Today's topic is focused on a case in the Supreme Court of South Carolina. This case, as mentioned in the title of this blog, was between Miss Mary V. Kirk versus WYMAN et al., Board of Health. This case discusses the investigation of Mary Kirk, who was a resident of Aiken, South Carolina, was affected with leprosy in its contagious state. The Aiken board of health wanted to take Ms. Kirk from home and move her to the city hospital for infectious diseases. Ms. Kirk felt that in her condition she was no danger to the community, and the board of health would be placing her in an even more dangerous environment. Ms. Kirk also mentioned that the place was "the city pesthouse...used only for he purpose of incarcerating Negroes having small-pox and other dangerous and infectious diseases." Not to mention that this pesthouse was located near the city dumping grounds. The judge in charge of the case, Judge Aldrich, created a temporary restraining order and said the board of health needed to provide information as to why this temporary injunction should not be granted. The board submitted five answers in response to the judge's request. These answers consisted of reasons as to how detrimental her disease was, how they had come up with a way to house Ms. Kirk in a cottage located outside the city after her refusal to leave the city, and they also mentioned that the dumping grounds were 100 yards from the hospital. After hearing the board's response, the judge granted a temporary injunction that restricted the board of health from removing Ms. Kirk to the city hospital and pesthouse.
Soon after the judge's decision, the board again felt Ms. Kirk was contagious and she should be isolated until someplace that was more suitable for her was available. Granted by the mayor and council, they agreed to construct this cottage as soon as possible. The article goes on to discuss future plans in regards to future issues similar to this case.
I honestly do not think there is a difference between quarantine and isolation. They both coincide with each other. Quarantine deals with the isolation of a person or a people while isolation deals the separation of a person or people as a quarantine due to contagious and infectious diseases.
When it comes to the decision as to when an individual should be quarantined, I think that should be left up to the board of health or the CDC. Simply because many individuals like Miss Mary Kirk, believe that they are perfectly fine. When in fact they are a danger to the public. I think if the disease is contagious and infectious the individual should be quarantined as soon as possible. For example, if a school teacher begins to feel faint and is experiencing various symptoms of the flu she should be quarantined within the next few hours. I feel strongly about this because she works with children, and their immune systems have to work twice as hard to fight off infections.
I'm not sure as to how I feel towards who should balance the right of the individual verses the right of the community. I say this because I feel as if the government would make the right decisions to protect the people, but in this particular case the government ruled in favor of Ms. Kirk and she was a danger to the people. So I think that was a bad decision made by the court. It shows that despite hard factual evidence, they decided on the personal feelings of the individual, which is important, but it's also detrimental to society. I am basically neutral when it comes to this question. I think if Ms. Kirk going to the pesthouse was an issue then they should have improved the pesthouse for all individuals.
Again, I am neutral when it comes to siding with the protection of individuals and the protection of a community because I agree with both sides. When it comes to the protection of the individual, I think personal safety plays a big factor. For example, in this case Ms. Kirk felt as though the pesthouse was unsafe. I believe that if she was placed there she could have contracted as well as spread more diseases. When it come to the safety of the community, I feel as though protection from the government is critical. We should always be aware of potential or hazardous risks that are in society. I think that in both cases, the government could improve the way they handle certain situations as well as providing a safer quarantine or isolated environment.
Until next time, stay healthy!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Comparison In Health Care
Today's topic is focused on the performance of the US health-care measures in comparison to 29 other countries. These countries are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, they are the Paris-based group of industrialized countries. For this particular blog the information is given in data and statistical viewing, (i.e., percentages). There are the highest rand lowest ranked percentages as well as the OECD average. The categories that are discussed are health resources, health spending, health care activities, risk factors and health status. Each one focuses on different topics, for example, under health status the topics are life expectancy and infant mortality. So there are five categories and nineteen topics.
As I read through each section, I found myself very surprised with most of the results. Of the nineteen topics, the US ranked the lowest in tobacco consumption with a population of ages 15 and over who are daily smokers. I was also surprised the US ranked the highest in total spending on health care.public spending on health and health spending per capita. I think I was more ever surprised because we spend so much money on health care, yet not a lot of citizens have health care. Based on this study, the US spends 16% on health care, where the OECD average is 8.8%. We are almost double that percentage, but yet we still have all these citizens who do not reap from these benefits. So this percentage is fairly high considering the fact that health care is only being provided to so many Americans.
The part I was least shocked about was the US ranking in the highest for obese population. This I believe to be 100% true. Americans have different diets from other countries. We have processed food, foods that we are consuming are high in fats, and oils that are not healthy. In some countries, for example Japan, they eat lots of grains and leafy foods. We also have higher calorie intakes than other countries. I also believe religion may play as a factor in these conditions. Many religions don't eat certain meats and processed foods. I think that obesity here in the US depends on your household and genetics. Some people are genetically created to be obese. Other people, however, eat out if depression and some people eat just because it's there. I kind of expected that topic for the US.
If I were a public health professional working for the CDC looking at these health measures, I feel that obese population in the US has the greatest future impact on public health. I think an intervention that could improve this measure/problem over the next few years and/or decades could possibly be reduction in processed foods. Although processed foods like canned goods save companies money, they are very unhealthy. I think if there was a case study on a group of obese people and a controlled study on obese people we could study what drives these eating habits. I guess we could stress the importance of how being obese is a health risk as well as a higher risk of dying. Researchers now say it has a lot to do with genetics, calorie intake, etc. which is true, but how could we as a country develop new eating habits? And not necessarily new eating habits, but a healthier lifestyle. Maybe there's a way we could reduce the usage of salt in food processing. At this moment I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's worth a try.
Until next time, stay healthy!
-Kiara
As I read through each section, I found myself very surprised with most of the results. Of the nineteen topics, the US ranked the lowest in tobacco consumption with a population of ages 15 and over who are daily smokers. I was also surprised the US ranked the highest in total spending on health care.public spending on health and health spending per capita. I think I was more ever surprised because we spend so much money on health care, yet not a lot of citizens have health care. Based on this study, the US spends 16% on health care, where the OECD average is 8.8%. We are almost double that percentage, but yet we still have all these citizens who do not reap from these benefits. So this percentage is fairly high considering the fact that health care is only being provided to so many Americans.
The part I was least shocked about was the US ranking in the highest for obese population. This I believe to be 100% true. Americans have different diets from other countries. We have processed food, foods that we are consuming are high in fats, and oils that are not healthy. In some countries, for example Japan, they eat lots of grains and leafy foods. We also have higher calorie intakes than other countries. I also believe religion may play as a factor in these conditions. Many religions don't eat certain meats and processed foods. I think that obesity here in the US depends on your household and genetics. Some people are genetically created to be obese. Other people, however, eat out if depression and some people eat just because it's there. I kind of expected that topic for the US.
If I were a public health professional working for the CDC looking at these health measures, I feel that obese population in the US has the greatest future impact on public health. I think an intervention that could improve this measure/problem over the next few years and/or decades could possibly be reduction in processed foods. Although processed foods like canned goods save companies money, they are very unhealthy. I think if there was a case study on a group of obese people and a controlled study on obese people we could study what drives these eating habits. I guess we could stress the importance of how being obese is a health risk as well as a higher risk of dying. Researchers now say it has a lot to do with genetics, calorie intake, etc. which is true, but how could we as a country develop new eating habits? And not necessarily new eating habits, but a healthier lifestyle. Maybe there's a way we could reduce the usage of salt in food processing. At this moment I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's worth a try.
Until next time, stay healthy!
-Kiara
Friday, February 12, 2010
Public Health Achievements
The topic for today's blog deals with the ten great public health achievements of the US in the 20th century. The article I will discuss was published my the CDC and focuses on the these achievements. In the first two paragraphs the article, the CDC describes the how health and life expectancy in the US have improved. In addition to that, the average lifespan for people residing in the US was greater than 30 years. Of those 30 years, 25 years are geared toward the advances in public health. Based on the CDC the ten great public health achievements from 1900-1999 are: vaccination, motor-vehicle safety, safer workplaces, controlling of infectious diseases, decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke, safer and healthier foods, healthier mothers and babies, family planning, fluoridation of drinking water, and recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard. After listing these achievements, the article goes on to describe each one in further detail.
I thought the article was very interesting and informative. In regards to the article being so short, it was straight to the point the delivered a clear message. However, I did think the article could have listed the years in which each achievement occurred. To state that each achievement happened between a 99 year time span is not as informative.
One achievement that resonates with me is the one that relates to vaccination. As a child I had chicken pox and I really didn't enjoy them. It was awful! But thanks to vaccination, I can no longer get chicken pox again. I think that all of these achievements affect me personally. If it was not for motor-vehicle safety, I would not have seat belts and air bags in my car. If it was not for safer and healthier foods, who knows how much bacteria I'd consume from the meats and vegetables I eat. Family Planning allows my parents, family members, and friends to decided when having children fits into their plans. Fluoridation of drinking water might be one of the most important. The fluoride in the water helps protect my teeth from decaying. I think that is most important now, because I recently moved from Michigan, where the water was considered to be some of the best in the nation, to Baltimore, where the water in my dorm isn't as clear and healthy. Just as the above mentioned achievements all of them are important in my life as well as my family, and friends.
At this very moment I am not sure if there is another great public health achievement that occurred during the 20th century, but did not make this list. I think that all of the things that could have been improved, were improved. The only thing I can think of right now is the practice of not drinking and driving. The rates of drinking and driving declined as the years progressed according to www.dui-usa.drinkdriving.org/dui_drunkdriving_statistics.php . I think this achievement should have made the list, because deaths from drunk driving began to decrease. Although there was not a drastic change in number, there was progression. I'm not sure if it didn't make the list because the statistics for drunk driving did not occur until later on in the century,but I still think it was a possibility that it should have made the list.
Until my next blog, stay healthy!
-Kiara
I thought the article was very interesting and informative. In regards to the article being so short, it was straight to the point the delivered a clear message. However, I did think the article could have listed the years in which each achievement occurred. To state that each achievement happened between a 99 year time span is not as informative.
One achievement that resonates with me is the one that relates to vaccination. As a child I had chicken pox and I really didn't enjoy them. It was awful! But thanks to vaccination, I can no longer get chicken pox again. I think that all of these achievements affect me personally. If it was not for motor-vehicle safety, I would not have seat belts and air bags in my car. If it was not for safer and healthier foods, who knows how much bacteria I'd consume from the meats and vegetables I eat. Family Planning allows my parents, family members, and friends to decided when having children fits into their plans. Fluoridation of drinking water might be one of the most important. The fluoride in the water helps protect my teeth from decaying. I think that is most important now, because I recently moved from Michigan, where the water was considered to be some of the best in the nation, to Baltimore, where the water in my dorm isn't as clear and healthy. Just as the above mentioned achievements all of them are important in my life as well as my family, and friends.
At this very moment I am not sure if there is another great public health achievement that occurred during the 20th century, but did not make this list. I think that all of the things that could have been improved, were improved. The only thing I can think of right now is the practice of not drinking and driving. The rates of drinking and driving declined as the years progressed according to www.dui-usa.drinkdriving.org/dui_drunkdriving_statistics.php . I think this achievement should have made the list, because deaths from drunk driving began to decrease. Although there was not a drastic change in number, there was progression. I'm not sure if it didn't make the list because the statistics for drunk driving did not occur until later on in the century,but I still think it was a possibility that it should have made the list.
Until my next blog, stay healthy!
-Kiara
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Introduction Blog
My name is Kiara Doss and I am currently a Neuroscience major. However, I will be declaring Public Health as my official major. I love to write and I really enjoy listening to music. My favorite music would have to be smooth jazz. I think it really helps to ease my mind from all the reading and studying that I do. I also enjoy sports. My favorite sports are tennis, basketball, and football. I have been playing tennis for the past 3 years and I was also co-captain of my high school varsity team.
I created this blog in regards to my Introduction to Public Health course. I think that this blog will give readers and myself a better understanding as to what public health really is. I will blog about readings that we cover in class, class lectures, current events, and news stories that are related to public health.
Well I am currently taking this course because I would like to go into the medical field. I want to be a heart surgeon. I think this course will provide a in depth display of health dealing with the population as a whole. From what I've learned so far public health does not have a distinct definition. No matter where you look, you'll never see the same definition to describe what public health is. However, in class we did discuss a few definitions. The first definition comes from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mission statement. Based on the CDC, public health is "To promote the health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability." The second definition comes from a report by the Institute of Medicine. They said "Public Health's mission is create the conditions within which people can be healthy." I think that both of those quotes coincide with each other. They both mention the protection in keeping the people healthy and providing good health conditions.
I thought the first two classes were really interesting. The material that we covered gave me insight on what public health really means in terms of health as a people. We discussed health policy, environmental health, prevention pathways, and poverty. Dr. Kahan and Dr. Alexander had my full undivided attention. I really think this course will help prepare me for not only for the medical field, but also learning how to prevent diseases and outbreaks for the population.
As I learn more, I will update my blog with more information. Until the next time, stay healthy!
-Kiara
I created this blog in regards to my Introduction to Public Health course. I think that this blog will give readers and myself a better understanding as to what public health really is. I will blog about readings that we cover in class, class lectures, current events, and news stories that are related to public health.
Well I am currently taking this course because I would like to go into the medical field. I want to be a heart surgeon. I think this course will provide a in depth display of health dealing with the population as a whole. From what I've learned so far public health does not have a distinct definition. No matter where you look, you'll never see the same definition to describe what public health is. However, in class we did discuss a few definitions. The first definition comes from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mission statement. Based on the CDC, public health is "To promote the health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability." The second definition comes from a report by the Institute of Medicine. They said "Public Health's mission is create the conditions within which people can be healthy." I think that both of those quotes coincide with each other. They both mention the protection in keeping the people healthy and providing good health conditions.
I thought the first two classes were really interesting. The material that we covered gave me insight on what public health really means in terms of health as a people. We discussed health policy, environmental health, prevention pathways, and poverty. Dr. Kahan and Dr. Alexander had my full undivided attention. I really think this course will help prepare me for not only for the medical field, but also learning how to prevent diseases and outbreaks for the population.
As I learn more, I will update my blog with more information. Until the next time, stay healthy!
-Kiara
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)