Therapeutic jurisprudence and outpatient commitment law: Kendra's Law and case study.

This article considers the implications of assisted outpatient commitment laws (OPC), with specific focus on New York's "Kendra's Law" through the lens of therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ). In this article, the author offers perspectives on the relationship between involuntary civil commitment, outpatient commitment, and the concept of the "least restrictive alternative"; considers pertinent empirical research, and looks at OPC's controversial relationship to forced drugging. Here, the civil libertarian critique is briefly considered, as well as the MacArthur Research Network research. Finally, the author looks closely at Kendra's Law, providing a brief overview of the law itself, and identifying some "pressure points" and pivotal issues, and considers the TJ implications of Kendra's Law, to determine how it "fits" into the public's "take" on all of mental disability law.     

European Court of Human Rights accepts blood donor screening based on sexual orientation

In a series of three rulings released simultaneously on 15 October 2002, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed complaints that Italy's approach to screening blood donors infringed privacy rights and discriminated against lesbians and gay men.     

Canada: national summit on "Global health is a human right"!

Held in Ottawa on 21-22 May 2003, a national summit on "Global Health is a Human Right!" brought together 86 people representing over 60 Canadian civil society groups interested in joint advocacy on realizing the human right to health in developing countries. The summit focused particularly on addressing the global crises of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.