Reforming Relocation Law: An Evidence‐Based Approach

In recent years, there has been much discussion within international fora about the need for a greater consensus on how to approach relocation cases. Empirical research on the lived experience of parents and children who have been through relocation disputes has an important role to play in providing an evidence base for decisions on policy. In this article, we summarize the findings of a 5‐year prospective longitudinal study of relocation disputes in Australia and make recommendations in the light of this and other research evidence concerning a new approach to relocation law. We argue that there should be no presumptions. Nonetheless there is an appropriate place for legislative or appellate guidance on how to approach these disputes. “Good faith” should be irrelevant to decision making, and children should not be placed in the center of the conflict. The adjudication of relocation disputes should be on the basis of asking three questions: First, how close is the relationship between the nonresident parent and the child and how important is that relationship developmentally to the child? Second, if the relocation is to be permitted, how viable are the proposals for contact with the nonresident parent? Third, if the relationship between the child and the nonresident parent is developmentally important to the child and is likely to be diminished if the move is allowed, then (a) what are the viable alternatives to the parents living a long distance apart? and (b) is a move with the primary caregiver the least detrimental alternative?

Key Points for the Family Court Community
• Describes the findings of empirical research on relocation disputes in Australia on the lived experience of children and families postrelocation disputes.
• Reviews various features of relocation law and proposals for reform in the light of this research evidence.
• Proposes an approach to deciding relocation cases based upon three essential questions.

     

Vascular changes in the nasal submucosa of chronic cocaine addicts

A detailed, correlative, histologic evaluation of postmortem changes in the nasal mucosa of chronic cocaine users has shown characteristic mucosal and arteriolar changes as well as typical perivascular and subepithelial alterations compatible with chronic inflammation. These findings confirm and extend recent reports on the effects of cocaine in the coronary circulation and heart muscle as well as provide a new diagnostic tool to the forensic pathologist who suspects that a decedent has been a long-term cocaine abuser.     

Adult learning and literacy learning for livelihoods: some international perspectives

Reflecting contemporary interest in developing new adult literacy learning programmes based on ‘literacy for livelihoods’, this article examines some case studies from New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Egypt, illustrating literacy being used in livelihoods, and relates these to the kind of literacy being taught in many adult literacy programmes today. It argues that people often change their livelihoods, and that each livelihood has literacy practices embedded within it. The authors suggest that the use of these literacy practices embedded within the livelihood activities might be a better starting point for adult literacy learning than a school-based textbook.     

The general toxicology unknown. II. A case report: doxylamine and pyrilamine intoxication

A general toxicology unknown case is presented to demonstrate our systematic approach. A 20-year-old male was found dead with multiple suicide notes. Overdose was suspected but substances were not known. Blood alcohol was negative. Urine was analyzed by enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique and was negative for all drugs assayed. Urine was then extracted with ethyl acetate:hexane (1:1) at pH 10 and back-extracted into 1.0N sulfuric acid. The acidic layer was adjusted to pH 10, and re-extracted with ethyl acetate:hexane (1:1). The residue was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) on a 3% OV-101 column. It was found to be negative for all commonly screened substances. However, several unknown peaks were observed. Electron impact mass spectra of these unknown peaks were obtained and searched for in our computer library of more than 25000 mass spectra. These unknown peaks were identified as doxylamine and pyrilamine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The base peak and molecular ion for pyrilamine were at m/z 121 and 285, respectively. The base peak for doxylamine was at m/z 58. No molecular ion was observed for doxylamine. Both doxylamine and pyrilamine are antihistamines, but are promoted and used in the management of insomnia. Quantitation was performed on a GC using dexbrompheniramine as an internal standard. Blood concentrations for doxylamine and pyrilamine were 0.7 and 7.0 mg/L, respectively. Concentrations in other tissues were determined. Death was caused by combined doxylamine and pyrilamine intoxication; the manner of death was suicide.     

Making claims for migrant workers: human rights and citizenship

Migrant workers claims for greater protection in a globalized world are typically expressed either in the idiom of international human rights or citizenship. Instead of contrasting these two normative frames, the paper explores the extent to which human rights and citizenship discourses intersect when it comes to claims by migrant workers. An analysis of the international human and labour rights instruments that are specifically designed for migrant workers reveals how neither discourse questions the assumption of territorial state sovereignty. Drawing upon sociological and political approaches to human rights claims, I evaluate the Arendtian-inspired critique of international human rights, which is that they ignore the very basis ‘right to have rights’. In doing so, I discuss the different dimensions of citizenship and conclude that international rights can be used by migrant workers to assert right claims that reinforce a conception of citizenship that, although different from national citizenship, has the potential to address their distinctive social location.