The bench is closer to the bedside than we think:Uncovering the ethical ties between preclinical researchers in translational neuroscience and patients in clinical trials

Millions of people worldwide currently suffer from serious neurological diseases and injuries for which there are few, and often no, effective treatments. The paucity of effective interventions is, no doubt, due in large part to the complexity of the disorders, as well as our currently limited understanding of their pathophysiology. The bleak picture for patients, however, is also attributable to avoidable impediments stemming from quality concerns in preclinical research that often escape detection by research regulation efforts. In our essay, we connect the dots between these concerns about the quality of preclinical research and their potential ethical impact on the patients who volunteer for early trials of interventions informed by it. We do so in hopes that a greater appreciation among preclinical researchers of these serious ethical consequences can lead to a greater commitment within the research community to adopt widely available tools and measures that can help to improve the quality of research

Professional Regulation: A Potentially Valuable Tool in Responding to “Stem Cell Tourism”

The growing international market for unproven stem cell-based interventions advertised on a direct-to-consumer basis over the internet (“stem cell tourism”) is a source of concern because of the risks it presents to patients as well as their supporters, domestic health care systems, and the stem cell research field. Emerging responses such as public and health provider-focused education and national regulatory efforts are encouraging, but the market continues to grow. Physicians play a number of roles in the stem cell tourism market and, in many jurisdictions, are members of a regulated profession. In this article, we consider the use of professional regulation to address physician involvement in stem cell tourism. Although it is not without its limitations, professional regulation is a potentially valuable tool that can be employed in response to problematic types of physician involvement in the stem cell tourism market

Health Misinformation and the Power of Narrative Messaging in the Public Sphere

Numerous social, economic and academic pressures can have a negative impact on representations of biomedical research. We review several of the forces playing an increasingly pernicious role in how health and science information is interpreted, shared and used, drawing discussions towards the role of narrative. In turn, we explore how aspects of narrative are used in different social contexts and communication environments, and present creative responses that may help counter the negative trends. As traditional methods of communication have in many ways failed the public, changes in approach are required, including the creative use of narratives

The Stem Cell Research Environment:A Patchwork of Patchworks

Few areas of recent research have received as much focus or generated as much excitement and debate as stem cell research. Hope for the therapeutic promise of this field has been matched by social concern associated largely with the sources of stem cells and their uses. This interplay between promise and controversy has contributed to the enormous variation that exists among the environments in which stem cell research is conducted throughout the world. This variation is layered upon intra-jurisdictional policies that are also often complex and in flux, resulting in what we term a 'patchwork of patchworks'. This patchwork of patchworks and its implications will become increasingly important as we enter this new era of stem cell research. The current progression towards translational and clinical research among international collaborators serves as a catalyst for identifying potential policy conflict and makes it imperative to address jurisdictional variability in stem cell research environments. The existing patchworks seen in contemporary stem cell research environments provide a valuable opportunity to consider how variations in regulations and policies across and within jurisdictions influence research efficiencies and directions. In one sense, the stem cell research context can be viewed as a living experiment occurring across the globe. The lessons to be gleaned from examining this field have great potential for broad-ranging general science policy application

Vaccination and the Law in Ontario and Nova Scotia (1800 - 1924)

Since the discovery of smallpox vaccination in the late eighteenth century, Western societies have often confronted the question of whether the state can justifiably impose the procedure on its citizens in the interest of safeguarding general public health. This question is at the heart of ongoing controversies regarding whether to require mandatory vaccination to check a resurgence of childhood diseases such as measles. While there are social and medical histories of the application of vaccination to the problem of infectious diseases in Canada, much remains unknown about the legal history of the procedure, including, specifically, the nature and scope of legal mechanisms used to enforce vaccinations and the factors -- legal, social or otherwise -- that account for the effectiveness, success or failure of these mechanisms. This dissertation addresses this gap through the lens of the legal history of smallpox vaccination in Ontario and Nova Scotia in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It provides an original, comprehensive account of vaccination law and policy in nineteenth century Canada, encompassing the factors and ideologies that triggered and shaped the legal regulation of smallpox vaccination, the processes, design, content and outcomes of legal regulation, challenges associated with the implementation and enforcement of vaccination laws, and the influence or impact of broader social and political arrangements and norms. It also provides a firsthand account of why and to what extent mandatory approaches to vaccination were utilized in preventing the introduction and spread of smallpox, how such approaches were fashioned, and the reasons why they succeeded or failed to achieve stated regulatory aims. The study shows that approaches to vaccination varied between Ontario and Nova Scotia, and that the effectiveness of vaccination policies depended on the design of legal measures utilized, strong and responsive (local) government, holistic approaches that eschew a singular focus on vaccination over other methods of fighting infectious diseases, the absence of ideological contests over the legitimacy of mandatory vaccination, availability of financial resources to support the administration of vaccination, heightened and sustained threats of infectious diseases, and a population that is generally supportive of public health interventions.S.J.D

Media representations of COVID-19 public health policies: assessing the portrayal of essential health services in Canadian print media

Abstract Aims The study assessed how the Canadian print media represented essential healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the controversial decision to include liquor and cannabis stores in essential services lists. Methods Mixed-method content analysis of 67 articles published in major Canadian English language newspapers between March 23 and April 1, 2020. Articles were analyzed and coded by two raters. Ratings were analyzed in SPSS. Results Few articles in the sample discussed essential healthcare services and the inclusion of liquor and cannabis stores in essential services lists. Majority of the articles that discussed both topics framed the discussion positively and consistently with current knowledge and evidence. Conclusion Canadian print media representations of essential healthcare services and associated public debate are largely descriptive and, therefore, fail to engage critically with or advance public understanding of an important health policy issue