Banning Abortion in Cases of Down Syndrome: Important Lessons for Advances in Genetic Diagnosis

In December 2017, Ohio passed into law legislation that prohibited physicians from performing abortions if the pregnant woman’s decision was influenced by her belief that the fetus has Down syndrome. Physicians who perform abortions in these cases would face fourth-degree felony charges and revocation of their medical license. No other state bans abortion specifically for Down syndrome, but several ban abortions in cases of genetic diseases. Lower courts have struck down most such laws, holding they violate the constitutional rights of women. In February 2018, a federal district court judge blocked enforcement of Ohio’s law pending a final determination. This article explores the compelling legal and ethical issues raised by the Ohio statute. It compares the statute with similar bans on abortion in other states and considers why courts have struck many of these bans down as unconstitutional. The article also examines the potential consequences of the Ohio statute for women and their families; for the patient-physician relationship; and for persons with disabilities. Ultimately, such laws do little to advance the values that are at the heart of both reproductive rights and disability rights movements, namely bodily autonomy, self-determination, equality, and inclusion

State Abortion Restrictions and the New Supreme Court: Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Services

The US Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 ruling in Roe v Wade established a privacy right to choose abortion. In 1992, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v Casey reaffirmed Roe with the Supreme Court calling reproductive decisions “the most intimate and personal choices a person may make…central to personal dignity.” Casey allows abortion regulations, but states cannot impose an “undue burden,” where the law’s “purpose or effect” places a substantial obstacle in a woman’s path in accessing an abortion previability. State abortion restrictions—meaning laws that restrict whether, when, and under what circumstances a woman may obtain an abortion—increased in the aftermath of Roe and Casey. The Supreme Court is unlikely to review bans on abortion under all or most circumstances but appears poised to incrementally uphold multiple restrictions, including those that affect the medical procedures, health professionals and institutions, decision-making, and funding involved in the provision of abortion services. This article explores how these restrictions would limit the affordability of or access to abortions, undermine trust in the patient-physician relationship, and jeopardize women’s health, emotional well-being, and dignity. It also examines how they would disproportionately affect already disadvantaged and underserved women, raising concerns about equity and justice

Sexual Assaults Among University Students: Prevention, Support, and Justice

Sexual assault is common among college-aged women (18 to 25 years), with 1 in 5 reporting having experienced these crimes during their college years. Acute and long-term consequences of sexual assault may include physical trauma, sexually transmitted infections, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance abuse. Survivors have the option of reporting assaults to the university or to the police, but the goals of these 2 systems—and women’s experiences with them—can be quite different. The criminal justice system’s principal aim is to adjudicate guilt, but the university has the broader purpose of fostering a safe learning environment. This article explores how university administrators can help prevent sexual assaults and, if necessary, fairly adjudicate claims. The critical points of intervention include nurturing a respectful environment; encouraging reporting; ensuring fair and rigorous investigations; implementing appropriate sanctions for inappropriate behavior; and reintegrating survivors back into the academic community. Importantly, coordination and cooperation between the university and criminal justice systems will improve experiences for survivors of sexual assault

Taxonomy of \u3cem\u3eStreptanthus\u3c/em\u3e sect. \u3cem\u3eBiennes\u3c/em\u3e, the \u3cem\u3eStreptanthus morrisonii\u3c/em\u3e complex (Brassicaceae)

The Streptanthus morrisonii complex is a six-taxon group of closely related serpentine rock outcrop endemics from Lake, Napa, and Sonoma counties of California, USA. Two new subspecies (S. morrisonii subsp. kruckebergii and S. brachiatus subsp. hoffmanii) from Lake County, California, are described. The relationship of these taxa to others in the section is reviewed and descriptions and a key are provided

Women\u27s Health and Abortion Rights: Whole Woman\u27s Health v Hellerstedt

Nearly a quarter century ago, the Supreme Court asked pro-choice and right-to-life advocates “to end their national division by accepting a common mandate rooted in the Constitution.” Nothing of the sort materialized. If anything, the social and political battles intensified, with states enacting 1074 abortion restrictions. The Court has not considered various appeals in the face of an avalanche of legislation, but on June 27, 2016, it struck down 2 onerous restrictions on physicians and clinics offering abortion services. In Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt, the Court found Texas’s requirements that physicians conducting abortions obtain admitting privileges at local hospitals and that licensed abortion facilities meet the standards of ambulatory surgical centers to be unconstitutional. Stephen Breyer, writing for a 5-3 majority, held that the restrictions failed to offer medical benefits sufficient to justify the burdens on women’s access to abortion. This article explores the implications of Whole Woman’s Health v Hellerstedt for other abortion restrictions that purportedly safeguard women’s health; for access to abortion in Texas and other parts of the country; and for the health, rights, and dignity of women seeking abortion, particularly those who are disproportionately affected by restrictions and other burdens on access. The article includes a table describing state abortion restrictions across the country, together with pending court cases

Changing UK science culture – a publisher perspective on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Rebecca Lawrence shares her response to the Nuffield Council on Biothetics’ report on the culture of scientific research. The report raised important issues that publishers across the industry are actively working towards. But further collaboration is needed amongst research funders, universities and publishers to tackle the many issues in quality assessment, recognition of negative findings, and adequate peer review. Otherwise we are simply churning out findings to tick the assessment boxes rather than generating real scientific progression

The Global Health Law Trilogy: Towards a Safer, Healthier, and Fairer World

Global health advocates often turn to medicine and science for solutions to enduring health risks, but law is also a powerful tool. No state acting alone can ward off health threats that span borders, requiring international solutions. A trilogy of global health law—the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, International Health Regulations (2005), and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework—strives for a safer, healthier, and fairer world. This article critically reviews this global health law trilogy. These international agreements are not well understood, and contain gaps in scope and enforceability. Moreover, major health concerns remain largely unregulated at the international level, such as non-communicable diseases, mental health, and injuries. The article promotes the lessons learned from 21st century international health law, which are that broad scope, robust compliance, inclusion of public and private actors, and sustainable financing are essential to success. It further explores the notion that in an age of nationalistic populism, collective action remains vital to ameliorate globalized health threats, helping realize the right to health. Reforms to the “trilogy” of global health laws are necessary to assure success and provide a critical roadmap for the World Health Organization’s next Director-General. The article concludes by calling on the new WHO D-G to take additional action toward a safer, healthier and fairer world by pushing for novel global health laws on major health hazards, including noncommunicable diseases, mental health and injuries, and new initiatives such as universal health care

F1000 and data publishing

Utility of the BioSharing standards and the BioDBCore registry in F1000 journal publishing

Capturing lost research

A very significant proportion of valuable research conducted is lost, either after presentation at a meeting or even at the stage of the creation of the initial dataset; _F1000 Posters_ and _F1000 Research_ aim to capture this valuable information