Ethical, Legal and Risk Management Considerations in the Neuropsychological Assessment of Veterans

This article examines the ethical and regulatory issues facing neuropsychologists practicing within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system, either as Veteran Health Administration neuropsychologists or as consultants. The focus is proactive, with an emphasis on preparation consistent with a positive approach to ethical practice and risk management. Given the sheer magnitude of applicable Federal regulations and guidelines, the scope is limited to an overview of select ethical complexities involved in the professional practice of neuropsychology with veterans within VA settings. The article uses a top-down structure, with each section (a) identifying the relevant core biomedical ethical principles, followed by (b) an elaboration of the relevant ethical requirements as defined by the American Psychological Association’s Code of Ethics, and (c) applicable Federal regulations. Suggestions for translating core ethical principles and relevant ethical requirements into pragmatic action consistent with Federal regulation follow. Topics include (a) establishing professional competence, (b) understanding the type of assessment, (c) understanding consent requirements, and (d) understanding the ethical and regulatory issues in assessing veteran symptom presentation.     

Municipal Prohibition of Fracking and Gas Exploration and Extraction Generally … Could It Be a Taking?

New York has found itself in the perfect storm for the rising of a familiar foundational environmental law, the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Combining the gas-rich Marcellus and Utica Shales with the advent of a relatively new natural gas drilling technique and strong community opposition, New York municipalities have increasingly adopted zoning ordinances prohibiting generally the exploration and extraction of natural gas. Using the regulatory takings law and three potential property right scenarios, this article argues that a taking could arise where ownership of surface and subsurface rights are distinct and separate.     

论欧盟管辖权:从“纵向”视角看欧盟多层级体系

从一开始,欧洲一体化就是指权力由民族国家层面向欧盟层面的让渡,它演变为各国政府之间在台面上的议价,或是一种渐变。随着欧盟管辖权这一议题被摆上欧盟宪政的议程,一体化过程被再造。现在它涉及到欧盟多层级政体的整体架构,尤其涉及不同层级之间权力是如何配置、界定以及相互关联的。本文总结了关于欧盟和成员国的国家与次国家层面之间相互关系的研究成果,尤其是关于多层级政治体制中管辖权的演变和分割的研究成果。为此,本文概述了管辖权适当配置的规范性理由、用以解释权力的有效结构的实证理论以及相关的实证研究成果。