ASSESSMENTS FOR POSTSEPARATION PARENTING DISPUTES IN CANADA

There is controversy in Canada about the use of assessments by mental health professionals to assist in the resolution of postseparation disputes between parents about their children. Although the principles developed by the Supreme Court of Canada to govern the admission of expert evidence in criminal law cases provides guidance for judges in family law cases, in deciding whether to order an assessment or admit expert evidence, family law judges must also take account of the child-related context. Mental health professionals can provide valuable information that would otherwise be unavailable when making prospective decisions about children. Court-appointed assessors also have a significant institutional role in the family law cases that has no equivalent in the criminal law context. Assessors are important not only for the relatively rare cases that go to trial, but they also play a central role in helping to resolve the much larger number of cases that are settled.     

The Optimal Combination of Cartilage Source and Apparatus for Long‐Term In Vitro Chondrocyte Viability Analysis

Abstract: Most studies of long‐term chondrocytes survival were for tissue banks. They showed a gradual reduction in the viable chondrocytes percentage as a function of time and ambient temperature, but the samples were harvested under optimal conditions. The aim of our study was to determine the most reliable combination of cartilage source and assay for the in vitro postmortem chondrocyte viability analysis in the conditions that imitate a dead body. Osteochondral cylinders were procured from femoral condyles and talar trochleas of three male donors and stored in the cell culture media at 4 ± 2°C and 23 ± 2°C. The samples were analyzed by a cell viability analyzer and a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) initially 24–36 h after death and then in 4‐week intervals. The results reconfirmed the significant influence of time (p = 0.0002), but not of the temperature (p = 0.237). The largest reproducibility was presented for the knee joint and the CLSM.     

ENHANCING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CSR IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO ACHIEVE SU STAINABLE DEVELOPMENT： INDONESIAN PERPSPECTIVE

The existence of Transnational Corporations （TNCs） in developing countries may affect the economic growth in developing countries as well as the environment. It is very common that in order to enhance economic growth in developing countries, the developing countries jeopardize their environment especially over exploitation of the natural resources. Therefore, it is paramount to harmonize between economic growth and protection of the environment.     

TIPPINS AND WITTMANN ASKED THE WRONG QUESTION:

Tippins and Wittmann (2005) provide an important analysis of the limitations of child custody evaluations, but they are wrong to propose that court-appointed evaluators should be precluded from making recommendations about best interests decisions. While some of the evidence of evaluators may fail to meet the high standard of reliability expected for "expert evidence," the role of court-appointed evaluators in child-related cases is not the same as the role of party-retained experts in other types of litigation, and the legal basis for their involvement in the family law dispute resolution process is very different. The family courts should not apply the "expert evidence" standard when deciding how to use the evidence of a court-appointed evaluator, but rather should use a more flexible standard that takes account of the family law context. If the Tippins and Wittmann proposal is adopted, it will have negative implications for the resolution of family law cases, including making settlements less common, thereby deleteriously affecting children.     

Understanding Pathways to Family Dispute Resolution and Justice Reforms: Ontario Court File Analysis & Survey of Professionals

This article reports on two related studies about varying pathways to the resolution of family disputes and the effects of family justice reforms in Ontario: a survey of family court professionals (n = 118) and an analysis of 1,000 closed court files of family cases involving children. Both studies reveal that the vast majority of cases are resolved without a trial, often by negotiation. While professionals generally support family justice reform initiatives, there remain significant gaps in the implementation of these strategies. For example, many litigants do not attend information programs despite the requirement for mandatory attendance; there is limited use of mediation; the views of children are being sought in only a small number of cases; and there is a large proportion of self‐represented family litigants. Despite the increase in shared care and joint decision‐making arrangements, a majority of cases in the court file study were sole custody arrangements to the mother, whether the case was settled or resolved by trial. Mediation was associated with greater time of contact with the non–primary residential parent (usually the father).     

Maternal mortality in Slovenia: Case report and the method of identifying pregnancy-associated deaths

We report on the case of fatal intracerebral haemorrhage that followed the development of severe preeclampsia/eclampsia with haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome in a 22-year-old primipara. Peculiarities of the reported case are abrupt onset of preeclampsia/eclampsia during the delivery, fulminant course of the disease, minimal changes in kidneys and signs of pre-existing accelerated arteriosclerosis. Since very few forensic pathologists have sufficient experience with such cases and the differential diagnosis may be difficult, we consider it necessary that in all maternal deaths the post-mortem examination is performed by a team of two forensic pathologists and the case further analysed in collaboration with expert obstetrician.Maternal deaths are rare in developed countries but extremely important, because they represent the “tip of the iceberg” of severe maternal and neonatal morbidity and because they reflect accessibility and quality of prenatal and obstetric care as well as the health status of reproductive-aged women. Unfortunately, they are often misclassified in death certificates which may lead to insufficient engagement in solving underlying problems. In Slovenia, the method of active search for pregnancy-associated deaths is used in order to enable accurate monitoring of maternal mortality and minimise underreporting. The method is based on the manual revision of death certificates and the computer-based linkage of Mortality Database with birth register and foetal deaths register and has proved to be highly efficient.     

Crossover Cases of High‐Conflict Families Involving Child Protection Services: Ontario Research Findings and Suggestions for Good Practices

Child protection services (CPS) are increasingly becoming involved in high‐conflict separations and the related custody and access proceedings. CPS involvement is often necessary to respond to abuse or neglect allegations or protect children from emotional harm. However, these crossover cases are very challenging for family justice professionals. This article reports on research on crossover cases in Ontario, including an analysis of reported court decisions, a survey of CPS staff, and interviews with family justice professionals. We suggest clearer CPS policies; improved understanding of respective professional roles; CPS summary reports for family courts; increased interagency coordination, communication, and training; and use of judicial case management.