Strategy, Morality, Courage: Bioethics and Health Law after Dobbs.

Our paper examines what is required to protect and promote effective public discussion and policy development in the current climate of divisive disagreement about many public policy questions. We use abortion as a case example precisely because it is morally fraught. We first consider the changes made by Dobbs, as well as those which led up to the Dobbs decision, accompany it, and follow from it.

Street-working children in Latin America: a critical perspective.

This article critically explores the complex realities faced by street-working children (SWC) in Latin America, highlighting historical and structural inequalities-such as coloniality, heteropatriarchy, and neoliberal capitalism-that perpetuate their marginalisation. Hegemonic public policies tend to focus narrowly on control, normalisation, and short-term relief, often neglecting the deeper systemic issues that sustain these vulnerabilities. This study calls for a shift towards alternative frameworks of public policy analysis that permit addressing the socio-political and cultural specificities of Latin America from a decolonial perspective. By incorporating affective, semiotic, and material dimensions, the Affective Interstice Theory provides analytical tools to understand how policy discourses not only shape the emotional and material experiences of those involved but also reinforce existing power structures. These insights reveal critical opportunities for resistance and transformative change, urging the development of policies that do more than address immediate needs-policies that actively dismantle the structural dynamics underpinning the marginalisation of SWC. The article underscores the need for contextualised approaches that engage with the complexity of local realities, offering a path towards more equitable and just policy outcomes across the region.

Understanding Local Alcohol Control in Wisconsin: Building a Database of Local Municipal Alcohol Policies.

In Wisconsin, many alcohol policies are regulated at the local level. To examine the relationship between local policies, alcohol use and health outcomes, our team developed a database to collect local alcohol policies. Initial results highlight differences in how policies are defined, enforced, and made available to the public.

State Policies Regulating Firearms and Changes in Firearm Mortality.

Importance: Despite high social and public health costs of firearm violence in the United States, the effects of many policies designed to reduce firearm mortality remain uncertain. Objective: To estimate the individual and joint effect sizes of state firearm policies on firearm-related mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this comparative effectiveness study, bayesian methods were used to model panel data of annual, state-level mortality rates (1979-2019) for all US firearm decedents, with analyses conducted in October 2023. Exposures: Six classes of firearms policies: background checks, minimum age, waiting periods, child access, concealed carry, and stand-your-ground laws. Main Outcome and Measures: Primary outcomes (total firearm deaths, firearm homicide deaths, and firearm suicide deaths) were assessed using the National Vital Statistics System. Bayesian estimation was used to estimate the partial association of changes in firearms policies with subsequent changes in firearm mortality. Results: The estimated effect sizes of individual policies 5 or more years after implementation were generally small in magnitude and had considerable uncertainty. The policy class with the highest probability of reducing firearm deaths was child-access prevention laws, estimated to reduce overall firearm mortality by 6% (80% credible interval [CrI], -2% to -9%). The policy class with the highest probability of increasing firearm deaths was stand-your-ground laws, estimated to increase firearm homicides by 6% (80% CrI, 0% to 13% increase). Estimates of association of implementing multiple firearm restrictions with subsequent changes in firearm mortality yielded larger effect sizes. Moving from the most permissive to most restrictive set of firearm policies was associated with an estimated 20% reduction in firearm deaths (80% CrI, 10% to 28% reduction), with a 0.99 probability of any reductions in firearm death rates. Conclusions and Relevance: In this comparative effectiveness study of state firearm policies, the joint effect estimates of combinations of firearm laws were calculated, showing that restrictive firearm policies were associated with substantial reductions in firearm mortality. Although policymakers would benefit from knowing the effects of individual policies, the estimated changes in firearm mortality following implementation of individual policies were often small and uncertain.

Beyond minimum wage: Broader employment policies can significantly affect food insecurity.

Although many have investigated the impacts of minimum wage on a broad array of health outcomes, innovative policies surrounding broader employment policies have largely not been studied. To that end, this paper contributes in three ways. First, it discusses the rise in precarious employment. Then, it turns to the current federal framework of employment policies, namely minimum wage. Finally, it explores what a broader definition of employment policies could include and how future studies could use state, county, and municipal policymaking in this space to investigate ways in which they might contribute to reducing food insecurity and in turn, improve health outcomes.

About 30% of low-income households experienced food insecurity in 2023. Given that food security is strongly tied to employment conditions, there is potential to reduce food insecurity through innovative employment-focused policy changes. Minimum wage is often studied as an indicator of employment quality. However, employment policies now stretch beyond hourly rate, as several jurisdictions have adopted innovative, broader approaches to improving employment. More research is needed to determine whether these broader employment policies, such as secure scheduling, paid leave, and collective bargaining, may mitigate food insecurity.

Systemic White supremacy: U.S. state policy, policing, discrimination, and suicidality across race and sexual identity.

Although suicide rates are stable or decreasing among White communities, rates are increasing among Black communities, a trend that appears to be disproportionately affecting Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) people. To understand the structural drivers and mechanisms of these trends, we examined associations between U.S. state-level racist and heterosexist criminal legal policies and policing, discrimination, and suicidality among White and Black, heterosexual and LGBQ, communities. We recruited 5,064 participants in 2021 using online census-driven quota sampling. Structural equation modeling estimated associations from objective indicators of racist and heterosexist criminal legal policies to self-reported police stops, discrimination, and suicidal ideation and behavior. For White heterosexual participants, racist (ß = -.22, SE = 0.03, p < .001) and heterosexist (ß = -.26, SE = 0.03, p < .001) policies were negatively associated with police stops. For White LGBQ participants, racist and heterosexist policies were not significantly associated with police stops. For Black heterosexual participants, racist (ß = .30, SE = 0.11, p = .005), but not heterosexist, policies were positively associated with police stops. For Black LGBQ participants, racist (ß = .57, SE = 0.08, p < .001) and heterosexist (ß = .65, SE = 0.09, p < .001) policies were positively associated with police stops which, in turn, were positively associated with discrimination and suicidal ideation and behavior. Results provide evidence that racist and heterosexist state policies are linked to policing and interpersonal drivers of suicide inequities and suggest that repealing/preventing oppressive policies should be a suicide prevention imperative. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Atuação de psicólogos(as) escolares nas falas de professoras do ensino fundamental do sudoeste da Bahia: uma análise discursiva / Role of Educational Psychologists from primary school teachers' point of view in Southwest Bahia State, Brazil: a discursive analysis / Le rôle des psychologues de l'éducation du point de vue des enseignants du primaire dans le sud-ouest d'État de Bahia, au Brésil: une analyse discursive / El rol del psicólogo educativo según las maestras de la primaria en el sudoeste de Bahía, Brasil: una mirada discursiva

No contexto educacional brasileiro, a promulgação da Lei n. 13.935, de 11 de dezembro de 2019, formalizou a contratação de psicólogos escolares. Esta pesquisa investigou as expectativas de professoras do Ensino Fundamental do sudoeste da Bahia sobre a contratação de profissionais de psicologia escolar para atuar na rede de ensino. Para entender a promulgação da Lei, realizou-se um resgate histórico do campo da psicologia escolar no Brasil. Filiadas à perspectiva psicanalítica e da análise do discurso de Pêcheux, foram realizadas e analisadas cinco entrevistas semiestruturadas, que indicaram duas formações discursivas (FD) antagônicas. Além disso, as FD - nomeadas "detecção e encaminhamento" (FD1) e "professoras trabalhadoras" (FD2) - estão filiadas a uma formação ideológica denominada "médica-higienista-normativa". Os resultados demonstram que as respostas das participantes veiculam a FD1, que reproduz o modelo médico classificatório, mas não impede que na FD2 haja formas de resistência, por meio das denúncias de más condições de trabalho das professoras

In the Brazilian educational context, issuance of Law no. 13935, on December 11, 2019, authorized the hiring of psychologists by public schools. This research investigated primary teachers' expectations regarding psychologist intervention in public schools from Southwest Bahia State. To understand the law's enactment we conducted a historical overview on the role of Educational Psychology in the country. Based on psychoanalysis and Pêcheux's discourse analysis, we conducted and analyzed five semi-structured interviews and identified two opposite discursive formations (DFs). These DFs-named "detection and referral" (DF1) and "working teachers" (DF2)-are affiliated to a "medical-hygienist-normative" ideology. Results show that the participants' statements emphasize the classificatory medical paradigm (DF1), which does not exclude possible resistance in DF2 by denouncing poor working conditions

Dans le contexte éducatif brésilien, la publication de la loi 13935, le 11 décembre 2019, a autorisé l'embouche de psychologues par les écoles publiques. Cette recherche a étudié les attentes des enseignants du primaire concernant l'intervention d'un psychologue dans le réseau d'éducation publique. Pour comprendre cette promulgation, nous avons effectué un survol historique du rôle de la psychologie de l'éducation dans le pays. Basé sur la psychanalyse et de l'analyse du discours de Pêcheux, nous avons mené et analysé cinq entretiens semi-structurés et identifié deux formations discursives (FD) opposées. Ces formations discursives - appelées « détection et orientation ¼ (FD1) et « enseignants en activité ¼ (FD2) - sont affiliées à une idéologie "médicale-hygiéniste-normative ¼. Les résultats montrent que leur réponses mettent l'accent sur le paradigme médical classificatoire (FD1), ce qui n'exclut pas une résistance dans FD2 en dénonçant les mauvaises conditions de travail

En el contexto educativo brasileño, se promulgó la Ley N.º 13.935, de 11 de diciembre de 2019, por la cual autoriza la contratación de psicólogos educativos. Esta investigación buscó identificar las expectativas de las maestras del sudoeste de estado de Bahía (Brasil) sobre la contratación de los profesionales de psicología educativa para trabajar en la red de enseñanza. Para comprender esta promulgación, se realizó un rescate histórico del campo de la psicología escolar en Brasil. A partir de la perspectiva psicoanalítica y de análisis del discurso de Pêcheux, se analizaron cinco entrevistas semiestructuradas que señalaron dos formaciones discursivas (FD) antagónicas. Además, las FD denominadas "detección y derivación de casos" (FD1) y "maestras trabajadoras" (FD2) se vinculan a una formación ideológica denominada "médico-higienista-normativa". Los resultados muestran que las respuestas de las participantes expresan FD1, que reproduce el modelo de clasificación médica; pero no evita formas de resistencia en FD2 mediante denuncias de malas condiciones laborales para los docentes

Diversifying the Medical Pathway in a Post-Affirmative Action World.

This Viewpoint discusses a pathway toward individual, institutional, professional, and societal actions to increase the number of underrepresented individuals in medicine within the medical workforce in a "post­affirmative action" landscape.

The Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action-Fewer Black Physicians and More Health Disparities for Minoritized Groups.

This Viewpoint discusses the US Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling on affirmative action and its repercussions for Black physicians and health equity for racial and ethnic minority groups.

Affirmative Action Ruled Unconstitutional: Options for Building a Diverse Health Care Workforce.

This Viewpoint reviews how the recent US Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action affects extant medical school admission policies seeking to enhance diversity of the national medical student body and its derivative national health care workforce.

State Public Insurance Coverage Policies and Postpartum Care Among Immigrants.

Importance: Professional medical organizations recommend that adults receive routine postpartum care. Yet, some states restrict public insurance coverage for undocumented immigrants and recently documented immigrants (those who received legal documentation status within the past 5 years). Objective: To examine the association between public insurance coverage and postpartum care among low-income immigrants and the difference in receipt of postpartum care among immigrants relative to nonimmigrants. Design, Setting, and Participants: A pooled, cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System for 19 states and New York City including low-income adults with a live birth between 2012 and 2019. Exposure: Giving birth in a state that offered public insurance coverage for postpartum care to recently documented or undocumented immigrants. Main Outcomes and Measures: Self-reported receipt of postpartum care by the category of coverage offered (full coverage: states that offered publicly funded postpartum care regardless of immigration status; moderate coverage: states that offered publicly funded postpartum care to lawfully residing immigrants without a 5-year waiting period, but did not offer postpartum care to undocumented immigrants; no coverage: states that did not offer publicly funded postpartum care to lawfully present immigrants before 5 years of legal residence or to undocumented immigrants). Results: The study included 72 981 low-income adults (20 971 immigrants [29%] and 52 010 nonimmigrants [71%]). Of the 19 included states and New York City, 6 offered full coverage, 9 offered moderate coverage, and 4 offered no coverage; 1 state (Oregon) switched from offering moderate coverage to offering full coverage. Compared with the states that offered full coverage, receipt of postpartum care among immigrants was 7.0-percentage-points lower (95% CI, -10.6 to -3.4 percentage points) in the states that offered moderate coverage and 11.3-percentage-points lower (95% CI, -13.9 to -8.8 percentage points) in the states that offered no coverage. The differences in the receipt of postpartum care among immigrants relative to nonimmigrants were also associated with the coverage categories. Compared with the states that offered full coverage, there was a 3.3-percentage-point larger difference (95% CI, -5.3 to -1.4 percentage points) in the states that offered moderate coverage and a 7.7-percentage-point larger difference (95% CI, -10.3 to -5.0 percentage points) in the states that offered no coverage. Conclusions and Relevance: Compared with states without insurance restrictions, immigrants living in states with public insurance restrictions were less likely to receive postpartum care. Restricting public insurance coverage may be an important policy-driven barrier to receipt of recommended pregnancy care and improved maternal health among immigrants.

How the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling Could Affect Medical Schools and Health Care.

This Medical News feature examines the potential impact of the US Supreme Court's affirmative action decision on medical schools and health care.

The moderating role of CEO power on the relationship between environmental, social and governance disclosure and financial performance in emerging market.

The study proposes to examine how environmental, social and governance disclosure (ESG) affect the financial performance (FP) of Indian firms. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the moderation impact of CEO power (CEOP) on the association between ESG on the FP. The study's target population is all firms indexed in NIFTY 100, representing the top one hundred firms by market capitalisation from 2017 to 2021. Data relating to ESG were collected and built based on the available data on Refinitiv Eikon Database. Results reveal that EDI positively and significantly impacts the ROE and TQ of Indian firms. Furthermore, SDI and GDI negatively and significantly affect the ROE and TQ of Indian firms. Moreover, ESG and CEOP have a significant impact on ROE. Nevertheless, ESG has a negative but highly significant impact on ROE, whilst it has a negative and low considerable impact on the TQ of Indian firms. Nonetheless, CEOP does not moderate the association between ESG and FP measured by ROE and TQ. This research contributes to the existing literature by introducing a moderator variable that has not been used in the Indian context; CEO power, which provides stakeholders and regulators with useful findings that would encourage firms to create an ESG committee to enhance ESG disclosure to compete on the world market and reach the United Nations (UN) Sustainable goal 2030. Furthermore, this paper provides insightful recommendations for creating an ESG legal framework for decision-makers.