Bonnie Stabile

Demographic profile of states with human cloning laws: morality policy meets political economy.

Abstract This analysis seeks to identify factors that may shape the policy stance — whether restrictive or permissive — that each state in the United States with a human cloning law in place takes toward human therapeutic cloning. The investigation also considers if cloning policy is more the product of morality politics or political economy. Results show that among states with human cloning policies in place, those with a greater biotechnological capacity, more permissive abortion laws, fewer Evangelical Protestants, and higher political liberalism rankings are more likely to have permissive cloning laws. A higher Roman Catholic population is strongly associated with permissive cloning laws, rather than restrictive cloning laws as originally supposed. Factors with morality policy and economic bases were both found to be associated with cloning policy outcomes. Results suggest that morality policies, though distinct in some ways, do share determinants with public policies based on political economy.

Poverty, Disparities, Disasters and Global Burden of Disease

The world socio-economic situation contributes to increasing poverty, disparities and poor accces to health. Rising poverty levels and disparities continue to slow, and in some cases negate, the hard won achievement in global health. Natural disasters are also on the rise, killing people, destroying services, communities and medical infrastructure, and further exacerbating the plight of the poor and already medically underserved populations. A more efficient use, collaboration and integration of national and international medical and health resources and services will help improve health in vulnerable populations.

Reproductive policy and the social construction of motherhood

Abstract. Background. Reproductive technologies allow women to embrace or forgo motherhood, but a womans ability to make autonomous reproductive choices depends on access to these technologies. In the United States, public policies — laws, regulations, appropriations, and rulings — have either broadened or narrowed this access. Question. Have U.S. public policies affecting reproductive choices conformed to attitudinal distinctions about motherhood itself? Methods. I identified policies covering infertility, contraception, and abortion and examined them contextually within the Ingram-Schneider social construction framework. Findings. Womens choices fell within social construction quadrants as being positively portrayed and powerful; negatively portrayed but powerful; positively portrayed but powerless; and negatively portrayed and powerless. Married heterosexual women embracing motherhood were likely to be viewed positively and to reap benefits. Women forgoing motherhood, poor women, and women seeking to form nontraditional families were likely to be viewed negatively and to bear burdens; critical among these burdens was restriction of access to technologies that could be used to support a decision to avoid motherhood or to achieve motherhood through nontraditional methods. Conclusion. Yes, U.S. public policies affecting reproductive choices have conformed to attitudinal distinctions about motherhood itself. These policies may also have altered those choices.

Ethics of Regulating Reproductive Technologies: Women as Child Bearers, Rights Bearers, and Objects of Paternalism

Although there has been much discussion in recent years about the ethical and societal implications of reproductive technologies, there has been surprisingly little explicit consideration in the policy context of the fact that women, as child bearers, will bear the impact of any policies seeking to regulate those technologies. This article considers the state of policy affairs in the United States regarding reproductive technologies from the perspective of women as rights bearers—autonomous individuals entitled to access to the health services of their choosing, and as objects of paternalism—on whose behalf claims of concern for safety and nonmaleficence have been registered. The practical effect of such measures on women’s autonomy, health, and safety, and on perceptions of women’s decision-making capacity, is considered.

What's the matter with Kansas? Legislative debates over stem cell research in Kansas and Massachusetts.

Abstract This paper examines the contextual factors shaping legislative debates affecting stem cell research in two states, Kansas and Massachusetts, which both permit therapeutic cloning for stem cell research but markedly vary in their legislative approach to the issue. In Kansas, restrictive legislation was proposed but effectively blocked by research proponents, while in Massachusetts permissive legislation was successfully implemented under the auspices of an act to promote stem cell research. The importance of university and industry involvement is highlighted in each case, as are the roles of enterprising and persistent policy entrepreneurs. Providing a close examination of the policy process attending the cloning debate in these states is intended to contribute to an enhanced understanding of the cloning-policy process as it has played out at the state level, with an eye toward informing legislative debates over related biotechnical advances in the future.

Gender and the Role of Directors of Public Administration and Policy Programs

Abstract This article examines the role of gender as it relates to director positions in Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) programs. It specifically investigates whether women are more likely than men to serve as MPA and MPP program directors and whether men and women report different experiences in the role, such as length of service, rewards and burdens, and possible constraints on research and teaching and thus promotion potential. We surveyed schools offering MPA and MPP degrees and found that women served as program directors proportional to their representation among the faculty, at about 35%. Interview findings suggest that while some gendered characterizations of women’s leadership persist, men and women program directors and faculty experience similar struggles in balancing their administrative roles with the demands of teaching and research, both of which are likely to suffer during their service.

Book Review: Market Menagerie: Health and Development in Late Industrial States

community foundations have experienced in the past and it may alienate some donors, though Grogan takes issue with that notion. But there are other challenges; perhaps the deepest are found inside the foundation’s walls. All foundations, as Ruesga writes, “typically straddle two worlds that frequently come into conflict: the world of wealthy trustees, whose power is rooted in the stability of an economic systems that creates and sustains their wealth, and the world of grantees who may have little appetite for sustaining the status quo” (chapter 10, 131). Ruesga’s critiques of social justice grant making, which he defines as “grantmaking that addresses the root and/or structural causes of social, economic, or political injustice,” are blunt (137). He does not doubt the sincerity of his colleagues but sees foundations as institutions unable to understand the cultural and social values of the people they are trying to help. The middle-class values infused in the foundation world limit their ability to act as a “borderland” or “bridging” organization able to translate the culture and norms of one group to the other, he observes (136). The result leads to limited change, if any, in the long-term outcomes of the communities being helped. Ruesga challenges the foundation world to move beyond its cultural blinders and engage in more true social justice grant making . While Grogan is more optimistic, seeing many foundations moving in the direction of advocacy and social justice funding, he also challenges the status quo. “The days of quiet philanthropy are behind us. As a field, we will need to get over our fear of conflict and embrace healthy disagreement, and even rancor, when necessary” (chapter 17, 229). Whether working to change the root causes of inequities or trying to ameliorate their symptoms, the work of community foundations can be vital. For those who work in the field and for those who study it, this book will provide new ideas for practice and plenty of ideas for further study. And for many, some of the chapters may present an uncomfortable but vital challenge to take on large issues and make lasting change.

Review of Sex Cells: The Medical Market for Eggs and Sperm

Rene Almeling examines the medical market for eggs and sperm in the United States - how it is organized and how it influences and is experienced by donors.

The Digital Health Divide: A New Threat to Health Care Quality and Cost?

Information technology (IT) and the digital revolution continue to transform the biomedical research and health care practice landscape worldwide. While contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and the promise of reducing health care costs, access to this capability is not universal. Many communities, patients and health professionals worldwide do not have access to digital data repositories or even have Internet access. A major roadblock for developing nations is the cost of access and rapidly evolving IT tools. Language and “Internet literacy” are the other two major impediments in achieving access.

Review of Health Policy and Ethics: A Critical Examination of Values from a Global Perspective

Health Policy and Ethics makes the case that an examination of health law, health policy and professional standards not only sheds light on the intrinsic values of a society, but more importantly offers insights that will have practical policy implications and lead to improved health practice. Case studies from around the world illustrate central themes.