By Hyeongsu Park and Kathy Wang
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New York State is being sued by Jeffrey Monsour, a state-employed caregiver to people with developmental disabilities. Monsour claims that the state had unfairly retaliated against him as a result of his whistle-blowing when he attested to corruption and abuse in the state health system.
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Already subject to much bioethical debate, HeLa cells have again been brought forward as scientists announced they had fully sequenced the HeLa genome, reviving privacy concerns over the use of the cells and genetic information.
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Lawmakers in New York City are on the verge of passing legislation that will require the provision of paid sick leave in businesses larger than 15 employees, to the approval of labor unions and liberal activists. The mandate still needs a vote of approval from the City Council.
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The controversy and debate over mandatory vaccination continues. Recently, federal health officials and doctors, concerned over low inoculation rates, have been pushing for the increased administration of HPV vaccinations. Opponents cite the implications of condoning sex in young girls, general distrust of vaccinations, and an unwieldy three-dose requirement.
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Smith College, an all-women institution, rejected the application of transgender student Calliope Wong multiple times on the grounds that Wong is identified as male by the FAFSA. This has led to heated debate over the status of transgender students and the conditions of Title IX funding.
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North Dakota’s governor has signed into law one of the nation’s strictest abortion laws, banning abortions when the fetal heartbeat can be detected. Governor Dalrymple explicitly set the stage for a challenge to the US Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.
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The Supreme Court of the US is due to hear a case on “pay-for-delay” deals between generic and brand-name pharmaceutical companies. These measures would allow drug companies to pay in order to delay the release of cheaper generic drugs.
