Your Help Requested With Research Paper Topic

by Justitia Themis 21 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Justitia Themis

  Hello Everyone. I am looking for suggestions for a topic for my research paper. Here is a class description which outlines the perimeters of the paper.

  "This seminar course deals with controversial issues arising from the interface and relationship between law and medicine. The course will focus particularly on the role of the government and oversight bodies in understanding and regulating access, use and misuse of medical treatments and technology. Class discussions will be devoted to the legal, ethical and social implications of those issues and how the law can be of constructive use in clarifying debates and solving challenging issues. Grading will be based on submission of a 30-35 page research paper on a law and medicine topic of the student’s choice (Instructor approval of selected topic is required). This paper will satisfy the law school’s Advanced Writing Requirement."

  It seems the class will be focusing on regulation and medicine. Any ideas?
• 

  Scully

  It could also relate to access to new technology, tests, medications under development, research trials of new drugs, compassionate access to treatments for people with financial hardships, etc.
• 

  mummatron

  My best friend is writing her Ph.D. thesis on how law regulates the control of the availability of prescription medication on the Internet. She is focusing on the sociological factors (lifestyle, background etc) of people who buy drugs 'illegally' (without a prescription, or with a prescrition but sourced from another state/country, or for unlicensed purposes) and what controls are currently in place Internationally and how people may circumvent these controls but more importantly, WHY. Something to consider...?
• 

  dgp

  I agree with Mummatron. Ever heard about Ivan Illich and his "Disabling professions"?

  http://www.amazon.com/Disabling-Professions-Ideas-Progress-Illich/dp/0714525103

  http://books.google.com/books/about/Disabling_professions.html?id=7NYPAQAAMAAJ

  " regulating access" can mean "creating illegal trade".

  I hate this: " Instructor approval of selected topic is required". Sounds like censorship to me. I know, such is life.
• 

  Justitia Themis

  You both have excellent ideas. Thank you. Scully, I have thought of those things also, but I need to narrow the subject-matter. I am hoping that someone has had a personal experience that deals with the medicine/regulation/law. I haven't, and I am certainly not interested in writing on the Health Care bill.

  I saw a news report recently that some people are not getting their cancer medicine because there was a shortage this summer in the U.S. Not sure how that happened...perhaps a good subject, and it is related to your friends thesis mumatron.
• 

  dgp

  I was forgetting this one: "Limits to medicine".

  http://books.google.com/books?id=CfXaAAAAMAAJ&hl=es&source=gbs_similarbooks

  http://www.amazon.com/Limits-Medicine-Medical-Nemesis-Expropriation/dp/0714529931/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315872105&sr=8-1
• 

  Justitia Themis

  I hate this: " Instructor approval of selected topic is required". Sounds like censorship to me. I know, such is life.

  As long as it's related, they usually approve it. Most of their descriptions are a bunch of CYA with restrictions that they end up not enforcing anyway. : ) And thanks for the ideas!
• 

  mummatron

  I saw a news report recently that some people are not getting their cancer medicine because there was a shortage this summer in the U.S. Not sure how that happened...perhaps a good subject, and it is related to your friends thesis mumatron.

  Yes, actually. One area she is looking into are the reasons behind people purchasing, and the loose controls that allowed them to purchase, a dangerous substance marketed as 'Miracle Mineral Solution' for self-medicating their cancer treatment! http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/15/miracle-mineral-solutions-mms-bleach

  Diet pills, melatonin, Xanax and Cialis/Viagra are other drugs that are controlled differently yet we all get spam e-mails asking us to buy them - her research is covering this too.
• 

  mummatron

  Another one...this time not covered by my friend's research I don't think:

  Domperidone - this particular drug is only licensed in the US and UK for gastro-intestinal disorders. Here in the UK it has been recently downgraded from POM (prescription only) to OTC (over the counter) and sold as Motilium 10, so anyone can purchase it upon satisfactorily answering a few basic health questions from a qualified dispensing pharmacist. However, its' major side effect is that it increases production of the hormone prolactin, which in a lactating woman would increase breastmilk production. In hospitals in the US, Canada and the UK some doctors will prescribe it for new mothers who are experiencing issues with breastmilk production, or who may have to express milk for a sick or premature baby, in spite of it not being licensed for that purpose. I believe US restrictions on the drug are tighter than anywhere else.

  If it's something that interests you, I'd suggest Googling 'Dr Jack Newman' (Canadian OB), 'La Leche League', 'Kellymom' and 'The Analytical Armadillo' as this will lead you on to all kinds of referenced papers.

  Good luck!
• 

  Scully

  Domperidone - this particular drug is only licensed in the US and UK for gastro-intestinal disorders. Here in the UK it has been recently downgraded from POM (prescription only) to OTC (over the counter) and sold as Motilium 10, so anyone can purchase it upon satisfactorily answering a few basic health questions from a qualified dispensing pharmacist. However, its' major side effect is that it increases production of the hormone prolactin, which in a lactating woman would increase breastmilk production. In hospitals in the US, Canada and the UK some doctors will prescribe it for new mothers who are experiencing issues with breastmilk production, or who may have to express milk for a sick or premature baby, in spite of it not being licensed for that purpose. I believe US restrictions on the drug are tighter than anywhere else.

  What I find interesting about domperidone is how a lot of mothers who are having issues with diminished milk supply is that they are able to just call Newman's office or send him an email requesting a prescription for domperidone to be faxed to their local pharmacy. Any other prescription pharmaceutical requires that the patient go to the prescribing doctor for an examination - yet I am aware of this practice and have a nagging feeling that what is going on may not be totally kosher. While I empathize with the mothers going through this difficulty, and realize that their time may be spent in hospital with their sick/premature infants and may not suit a visit to their own MD's office for a proper examination and prescription and documentation, to try to circumvent the accepted channels is taking a risk as well because the drug reacts with a lot of other medications and has its own set of adverse effects (other than breast swelling and milk production).

  BTW, I met Jack Newman at a conference several years ago - I'd say he was a nice guy, but he hates nurses.