OSTENSIBLE AGENCY IN JORDANIAN CIVIL LAW: AN IN-DEPTH SCRUTINY OF JURIDICAL FRAMEWORKS AND THE IMPERATIVE FOR LEGISLATIVE REFORMULATION

The current inquiry delves profoundly into the construct of ostensible agency embedded in Jordanian Civil Law. This legal edifice, revered by the judiciary and scholarly luminaries, underpins the protections accorded to bona fide third-party transactors interacting with agents. This is particularly poignant when these agents deviate from their stipulated ambit or operate under a void or rescinded agency. Established legal tenets exonerate a principal from the repercussions of actions by an agent breaching their agency boundaries or operating devoid of authentic authorization. Such actions are statutorily nullified, obliterating subsequent legal consequences. Yet, the empirical legal landscape has borne instances where agency contracts gain validity, imposing binding encumbrances on the principal or mandator towards the bona fide third entity, even amidst agent deceit. A predominant research conundrum emanates from a legislative void: the glaring absence of a codified doctrine for ostensible agency. Intriguingly, Article (833) of Jordanian Civil Law's portrayal of ostensible agency draws critique, notably its omnibus nature enveloping juridical and actual deeds. Notably, jurisprudential narratives lack a cogent definition, merely demarcating its scenarios and stipulations. Consequently, the investigation advances seminal advisories, accentuating the revamping of Article (833) to expressly confine the agency to juridical deeds, and to distinctly sideline testamentary bequests from its scope

Power-Sharing in Bahrain: A Still-Absent Debate

Bahrain was among the first Arab Spring countries in which mass protests arose in February 2011. The authoritarian monarchy, which excludes vast segments of society from fair political and economic participation, opted for the use of force to suppress the mainly peaceful demonstrations, but it could not expunge the protests by a popular movement that continues to exist to this day. The power struggle is occurring along a Sunna-Shia divide that interconnects with regional sectarian tensions. This article investigates powersharing arrangements as an option to deal with such deep divisions. It outlines the historical background of the sectarian tensions in Bahrain and the rudimentary forms of powersharing that have existed there in the past. It then analyses the current debate between the regime and the opposition regarding the distribution of political power. While the reality still seems to be far removed from a power-sharing solution, we nevertheless recommend power-sharing as a feasible way out of the current stalemate

Mpox Perceptions and Vaccine Advocacy among the Healthcare Workers of Solid Organ Transplant Centers: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Survey in Saudi Arabia

Background: In response to the global Mpox outbreaks, this survey aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and advocacy of Mpox vaccines among solid organ transplant healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among solid organ transplant HCWs in Saudi Arabia from 15 August to 5 September 2022. A total of 199 responses were received from participants primarily working in the kidney (54.8%) and liver (14.6%) transplant units. Results: The survey found that most participants were aware of the 2022 Mpox outbreak, but the majority were more concerned about COVID-19 than Mpox. While the majority of participants thought laboratory personnel and HCWs in direct contact with Mpox patients should receive the vaccine, less than 60% believed that all HCWs should be vaccinated. Additionally, over half of the participants lacked knowledge of animal–human transmission of the virus. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for increased education on Mpox among transplant HCWs in Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding the virus’s transmission dynamics and vaccines. This education is crucial to improve HCWs’ understanding of this emerging disease, especially given their vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population