Distance Course in Legislative Drafting for Democratic Social Change
Past Projects: Health
Pakistan: Reducing the rates of Thallassemia transmission
Thalassaemia, a hereditary disease that causes severe anemia, afflicts more than 7,000 Pakistani newborns each year, of whom 5000 die before age fifteen through lack of access to therapy (monthly blood transfusions). The common practice of intra-family marriage increases the occurrence of the disease, for which no cure exists. This report proposes a system of screening for infants, adolescents, parents of affected children, engaged couples, and single adults of childbearing age, and institutes an educational/genetic counseling program to prevent carriers from passing on the disease.
Pakistan: Reducing the rates of Volatile Substance Abuse
In Pakistan, minors often engage in Volatile Substance Abuse, leading to severe health complications including long-term cognitive impairment and death. The proposed bill includes several different suggestions for resolving the social problem of VSA in minors, including: regulating the manufacture of phenyl-containing glue/gum or its sale to minors, criminalizing exposure of minors to glue chemicals, reforming labour law to protect minors from glue exposure, requiring rehabilitation for addicted minors, and regulating home and school use of such chemicals.
Canada: Provincial health law did not ensure adequate health standards
The deaths of twelve pediatric cardiac patients in one hospital within eleven months in 1994 highlighted the lack of sufficient accountability and transparency in the provincial healthcare system. This report proposes amendments to the Manitoba Medical Act to require the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons to collect specific background information about physicians and to make the information accessible to the public. The background information would include the physician’s education and training, type of practice, offence convictions, and malpractice claims resulting in a finding of negligence or in settlement.
Ethiopia: Discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS
Employers discriminate against workers with HIV/AIDS, denying them employment opportunity and subjecting them to unfair practices. This report proposes a prohibition on pre- or post-employment HIV/AIDS testing (with exceptions for public health designated by the Ministers of Health and of Labor and Social Affairs). The proposed solution also prohibits employers from considering HIV/AIDS infection in regard to decisions about promotion, transfer, change of job status, training, occupational benefits, demotion, or job security. Finally, the proposal would require employers to provide training and protections against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the workplace and stigmatization of infected employees.
United States: Higher education students need funds to finish studies
The adult HIV/AIDS infection rate in South Africa has now reached twenty percent, and most of the infected population cannot afford AIDS drugs. Although international treaties permit developing countries’ governments to authorize “compulsory licensing” (a suspension of pharmaceutical patent rights) under certain conditions, the South African government has hesitated to authorize generic domestic production of AIDS drugs for fear of U.S.-imposed trade sanctions. This report proposes an amendment to the U.S. Trade Act, prohibiting action by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) against African countries for compulsory licensing or parallel imports of three specific AIDS drugs for a period of fifteen years (and subject to subsequent annual review).
United States: Expanding Medicare coverage for chiropractic treatments
In the United States, senior citizens lack access to appropriate preventive healthcare for many conditions under Medicare and cannot seek medical care until those conditions become severe. Medicare administrators exercise discretion to exclude coverage for minor or chronic conditions, so these conditions progress into serious and expensive conditions. The proposed bill would extend benefits for vertebral subluxation treatments.
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