Accurately assessing elderly fall deaths using hospital discharge and vital statistics data

Historically, fatal injury monitoring and surveillance have relied on mortality data derived from death certificates (DC). However, problems associated with utilizing DC have been well documented. Recently, access to and utilization of hospital discharge data (HDD) have offered a new and important secondary source of data regarding in-hospital deaths. However, studies have shown that discrepancies between the HDD and the corresponding DC often exist. This discrepancy was especially evident when comparing HDD to the vital statistics data (VSD) for deaths by falls among those aged 65 and over in 19 states.This was a retrospective forensic review of elderly (age 65 and over) fall-associated fatalities (E880-E888) identified from HDD and VSD in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, between 1997 and 1998. Seventy-seven cases were identified, with the original manner of death listed as natural (34), suicide (1), and accidental (42) on the DC. Following a forensic review of the cases, the manner of the death on the DC should have been changed from natural to accidental in 28% (n = 12) of the cases, representing an undercount in the VSD. Undercounts were due to a failure of clinicians to account for the significance of a fall event that contributed to subsequent pathology and death. In addition, in that 22% (n = 17) of the HDD fall-associated deaths, the fall did not contribute directly or sequentially to the underlying cause of death, thereby representing an overcount in the HDD.Based on these findings we recommend (1) elderly fall surveillance systems should only count HDD E-coded falls that demonstrate a serious traumatic injury which directly or subsequently results in death, (2) all in-hospital fall-associated deaths should be reported to and reviewed by coroner/Medical Examiner offices for determination of the cause and manner of death, and (3) physicians should be better educated in properly completing death certificates.     

Implications for Criminal Justice from the 2002 and 2006 Department of Defense Gender Relations and Sexual Harrasment Surveys

Sexual misconduct has emerged as a widespread problem throughout the criminal justice system as indicated by law enforcement officer sexual assault incidents in various cities and the findings of the recent National Prison Rape Elimination Act Research Commission. Through multivariate statistical analysis of data from two Department of Defense-wide surveys (2002 and 2006), this paper examines the indicators and cofounders of sexism, sexual harassment, and sexual assault with attention to change during the study period. Findings inform a suggested anticipatory model for prevention and intervention in military settings that, based on shared characteristics such as male dominance and authoritarian culture, provide an approximate reference context for criminal justice sexual misconduct best practices consideration.     

No Place Like Home？

IT was in January 1961 that I first fell in love. I had already been traveling for four years by then. Our family preferred the "paquebots," or ocean liners-Ferdinand de Lesseps and Jean Laborde of the French Messageries Maritimes line, and would ride the steamers from Mombasa, through the Suez Canal or round the Cape of Good Hope to Marseille.     

司法改革的目标——使司法成为公平正义的有效防线

我国新一轮司法改革已经启动。党的十八届三中全会为这新一轮司法改革确定了方向、目标及具体任务。对研究者来说,需要在正确认识这一轮司法改革的方向的基础上,首先研究这次司法改革所设定的目标,以便理解和落实司法改革的具体方法、步骤,顺利推进司法改革。基於司法能否成为社会公平正义的有效防线,对司法改革的整体目标的实现,具有十分重要的意义,而这个目标的实现,不仅需要对司法体制进行改革,而且需要其他相关制度的改革与之配套。因此,我们将以正在进行的信访制度改革为重点,探讨这次司法改革,如何进一步保障司法成为我国社会公平正义的有效防线,以切实推进法治中国建设。     

行政复议委员会试点五年情况回顾

自1999年行政复议法颁布实施以来,全国人大常委会於2013年首次检查该法的实施情况。统计结果显示,中国每年受理的行政复议案件数量与行政诉讼的一审案件数量基本持平,部分地方的复议案件还多于一审行政诉讼案件,而多数的行政复议案件涉及土地．房屋拆迁、劳动和社会保障、卫生、城市规划等与群众利益密切相关的领域。作为化解行政争议的第一道防线,国务院在推动行政复议法修改的同时,在实践中也积极探索建立专业、便民、高效、权威的行政复议体制．整合多头行政复议办案机关,部署行政复议委员会试点是其中一项有益探索。本期特选取国务院法制办公室行政复议司副司长方军的文章,全面解读行政复议委员会试点工作开展五年以来的实效及未来走向。     

再次修改《商业银行法》的制度创新

《中华人民共和国商业银行法》於1995年5月10日第八届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十三次会议通过,2003年12月27日第十届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第六次会议通过了《板於修改〈中华人民共和国商业银行法〉的决定》,对该法进行了部分条款的修正。2013年3月全国人民代表大会期间,多位银行界代表提出再次修改《商业银行法》的议案,《商业银行法》再次修改工作将列入立法机构和银行业有关机构的工作日程。