Presidential Immigration Policies Endangering Health and Well-being?

Since assuming office, President Trump has issued a series of executive orders transforming United States immigration policy. From building a border wall to banning entry to the US based on nationality, these executive orders are likely to profoundly impact health and wellbeing. Are these actions legal, ethical, and what are the likely effects on US health care? The implications of the proposed expansion of the border wall between Mexico and the US, new rules on deportation and detention, and the proposed ban on immigration from certain Muslim-majority countries are discussed. These actions run contrary to available evidence on protecting the US from terrorism, and may violate constitutional protections and US commitments under international law. Likely health effects fostering an environment based on fear in immigrant communities and undermining recruitment of vital foreign health workers to the US. Immigrants may be discouraged from accessing benefits and services for fear of being targeted by officials, which may jeopardize both individual and public health, such as through eroding herd immunity

Lurching from complacency to panic in the fight against dangerous microbes:a blueprint for a common secure future

Despite the clear lessons of history - most recently the West African Ebola Epidemic - the international community systematically underestimates the urgent global health hazards posed by emerging infectious diseases. Indeed, looming challenges – namely, rising populations, urbanization, mass migration, rapid travel and trade, climate change, weak states and ethno-nationalism – render pandemic preparedness more acute than ever before. This article details the urgent threats to global health security and argues that the international community must learn from previous outbreaks and urgently invest in preparedness. The article offers a blueprint for a more secure future from pathogenic threats facing humankind. We argue that states must pivot from the existing reactive approach to one of preparedness. What would it take to create a decidedly more secure world? What steps must we put in place to bolster defenses against infectious diseases? What are the political, financial, and regulatory obstacles standing in the way? We contend that global health security requires economic investment, strong international institutions led by an empowered World Health Organization, resilient national health systems, targeted research and development, and effective communication with affected populations. We detail recent reforms of the WHO and emergency response within the UN system. Ultimately, future action must be guided by cooperative action, shared responsibility, equity and fairness, and respect for global health norms. Through a modest security dividend, states could ensure far greater health security. Yet, notwithstanding promising initiatives, the current political climate of ethno-nationalistic populism risks undercutting global solidarity and destabilizing global action against fast moving epidemics

The genetic discrimination observatory : confronting novel issues in genetic discrimination

Genetic discrimination (GD) is the differential or unfair profiling of an individual on the basis of genetic data. This article summarizes the actions of the Genetic Discrimination Observatory (GDO) in addressing GD and recent developments in GD since late 2020. It shows how GD can take many forms in today’s rapidly evolving society.http://www.journals.elsevier.com/trends-in-geneticshj2022Immunolog

Lurching from Complacency to Panic in the Fight Against Dangerous Microbes: A Blueprint for a Common Secure Future

This Article proposes a new paradigm for global preparedness, rejecting the current narrow silos of health assistance, such as disease-specific interventions or eradication. Global health security requires economic investment, strong international institutions, resilient national health systems, targeted research and development, and effective communication with affected populations. We place particular emphasis on reform of the World Health Organization (WHO or Organization) and emergency response within the U.N. system. The values that ought to guide future action include cooperative action, shared responsibility, equity and fairness, and global norms that are respected and enforced

Health and human rights:Global and European perspectives

Health and Human Rights brings together contributions from human rights and health law experts from three different countries in Northern Europe. Together, the chapters give a rich account of the legal and interdisciplinary aspects and perspectives related to ‘health and human rights’.<br/

Health and human rights:Global and European perspectives

Health and Human Rights brings together contributions from human rights and health law experts from three different countries in Northern Europe. Together, the chapters give a rich account of the legal and interdisciplinary aspects and perspectives related to ‘health and human rights’.<br/