists and lawyers argue that the right to life is absolute and imperative and therefore a physician must do everything possible to protect one's life.
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Physician's attitudes towards patients with incurable cancer or at the end-of-life process--treatment of patients, withholding ventilation support, physician-assisted suicide--have changed rapidly in recent years. In cases such as incurable cancer, illnesses in the terminal phase, some neurologic diseases and AIDS, physicians and other health care workers experience dilemmas, arguments and problems on the subjects of whether or not to tell the truth or how to do it, who should inform the patient or his/her guardian, and then, how to give treatment to patients with incurable cancer or withhold ventilation support. All of these issues are affected by the country's' sociocultural and economic structures, the physician's attitudes at the end of life,the medical practice and the form of health structures. ⋯ Our study contains three clinical situations covering the following areas: (1) a patient's right to be informed of incurable cancer, (2) doctor-assisted suicide (3) the conflicting rights of patients, doctors and the family in issues such as refusing ventilatory support or witholding treatment. The four-point Likert Scale was used to mark the responses to the statements. The significant cultural, social and economic differences that exist in health care services between regions in our country affect physician-patient communication and end of life decision-making, as reflected in the process of obtaining informed consent.