Popular Articles

Study Shows US Seniors 'Smarter' Than English Seniors
Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan have carried out the first international comparison of cognitive function in nationally representative samples of older adults in the US and England and discovered that US seniors performed significantly better that their English counterparts.

Washington Post Columnist Gerson Critical Of Justice Ginsburg's Comments On Abortion In NYT Magazine Interview
"There was a scandal this week" involving Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg"s comments on abortion rights during an interview with the New York Times Magazine, according to Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson. In response to a question on access to abortion and restrictions on Medicaid coverage of the procedure, Ginsburg said, "Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe [v. Wade] was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don"t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion." According to Gerson, the "context surrounding this passage is a simplistic, pro-choice rant." He adds, "Abortion, in Ginsburg"s view, is an essential part of sexual equality, thus ending all ethical debate." Ginsburg in the interview also said, "There will never be a woman of means without choice anymore. That just seems to be so obvious." She added, "So we have a policy that affects only poor women, and it can never be otherwise, and I don"t know why this hasn"t been said more often."Gerson writes, "Given this context, can it be argued that Ginsburg -- referring to "populations that we don"t want to have too many of" -- was merely summarizing the views of others and describing the attitudes of the country when Roe v. Wade was decided?" He continues, "It can be argued -- but it is not bloody likely. Who, in Ginsburg"s statement, is the "we"? And who, in 1973, was arguing for the eugenic purposes of abortion?" According to Gerson, "It is more likely that Ginsburg is describing the attitude of some of her own social class -- that abortion is economically important to a "woman of means" and useful in reducing the number of social undesirables."Gerson writes, "The entire Ginsburg interview is a reminder of the risks of lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court." He continues, "Immune from criticism, surrounded by plump cushions of deference, the temperament of a justice can become exaggerated over time." He adds that her statements "would have been disqualifying" had they been made during her own confirmation hearing. "Now she doesn"t give a damn," Gerson says.He continues that Ginsburg"s "timing ... is instructive" because she made the remarks as Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is "emphasizing her low-income and minority roots." According to Gerson, "It is estimated that the Hyde Amendment limiting Medicaid abortions has saved one million lives since its passage in 1976 -- some, no doubt, became criminals and some, perhaps, lawyers and judges." He concludes, "It is a defining question for modern liberalism: Are these men and women "populations that we don"t want to have too many of," or are they citizens worthy of justice and capable of contribution?" (Gerson, Washington Post, 7/17).
News of the day
Ablynx Announces A Novel Preclinical Development Candidate Targeting IL6R
Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX], a pioneer in the discovery and development of Nanobodies®, a novel class of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins, announced that it has advanced ALX-0061, a new Nanobody®-based therapeutic programme, into preclinical development for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Health Insurance

HSE Warns Businesses Not To Be Misled Over New Law Poster, UK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning businesses across Britain not to be duped into buying unnecessary and overpriced copies of its health and safety law poster. The poster is a fixture of every workplace in Britain and employers have a legal duty to display the poster in a prominent position or provide each worker with a copy of a Law pocket card. Both outline employer and workers responsibilities and where workers can seek advice. There is some evidence of misleading promotions wrongly claiming that the old poster must be replaced immediately and that the new law poster should be displayed on every notice board within the business" premises. This is incorrect and employers could be led to believe that they are not meeting their legal requirements. Employers can check they have a genuine HSE law poster by checking the unique, serially numbered hologram on each poster. Vinny Kenny, from HSE said: "The information that is being sent out by some companies may be misleading under consumer protection legislation and we want to put a stop to it. If businesses receive any promotions relating to the Law poster or pocket card and are in any doubt about their authenticity they should contact HSE on 0845 945 0055 before parting with their money." New versions of the health and safety law poster and an accompanying pocket card were launched in April and provide clearer information for workers about their right to have their health and safety properly protected. The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations allow businesses five years to switch to the new poster and pocket cards - they must be replaced by no later than 5 April 2014. Employers who choose to display the old poster after 6 April 2009 must make sure it is legible and keep the addresses of the enforcing authority and the employment medical advisory service up to date. The new law poster, pocket cards and Easy Read and Large Print formats can be ordered from HSE Books on: 01787 881165. The pocket card and Easy Read and Large Print formats can also be downloaded free of charge from the HSE web site. For further information go here. HSE


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