Health Ombudsmen in Polycentric Regulatory Fields: England,New Zealand,and Australia

Health ombudsmen (health complaints commissioners), an unusual entity internationally, exist only in England, New Zealand, and the Australian states and territories. Established to respond to complaints from patients, the intention is to make health services and professionals more accountable to the public. Most cases are handled around the softer base of a regulatory pyramid, such as advice to complainants and requests to providers for an explanation and/or apology. Few cases escalate to investigations and prosecutions. Although the legal powers of some health ombudsmen to redress individual grievances have been strengthened, most lack the independent power to initiate an inquiry into systemic problems. To produce quality improvements, health ombudsmen need powers to require compliance from providers and to initiate inquiries. With the advent of new health sector regulators, health ombudsmen must negotiate their role and function within expanding networks of governance.     

Performance Testing of the New AMPAC Fire Debris Bag Against Three Other Commercial Fire Debris Bags(*)

Abstract: Fire debris evidence is collected and stored in a wide range of containers, including various polymer bags. Four different polymer bags have been investigated, including the NYLON, DUO, ALU, and AMPAC bags. The latter is the successor of the Kapak Fire DebrisPAK^?. Microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were used to elucidate the composition of the bags. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to investigate performance parameters such as background volatiles, leak rate, cross‐contamination, recovery, and sorption. The NYLON bag was susceptible for leakage and cross‐contamination and showed decreased recoveries. The DUO and ALU bags showed some background volatiles, sorption, and poor recoveries. The AMPAC bag performed excellent: low background, no leakage or cross‐contamination, good recoveries, and only traces of sorption. Heat sealing proved to be the best method of closure. Preliminary studies on AMPAC bags showed that polyethylene clamps are easy to use on‐site and preserve ignitable liquids adequately for a limited period of time.     

FAMILIES,COURTS, AND THE END OF LIFE: SCHIAVO AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE SYSTEM

The article discusses a proposed universal adoption of comprehensive family law subject matter jurisdiction, inclusive of end‐of‐life (EOL) cases, as articulated in the unified family court (UFC) concept. It posits, using the Schiavo matter to illustrate the difficulties inherent in EOL disputes, that contested EOL cases are unlike other civil court cases in that they involve intimate facts and emotionally laden family dynamics. As such, these cases pose a distinctive challenge for the courts. The article suggests that contested EOL cases should be heard in a UFC because UFCs include alternative dispute resolution (ADR) protocols to deescalate family strife with the goal of facilitating out‐of‐court settlements and that litigation is an imperfect solution for an EOL dispute. It is also noted that judges presiding in UFCs are more experienced in handling fractious family matters and thus they are more likely to avert protracted litigation if the matter is not settled via ADR.     

Founding myths and heroic icons: reflections on the funerals of Theodor Herzl and Hannah Szenes

This article concentrates upon the role of founding myths, family tableaux, and national icons, and the development of the idea of a gendered founding figure or founding family in new and emerging nations. The case study examined is that of Israel, where I explore this process through a deconstruction of the State and Military funerals of two Zionist icons reinterred in Israel—Theodor Herzl and Hannah Szenes—soon after the founding of the State. The article discusses the process by which a binary founding family, with Herzl representing the parents' generation and Szenes representing the children's generation, is formed. This is done through an analysis of the development of a national pantheon, national sacred space, mass participation in funeral rites, manipulation of performative commemoration, and eulogies by national figures to project national values through gendered Zionist icons.