End of the Term

As we reach the end of the Supreme Court's term, you may be inspired to catch up on what happened (in yesterday's Affordable Care Act decision), is happening as I type (the last decision of the term on same sex marriage will be announced any minute) and what will happen next term.

Check out SCOTUSblog for live blogging as the decision is coming down as well as links to the opinion, briefs and commentary.

Another good site is the ABA Preview .

Finally, an old favorite, with recordings of oral arguments from seminal cases (think Roe v. Wade) going back decades - Oyez .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

RAND Health

If you need to research (or just have an interest in) health law, policy, or other health care issues, RAND Health resources are invaluable.  The RAND Corporation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization focused on policy research and solutions, has gathered more than 280 experts from many disciplines to create its RAND Health division, "one of the largest independent health research groups in the world."

At RAND Health you can explore many facets of the Affordable Care Act, including research briefs on current developments and issues in implementing the Act. The Rand Health menu also links to a broad range of health policy commentary, research articles, and contemporary health care and policy surveys.  Rand Health is one of the best objective health policy resources for exploring these topics.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Epidemics, Police Powers, and Public Health Law

A state's police powers to safeguard the public health, the legal source of quarantines, vaccine requirements, and other such measures, drew widespread interest this week with the ongoing Ebola epidemic.  Even when considered carefully in the light of scientific knowledge, these powers are often pitted against the civil liberties of the individuals to be quarantined or vaccinated. 

Yesterday, a Maine District Court judge ruled in favor of a nurse recently returned home from treating Ebola patients in West Africa.  She had challenged Maine's governor and state health officials who wanted her to continue in "in home" quarantine, not going to work or out in public, for 21 days, although she had never exhibited any symptoms of Ebola.  The judge ruled that pending a scheduled hearing, she need only submit to "direct active monitoring" as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, including coordination of her travel with public health authorities.  Read the judge's order here.

A brief introduction to public health police powers, and the landmark 1905 U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed these issues during a deadly smallpox epidemic, is provided by this recent Fortune article based on an interview with law professor Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University. It also references Professor Gostin's 2005 article, "Jacobson v. Massachusetts at 100 Years: Police Power and Civil Liberties in Tension" (95 Am. J. Pub. Health 576 (2005)), which further explores the legal issues confronted in the Jacobson case and in cases taken from today's headlines.     

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Research Resources: Medical Research Law & Policy Report (BNA)

If you are interested in a publication that offers coverage of regulatory and legal developments concerning the medical research industry, then take a look at BNA's Medical Research Law & Policy Report.  Dates of coverage are from March 20, 2002 to the present.

To access the Medical Research Law & Policy Report (BNA) :

• Click the "Online Resources Subject List" link
• Then, click "Health Law/Medicine" link
• Scroll down to "Medical Research Law & Policy Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Research Resources: Occupational Safety & Health Reporter (BNA)

If you are interested in a weekly publication that provides federal/state occupational safety and health program documentation, then take a look at BNA's Occupational Safety & Health Reporter. The Reporter also provides industry news, standards, legislation, regulations, court/agency decisions and more.  Dates of coverage are from February 7, 1996 to the present.

To access the Occupational Safety & Health Reporter (BNA) :

• Click the "Online Resources Subject List" link
• Then, click "Health Law/Medicine" link
• Scroll down to "Occupational Safety & Health Reporter (BNA) "

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: Health Care Fraud Report (BNA)

If you are interested in a report that provides health care fraud related enforcement actions, policy and law, federal and state regulations, take a look at BNA's Health Care Fraud Report. The Report provides a broad coverage of health care fraud and abuse issues in Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance industry and more. Coverage begins from 1/15/1997 to present.

To access the  Health Care Fraud Report  (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Health Law/Medicine" link
• Scroll down to "Health Care Fraud Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat