MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'aclu'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:09:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960067&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwho-is-responsible-for-the-hospital-bills-of-prisoners%2F2011.06.22 Are government entities required to pay the hospital bills of incarcerated prisoners?  This is a scenario that happens quite often.  Jailed patients are admitted onto the hospitalist service through the ER for anything from patients faking seizures in the ER to chest pain to drug overdoses.  When patients are under the custody of the city, state or federal system, those entities are required to pay for necessary acute health care services.  I don’t know, maybe it has something to do with a prisoner’s constitutional right.  You lose your right to vote, but not to get a liver transplant. So what happens? Jailed patients get admitted and guards, sometimes, one, two or three at a time, are required to be at the patient’s bedside 24 hours a day.  If the patient needs to ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960067 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4960067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902692&cid=t_110368_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-n8abnKML2w%2F In a recent memo to clients, former US Attorney and healthcare fraud prosecutor Michael Loucks argues that qui tam, or whistleblower lawsuits should be unsealed after 60 days. Why? The average suit remains under seal for about 13 months which, he maintains, is unfair to drug and device makers that remain unaware of the allegations. “Very few companies have sought to force the government at an early stage to disclose the False Claims Act suit. Thus, companies have defended investigations without the benefit of the discovery and litigation rights accorded litigants in federal civil suits and without the ability to correct any misconduct identified in the (False Claims Act) complaint, and have typically allowed the matter to be resolved on the government’s timetable,” he writes,... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902692 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:20:07 +0100 4902692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4719880&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1aPkIMF85rM%2F By David RittgersTSA screeners and behavior detection officers may give you extra attention if you complain about security protocols (video at the jump). Former FBI agent Michael German sums up my feelings pretty well: It’s circular reasoning where, you know, I’m going to ask someone to surrender their rights; if they refuse, that’s evidence that I need to take their rights away from them. And it’s simply inappropriate. In related news, the GAO recently told Congress that the TSA’s Screening Passengers by Observation Technique (SPOT) is not scientifically grounded. The GAO testimony is available here. More Cato work on TSA screening here, here and here. TSA: If You Object to Giving Up Your Rights, We Should Take a Closer Look at You is a post from Cato @ Liberty -... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4719880 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:52:08 +0100 4719880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704619&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZSt0Xu-Ax1E%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonI have an op-ed in the Huffington Post today arguing that it’s possible to ensure universal access to education without compelling anyone to support types of instruction that violate their convictions. This eliminates the central objection that the ACLU and ADL have given for their opposition to private school choice. Indeed, if those organizations really care about freedom of conscience, they should prefer the policy solution I outline to the status quo system in which every taxpayer is compelled to support a single government organ of education. Or is there some other reason why the ACLU and ADL oppose liberating American education? Feel free to chime-in in the comments section on Huff Po. “Winning” is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704619 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:20:47 +0100 4704619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429002&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPdhP0nUq2RI%2F By David RittgersThe Tennessee ACLU sent a letter to public schools warning them not to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. The Tennessee Fusion Center (H/T Uncle) put the communication on its map of “terrorism events and other suspicious activity”: “ACLU cautions Tennessee schools about observing ‘one religious holiday,’” the website’s explanation reads. Also among the map’s highlights: “McMinn County Teen Brings Gun to School,” and “Turkish National Salih Acarbulut Indicted in Chattanooga for Alleged $12 million Ponzi Scheme.” Mike Browning, a spokesman for the Fusion Center, said “that was a mistake” to label the ACLU letter as a suspicious activity. He said the Fusion Center meant to use the icon that means merely general information. The icon wa... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429002 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:02:58 +0100 4429002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399500&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FP8LrZTmuJoU%2F By Jason KuznickiFrom a press release by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition: [A] U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent… was fired for saying in a casual conversation that legalizing and regulating drugs would help stop cartel violence along the southern border with Mexico. After sharing his views with a colleague, the fired agent, Bryan Gonzalez, received a letter of termination stating that his comments are “contrary to the core characteristics of Border Patrol Agents, which are patriotism, dedication, and espirit [sic] de corps.” Last week, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, Gonzalez filed a lawsuit seeking damages. I know very little about employment law and have no idea whether the agent has a case. But just consider that even som... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399500 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:15:02 +0100 4399500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399507&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNb9gopEJD8o%2F By David RittgersIf you haven’t seen it already, I recommend the Frontline report Are We Safer? Since September 11, 2001, the government has gone on a spending spree without any regard for fiscal federalism, dumping $31 billion into grant programs. The program is based on The Washington Posts’ Top Secret America article, “Monitoring America.” Watch it below: Much of this spending has gone to local pork projects or allowed state and local governments to avoid the realities of budgeting – spend federal counterterrorism dollars on normal law enforcement requirements while spending the local tax base on unsustainable pensions for public employees. For a tally of this excess, check out the Price of Peril, an interactive map showing homeland security spending by state, courtesy of the... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399507 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:49:22 +0100 4399507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241707&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRUzEnHdekPU%2F By Ilya ShapiroAs I wrote almost exactly a year ago, my friend Mark Sigmon filed a case on behalf of the ACLU seeking to prohibit a town in North Carolina from enforcing its sign ordinance against a man who painted “Screwed by the Town of Cary” on the side of his house.  Well, yesterday, the federal district court granted the plaintiff David Bowden summary judgment and entered a permanent injunction against the town.  The court concluded that the sign ordinance was content-based under the First Amendment because it required more than a perfunctory inquiry into the content of signs in order to determine whether the ordinance would apply.  For example, the ordinance required the town to determine whether something was a “work of art,” a “holiday message,&... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241707 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:50:31 +0100 4241707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186901&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8Fq5W0hDuWU%2F By Jim HarperWith the TSA sticking by its policy of requiring select air travelers to submit to visual observation or physical touching of their private areas before they can fly, a number of groups are collecting reports and facilitating public discussion. The American Civil Liberties Union has put up a page on which to report TSA screening abuses. The Electronic Privacy Information Center has a “Body Scanner Incident Report” page. And the U.S. Travel Association has a site called “Your Travel Voice,” and a related Facebook page where people can share their stories and air their views. The activism site StopDigitalStripSearches.org also has a Facebook page. The TSA has a complaint form you can fill out, of course. When you post to a Facebook page, obviously yo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186901 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:43:32 +0100 4186901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159216&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_PDcoXDQU_g%2F By Julian SanchezI see ACLU’s Jay Stanley has penned a reply to my post from a couple weeks back on the civil liberties group’s report arguing for the urgency of net neutrality regulation. The main thrust of my post was that many of the examples advanced to show there’s an imminent threat to the open Internet, requiring regulatory action on the double, don’t really show anything of the sort. Stanley allows that some of their examples are “not violations of Internet network neutrality in the strictest sense” but that they “speak to the motives, intent, and trustworthiness of major telecommunications firms in treating the speech of their customers fairly.” But I’m not sure they really show that either. In fact, if I can be forgiven a litt... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159216 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 19:40:33 +0100 4159216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816388&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwAQRpCwJvM4%2F By Tim LynchNat Hentoff  has a terrific column in the Village Voice on the stop and frisk tactics of the New York City Police Department.  Here’s an excerpt: Commissioner Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg, your stop-and-frisk approach trashes the Fourteenth Amendment. So while Governor Paterson merits our cheers for not being at all intimidated by you, a lot more has to be done to bring the Constitution back into New York City. A co-sponsor of the bill, Assemblyman Jeffries, reminded all of us (The New York Times, July 16) that the signing of the bill was “the beginning point, not the end point, of a larger evaluation of the effectiveness and legitimacy” of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk electronic dragnet. Since there will continue to be stops, questions, frisks—and some arrests—I wo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816388 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:26:41 +0100 3816388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784238&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F63iNm0kwXpM%2F By John SamplesThe DISCLOSE Act, slightly modified, is headed for a cloture vote on Tuesday afternoon. The alterations to the bill have changed few minds outside of Congress. It remains to be seen whether the modification in the bill — the sponsor removed a passage allowing labor unions to transfer funds among its affiliates — will be enough to attract enough support to achieve cloture. My policy analysis of DISCLOSE applies to the altered bill. The Center for Competitive Politics provides an analysis of the altered bill here. The American Civil Liberties Union is sending around a letter of opposition that states “we believe this legislation would fail to improve the integrity of our campaigns in any substantial way while significantly harming the speech and associational... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784238 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:13:58 +0100 3784238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753797&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fhi3Wn3mU_zI%2F By Jim HarperI wrote here Monday, and the Washington Post editorialized today, about the lawsuit in which the ACLU is representing a group of people who believe they have been wrongly placed on the government’s no-fly list. I find the Post’s editorial needlessly equivocal and muddied. The plaintiffs “have a point — to a point,” says the Post. “[T]he list is essentially a black hole.” But it never says how their suit overshoots the mark. When someone vindicating a constitutional right has a point, he or she has a point—period. Due process is a right prescribed by the Constitution, not something to dither about like Hamlet. Hewing to a reasoned-sounding middle ground, the Post says, “There are legitimate law enforcement reasons for kee... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753797 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:25:52 +0100 3753797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746723&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fsys1uTe-o4M%2F By Jim HarperThe ACLU is representing several plaintiffs in a recently filed lawsuit challenging the U.S. government’s ”No Fly” list. The video in this “Blog of Rights” post tells the story of two of the plaintiffs. “I wanna go home!” laughs U.S. Marine veteran Ayman Latif. “I wanna see my mom. I want her to see my babies.” No-fly listing is a constitutional aberration in which the executive branch unilaterally imposes a disability on persons it selects using unpublished criteria. It often denies these individuals any recourse by obscuring the reasons why they aren’t permitted to fly. Bills in the House and Senate would extend the use of the “no-fly” list to use in gun control. There is no way to clear up the “n... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746723 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:37:51 +0100 3746723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710546&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F2r8788ebKU8%2F By Julian SanchezA confession: For all my innumerable policy disagreements with Barack Obama, on election night 2008, I found myself cheering with the rest of the throng on U Street. I fully expected to be appalled by much of his agenda — but I had also spent years covering the Bush administration’s relentless arrogation of power to the executive in the name of the War on Terror, its glib invocation of “national security” to squelch the least gesture toward transparency or accountability, its easy contempt for civil liberties and the rule of law. However fitfully, I thought, we could finally hope to see that appalling legacy reversed. And that seemed worth celebrating even if little else about the declared Obama agenda was. As you might guess, I had a lot of disappo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710546 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:28:50 +0100 3710546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662654&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIdgGc-MS6Ok%2F By Tim LynchThe U.S. Sentencing Commission is taking another look at mandatory minimum sentencing and Cato adjunct scholar, Erik Luna, offered his thoughts [pdf] to Commission members, along with other experts.  The ACLU’s Jay Rorty blogged about what he said and witnessed at the hearing: I told the commission the story of an ACLU client, Hamedah Hasan, who received a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense under the most extenuating circumstances: she came to stay with her cousin in order to flee a physically abusive relationship, and the cousin roped her into running errands for his drug conspiracy. Despite her previously clean record, her sentencing judge found his hands tied by a combination of mandatory minimums for crack cocaine and the then-mandatory sente... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662654 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:53:49 +0100 3662654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629617&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtemKnCFdDWc%2F By Jim HarperVia the ACLU’s Blog of Rights, a temporary measure Governor Jim Gibbons put in place to bring Nevada into compliance with REAL ID has expired, and the legislature does not plan to renew it. But the Nevada DMV wants it. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, “the DMV will seek legislative approval to implement the new licensing system at least by May 1, 2011.” I wonder if the DMV will donate to candidates that support REAL ID, or perhaps campaign against legislators that don’t. Maybe it should just start voting in elections. The gall of these bureaucrats, telling the legislature what to do. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629617 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:21:21 +0100 3629617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625477&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEfeSoF-BG8M%2F By David RittgersAs I said in this piece in the Baltimore Sun, Maryland police officers are misusing that state’s wiretap law to deter anyone who would film them performing their duties. Maryland officers have asserted that any audio recording of a conversation, even in a public place, is a violation of the state’s wiretapping law and a felony punishable by five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Officers made this claim to deter filming of an arrest at the Preakness, and when motorcyclist Anthony Graber videotaped his traffic stop. As Radley Balko points out, the officers’ reading of the law is out of step with the language of the statute itself and Maryland rulings interpreting the scope of the law. Is it time for a revision of this law, or is it just the officers’ interpretatio... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625477 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:49:44 +0100 3625477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607482&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHCQMwCn3jHE%2F By Tim LynchThis can’t be happening.  Teachers suspended from their posts for showing students a film about the Constitution!  I can understand the initial parental inquiry–if a student did say “I was taught how to hide drugs.”  There are such films on the market and those would certainly not be appropriate for school.  But instead of gathering the facts, the school authorities seem to have made a terrible and unjust decision to suspend these teachers.  The Busted film is about constitutional law and police encounters–showing people that they can lawfully stand up to the police and decline to approve a search of their home and belongings, and decline to answer police questions.  Hopefully, the ACLU or FIRE will come to the defense of these teachers and ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607482 Thu, 27 May 2010 16:21:23 +0100 3607482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420754&cid=t_110368_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaaOWXNbIdu0%2F A federal judge struck down patents held by Myriad Genetics on two genes linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, essentially challenging the idea that anyone can hold patents on human genes. The opinion (see here) is almost certain to be appealed, but may still have significant implications for the biopharma industry. “This marks the first time a court has found patents on genes unlawful and calls into question the validity of patents now held on approximately 2,000 human genes,” according to the Public Patent Foundation, one of several parties that filed the lawsuit. In explaining his ruling, US District Judge Robert Sweet said he invalidated the patents because DNA’s existence in an isolated form doesn’t alter the fundamental quality of DNA as it... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420754 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:13:48 +0100 3420754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420680&cid=t_110368_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fend-of-gene-patents.html With the NY district court ruling in ACLU et.al. v USPTO/MYGN it appears clear that the bar for gene patents is super high and most will likely not reach it. Does this mean the end of gene patents or even just the BRCA1/2 patents?No, but it is the beginning of slipshod sequencing and a whole host of labs testing for BRCA1/2 sequences. It is also the making of a SCOTUS case.But here's why I think Myriad STILL is the gold standard.A. They have the experience doing this testingB. They have the infrastructure to handle national samplesC. They have the ability to analyze rare variants best. Why? They have the samples.....That being said, could Quest or LabCorp begin BRCA testing? Yes and they would do a hell of a job.One thing is for certain, Myriad will have a hard time justifying that 3120 US... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420680 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:44:00 +0100 3420680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346637&cid=t_110368_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fwhat-difference-year-makes.html It has been one year since I commented on 23andMe's foray into clinical medicine. I was frankly blown away that such a move would be so blatant without integration of health care practitioners. I also was blown away that Myriad wouldn't sue the ever living bejesus out of 23andMe. A year later, no lawsuit. I am still surprised about this one. Don't you have to demonstrate protection of your patent to keep it?Maybe Google/23andMe are paying a VIG to Myriad? I don't know, but it hasn't shown up on Myriad's SEC reports yet......Why was I so surprised? Well, a few months after 23andMe launched the service AND Myriad did not sue, MYRIAD WAS SUED.I began to wonder if not suing Google/23andMe was a sign of weakness. I was certain Myriad would then shut down the DTC Genomics BRCA testing.To date, t... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346637 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:58:00 +0100 3346637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067019&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQ33-cPFMQ3E%2F By Ilya ShapiroMy friend and former law firm colleague Mark Sigmon — who co-authored Cato’s brief in the New Haven firefighters case — is representing a man facing daily fines for displaying a large political message on his house. David Bowden was upset about the way he had been treated by the town of Cary, NC, regarding damage to his property during a road-widening project.  This past July, Bowden hired someone to paint “Screwed By The Town of Cary” on the front of his house.  A few weeks ago, the town gave Bowden seven days to remove the sign or face daily fines — $100 for the first day, $250 for the second, $500 for each subsequent day – for violating a local sign ordinance. That’s when Mark, who’s affiliated with the ACL... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067019 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:02:50 +0100 3067019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981055&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fjvs9fA_dSUc%2F This is a reminder, citizen: Only cranks worry about vastly increased governmental power to gather transactional data about Americans’ online behavior. Why, just last week, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) informed us that there has not been any “demonstrated or recent abuse” of such authority by means of National Security Letters, which permit the FBI to obtain many telecommunications records without court order. I mean, the last Inspector General report finding widespread and systemic abuse of those came out, like, over a year ago! And as defenders of expanded NSL powers often remind us, similar records can often be obtained by grand jury subpoena. Subpoenas like, for instance, the one issued last year seeking the complete traffic logs of the left-wing site Indymedia for a parti... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981055 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:51:03 +0100 2981055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963076&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsvsYWb17SPk%2F Glenn Greenwald has a good post about Arrar v. Ashcroft, an appeals court ruling that came down the other day.  Here’s an excerpt: Maher Arar is both a Canadian and Syrian citizen of Syrian descent.  A telecommunications engineer and graduate of Montreal’s McGill University, he has lived in Canada since he’s 17 years old.  In 2002, he was returning home to Canada from vacation when, on a stopover at JFK Airport, he was (a) detained by U.S. officials, (b) accused of being a Terrorist, (c) held for two weeks incommunicado and without access to counsel while he was abusively interrogated, and then (d) was “rendered” – despite his pleas that he would be tortured — to Syria, to be interrogated and tortured.  He remained in Syria for the next 10... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963076 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:36:29 +0100 2963076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954796&cid=t_110368_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Ffny5naJ4Guc%2F A federal district court ruled today that patients and scientists can challenge patents on human genes in court. And the move allows a lawsuit challenging patents on two human genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer to move forward, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT), which filed the suit. In a statement, the groups say the filed their suit because the patents are “illegal and restrict both scientific research and patients’ access to medical care.” They also charge that patents on human genes violate the First Amendment and patent law because genes are “products of nature.” “We hope this challenge is the beginning of the end to patents on genes, which limit scientific research, lea... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954796 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:21:19 +0100 2954796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823966&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FmOxA_hWb6k4%2F While there are many choice tidbits to relate from Tuesday’s hearings on PATRIOT Act reform at the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution—not least the fellow who had to be wrestled from the room, literally kicking and screaming, after he tried to stand and interrupt with a complaint about alleged FBI violations of his civil rights—I’ll just relate a novel theory of the Fourth Amendment advanced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The ACLU’s Mike German, a former FBI agent turned surveillance policy expert, was explaining that it’s hard to know whether expansive surveillance powers are being abused, they’re mostly used in secret and deployed via third-parties like financial institutions and telecoms, who have little incentive to raise ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823966 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:46:45 +0100 2823966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814396&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FSvVVRvhQsdI%2F In 1977, county attorney David Richter and assistant county attorney Joseph Hrvol worked side by side with police to investigate and “solve” the notorious murder of a former police officer in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The prosecutors fabricated evidence and used it to charge and convict Curtis McGhee and Terry Harrington, sending them to prison for 25 years. After the convictions were overturned for prosecutorial misconduct, McGhee and Harrington sued the county and prosecutors. The defendants in that civil suit invoked the absolute immunity generally afforded prosecutors to try to escape liability. After the Eighth Circuit ruled against them, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case. On Friday, Cato joined the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the ACLU ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814396 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:58:15 +0100 2814396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570387&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUMANFZ4yFM4%2F It’s fair to say that civil liberties and limited government were not high on President George W. Bush’s priorities list.  Indeed, they probably weren’t even on the list.  Candidate Barack Obama promised “change” when he took office, and change we have gotten.  The name of the president is different. Alas, the policies are much the same.  While it is true that President Obama has not made the same claims of unreviewable monarchical power for the chief executive–an important distinction–he has continued to sacrifice civil liberties for dubious security gains. Reports the New York Times: Civil libertarians recently accused President Obama of acting like former President George W. Bush, citing reports about Mr. Obama’s plans to detain terrorism ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570387 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:58:38 +0100 2570387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452341&cid=t_110368_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F04%2Fat-our-bodies-our-blog-obos-joins-aclu-lawsuit-challenging-breast-and-ovarian-cancer-gene-patents%2F On May 12, the ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation filed a lawsuit against the U.S Patent and Trademark Office, Myriad Genetics and the University of Utah Research Foundation, “charging that patents on two human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer are unconstitutional and invalid.” The suit focuses on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, mutations of which are related to increased risk of breast and/or ovarian cancers. OBOS has joined the suit as a plaintiff, along with Breast Cancer Action and others. Learn more about the suit, the issue in general, and how to sign a statement of support for the effort at Our Bodies Our Blog. Posted in Access, Rights, & Choice, Boobs, Cancer, Ethics, Laws, Legislation, & Courts, Women's Health (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452341 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:52:10 +0100 2452341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405802&cid=t_110368_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fwicked-witch-or-not.html Ok, so everyone knows now that ACMG et.al. is suing Myriad for patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing...........Let me be the first to say that patents stifle research. At the same time patents don't stifle innovation. In fact they actually reward it. And they also give lawyers a job.....aside from Congress, these days this may actually be the only business lawyers can get steady work from......Myriad has built quite a company out there in Utah in case you have missed it. The stock is trading at a decent 32 dollars a share, they have money in the bank and are most importantly delivering a very needed service. In addition, they are helping patients discover risk and have some very useful sets of information and patient support. They also do philanthropy BTW.....So I have to ask myself, should w... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405802 Thu, 14 May 2009 12:23:00 +0100 2405802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405976&cid=t_110368_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F13%2Faclu-challenges-patents-on-genes-responsible-for-hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancers%2F “The American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (PUBPAT) filed a lawsuit … charging that patents on two human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer stifle research that could lead to cures and limit women’s options regarding their medical care. Mutations along the genes, known [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405976 Wed, 13 May 2009 20:24:47 +0100 2405976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1128879&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2F210749897%2F The artwork shown at left was one of two pieces banned from an art show at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas. According to the artist Lahib Jaddo, city official Scott Snider rejected the work over the telephone without ever having seen the actual sketch. The local television news reports that the city has since apologized and promised to review its policies, but the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and Birth Without Boundaries plan to go ahead with a nurse-in scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, January 4, 2008. Lubbock, Texas Nurse-In Date: Friday, January 4, 2008 Time: 5:45 pm Place: Buddy Holly Center 1801 Avenue H Lubbock, TX 79401 Sponsored by: The Lubbock Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union Birth ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1128879 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:46:14 +0100 1128879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=583209&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F01%2Fgenetic-modification-to-control-the-forces-of-nature%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research, OpinionIt's logical that the Nation is up-in-arms about putting genetically modified meats and produce on the shelves in grocery stores and getting due diligence from the government for it. It makes a lot of sense to test something you will use to fuel your body before it is permitted to penetrate the market. So how did genetically modified human insulin overtake the market again? Oh - there must not be any side effects like a diabetes epidemic or something crazy like that, right? But I digress on the topic in honor of springtime, when "love is in the air". As we all know, love is one of the strongest forces of nature. So is it fair that it went unnoticed by the FDA that human synthetic insulin results in a lo... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=583209 Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 583209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=540113&cid=t_110368_125_f&fid=34819&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflapsblog.com%2F%3Fp%3D4751 NewsChannel5.com A federal judge has granted permission to a group of parents to try to stop a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. The suit claims Wilson County schools violated constitutional separation of church and state. It alleges Lakeview Elementary school in Mt. Juliet and the Wilson County school board endorsed and promoted religious activities on campus that led [...] (Source: FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog) FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=540113 Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:43:04 +0100 540113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=551382&cid=t_110368_133_f&fid=35452&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphictruth.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fwhats-really-behind-stop-aclu-pizza.html ACLU - Real ID Pizza NightmareThe government and corporations are aggressively collecting information about your personal life and your habits. They want to track your purchases, your medical records, and even your relationships. The Bush Administration's policies, coupled with invasive new technologies, could eliminate your right to privacy completely. Please help us protect our privacy rights and prevent the Total Surveillance Society.Strangely - or perhaps not so strangely - Domino's Pizza is a major contributor to conservative campaigns, though I'm not sure if they specifically oppose the ACLU. Nonetheless, the choice of a pizza parlor being able to access your private info in order to see if they can or should sell you pizza is an all-too-possible future.With this ad, the ACLU points ... Graphictruth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=551382 Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 551382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=525458&cid=t_110368_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F06%2Fstem-cell-research-bill-government-through-guilt%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research, Daily News, Events, Opinion, SupportThe JDRF Government Relations would like to encourage all diabetics to take action and let your Senators know that you want them to support the Senate Bill 5 (S.5) - the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Of course, if you do not support this bill you are in no way expected to do any of the following - but for the sake of enlightenment, I invite you to read on. This bill is similar to H.R. 3, which passed the U.S. House in January and H.R. 810, which passed both the House and the Senate last year. This legislation will allow federally funded researchers to use additional stem cell lines for their research. If you wish to take action, and let your Senators know that you sup... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=525458 Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 525458