Journal of Health & Biomedical Law

JHBL will be hosting their annual Symposium via Zoom on Monday, February 28, 2022! There will be a series of three panels to explore healthcare disparities in immigration, technology, and government responses to COVID-19. The Zoom will run from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM and there will be breaks throughout for networking and social hours. Please see the Dean of Students Newsletter or contact JHBL's Alexandra Wheaton at [email protected] for additional information.

In our latest blog post, JHBL Staff Member Qin Zhou discusses how the United States and China should look past their ideological differences and fight back-to-back against COVID-19.

Stand Together for Victory Against the Coronavirus | jhbl Stand Together for Victory Against the Coronavirus Apr 2, 2021 | Blog Image Credit: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303848104579312472884053000 By Qin Zhou, JHBL Staff Member “If an authoritarian government demonstrates competence in ensuring its citizens’ most basic human right—t...

With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in process, lawmakers have been forced to decide which groups amongst the general population should receive priority immunization status. Prisoners are one group that has proven to be particularly controversial, begging the question whether this population should be granted priority immunization status. JHBL Staff Member Alexandra Wheaton discusses how those opposed question why felons would receive vaccinations before the general population, while those in favor assert that giving prisoners vaccine prioritization is necessary to protect their Eighth Amendment rights.

States’ Varying Prioritization of Prisoners in Vaccine Rollout Draws Partisan Critiques | jhbl States’ Varying Prioritization of Prisoners in Vaccine Rollout Draws Partisan Critiques Mar 22, 2021 | Blog Image Credit: https://www.wpr.org/inmates-fear-invisible-enemy-wisconsins-overcrowded-prisons By Alexandra Wheaton, JHBL Staff Member Vaccine rollout decisions have propelled lawmakers into ...

The evolution of technology in reproductive medicine has allowed for many hopeful parents to reproduce. The term "test tube" baby is now common but what about "posthumous" baby? JHBL staff member Elpida Velmahos discusses the implications of artificial posthumous reproduction and the lack of U.S. policy addressing the issue in our latest blog post.

Life After Death: Reproductive legal and ethical issues stemming from policy absence | jhbl Life After Death: Reproductive legal and ethical issues stemming from policy absence Mar 15, 2021 | Blog Image source: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/children-born-via-ivf-face-higher-health-risks By Elpida Velmahos, JHBL Staff Member What sounds like a distant, futuristic, sci-fi invention....

In our latest blog post, JHBL Staff Member Ilse Turner examines the racism black women experience in the delivery room and steps that should be taken to combat this racism at the systemic level.

Praying for a Healthy Birth, Black Mothers Fighting Racism Even in the Delivery Room | jhbl Praying for a Healthy Birth, Black Mothers Fighting Racism Even in the Delivery Room Mar 8, 2021 | Blog Photo by Sven Photos, Image Credit: http://www.sydneyaylesworth.com/blog-native/2016/2/27/hambsch-labor By Ilse Turner, JHBL Staff Member At the best of times, having a baby is one of the most anx...

The polices' use of tear gas and other chemical irritants is not only a health issue but also a constitutional issue. JHBL Staff Member Alfred Spencer discusses how plaintiffs have brought both civil and criminal suits against the police alleging their use of tear gas or other chemical irritants has had adverse effects on their health and property as well as violating their First Amendment rights, Fourth Amendment rights, and in some cases their Eighth Amendment rights.

Chemical Irritants: A Threat to Public Health and Constitutional Rights | jhbl Chemical Irritants: A Threat to Public Health and Constitutional Rights Mar 7, 2021 | Blog Photo by Kelly Lacy from Pexels, Image Credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-on-street-during-anti-racism-demonstrations-in-evening-4570690/ By Alfred A. Spencer, JHBL Staff Member Blog On January 28, 20...

The Coronavirus pandemic shook the United States to its core and Americans are starting to feel the psychological toll the pandemic is placing on them. In our latest blog post, JHBL Staff Member Rohit Sinha analyzes how the U.S. should navigate the mental health crisis caused by COVID-19.

An Unidentified and Long-Term Side-Effect of COVID-19: How the United States Can Navigate the Intensified Mental Health Crisis as a Result of the Coronavirus Pandemic | jhbl An Unidentified and Long-Term Side-Effect of COVID-19: How the United States Can Navigate the Intensified Mental Health Crisis as a Result of the Coronavirus Pandemic Feb 24, 2021 | Blog Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels, Image Credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-red-t-shirt-looking-a...

In our latest blog post, JHBL Staff Member Hope Simas discusses COVID-19 and stay-at-home restrictions' impact on mental health.

The Toll of Covid-19 on Mental Health | jhbl The Toll of Covid-19 on Mental Health Feb 19, 2021 | Blog Image Credit: Photo by Taylor Knopf: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/05/08/managing-mental-health-during-covid-19/ By Hope Simas, JHBL Staff Member Prior to the onset of the pandemic, the U.S. was already experiencing a high rate...

Can the COVID-19 vaccine be compulsory to reach herd immunity? In our latest blog post, JHBL Staff Member Brooke Sheldon discusses the legal implications of a mandatory COVID vaccine.

Haven’t You Herd?: Can the COVID-19 Vaccine be Compulsory to Reach Herd Immunity | jhbl Haven’t You Herd?: Can the COVID-19 Vaccine be Compulsory to Reach Herd Immunity Feb 8, 2021 | Blog Image Credit: https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/12/11/successful-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-requires-strong-tech-partnerships/ By Brooke Sheldon, JHBL Staff Member Throughout the pandemic, the dr...

In our latest blog post, JHBL Staff Member Alyssa Schnoor discusses how children across the country have had to adapt to virtual learning as a result of COVID-19. This has had a disproportionate impact on the education and overall well-being of low-income and minority students. Action must be taken to prioritize the needs of the schools serving these most vulnerable children.

Impact of COVID-19 School Lockdowns on Low-Income and Minority Children | jhbl Impact of COVID-19 School Lockdowns on Low-Income and Minority Children Feb 1, 2021 | Blog Students have been forced to adapt to virtual learning, leaving low-income and minority students the most vulnerable to poor academic outcomes. Image Credit: https://www.iste.org/explore/learning-during-covid-...

Conspiracy theories have played a role in the spread of COVID-19, but these oftentimes falsehoods are only part of the reason why the United States lags other countries in controlling the virus. JHBL Staff Member William Rison discusses the growing concern that the recent replacement of Justice Ginsburg by Justice Barrett will affect the Supreme Court's rulings on state efforts to stop the spread of the virus and what that could mean for efforts moving forward.

Forced Inaction: The Court Attempts to Outpace Misinformation in Spreading the Pandemic | jhbl Forced Inaction: The Court Attempts to Outpace Misinformation in Spreading the Pandemic Nov 30, 2020 | Blog Misinformation and a shifting majority in the Supreme Court add to the uncertainty for states fighting the pandemic. Photo By: William Rison. By William Rison, JHBL Staff Member Conspiracy the...

JHBL Staff Member James Poccia discusses how the Coronavirus pandemic has caused a resurgence of the opioid epidemic in our latest blog post.

Dueling Diseases: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Intensified the Opioid Epidemic | jhbl Dueling Diseases: How the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Intensified the Opioid Epidemic Nov 23, 2020 | Blog Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels, Image Credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/syringe-and-pills-on-blue-background-3786156/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels By J...