Author: Belinda Reeve
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Inaugural Carney Public Lecture | Australian Social Services Scandals: Towards dystopia? Or equity and justice for the vulnerable?
Thursday 11 December Time: 6-7.30pm (Refreshments to follow lecture)Venue: Law Lounge, Level 1, New Law Building Annexe (F10A)Eastern Avenue, University of Sydney, Camperdown campus Register for this free public lecture here In this lecture, Emeritus Professor Terry Carney explores the harm and injustices experienced by vulnerable Australians due to social services program failures such as Robodebt, employment services…
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Developed countries, dwindling national flexibilities, and access to essential medications during public-health emergencies
Developed countries have wound back the breadth and effectiveness of flexible obligations in international patent agreements.
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Indigenous Peoples’ Inclusion in Food Governance
For NAIDOC Week, Dr Mark Lock speaks to Dr Belinda Reeve about championing health equity and inclusion for First Nations Australians in food governance.
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Alcohol companies continue to play by their own rules, putting our children’s health at risk
Alcohol companies are largely left to write and administer their own rules through the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) Scheme.
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A short(ish) explainer on public health law
Stay-at-home orders, curfews, and mandatory quarantine have brought public health law to the public’s attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The courts’ role in treatment for childhood gender dysphoria: recent updates
In 2020 and 2021, there were significant developments in the courts’ role in treatment for childhood gender dysphoria. The UK case of Bell v Tavistock is well known, but Re Imogen is of more practical importance here in Australia. Both cases illustrate the changing role of the courts in treatment for childhood gender dysphoria, following…
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The Covidsafe app: speed at the expense of transparency and accountability
Australia’s COVIDSafe app was launched by the Australian Government in April 2020. But the app has been hampered by concerns about its security, privacy, and effectiveness.
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Big Alcohol and COVID-19: industry rules fail. Again.
By Hannah Pierce, Kathryn Backholer, Sarah Jackson and Florentine Martino Reposted from MJA Insights: https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2021/11/big-alcohol-and-covid-19-failing-self-regulation-again/ WE know some people are more likely to drink – and drink more – during times of uncertainty and stress. Unsurprisingly, the alcohol industry is also aware of this. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how quickly and creatively the alcohol industry will…
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COVID-19, patients’ mental capacity and prisoners
The coronavirus pandemic has raised an abundance of issues at the intersection of law and medicine. In recent co-authored articles, Cameron Stewart, Professor of Health, Law and Ethics at the University of Sydney Law School considers some of these issues. Mental capacity assessments for COVID-19 patients: Emergency admissions and the CARD approach In this Journal of Bioethical Inquiry article, Professor Cameron…
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COVID-19, medical research governance, and public health orders
Posted by Belinda Reeve on behalf of Cate Stewart The impact of coronavirus-related biomedical research and public heath laws have been considered in recent articles co-authored by Cameron Stewart, Professor of Health, Law and Ethics at the University of Sydney Law School. Science at warp speed: COVID-19 medical research governance In biomedical research focused on developing COVID-19 vaccines…
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Four things to think about before starting a PhD
Everyone’s thoughts are turning towards 2022, and hopefully, how much better it’ll be than the cluster truck that was 2021. For you, thinking about 2022 could mean considering whether or not to start postgraduate studies, and more specifically, a PhD. This is a big call. A life-changing event, in fact. This blogpost covers four things…
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ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust: a new duty at the intersection of healthcare confidentiality and harm to others
The duty of confidentiality is crucial to building relationships of trust and confidence between patients and healthcare professionals, and to effective healthcare systems more broadly. However, the law recognises that the duty of confidentiality is not absolute and sometimes needs to yield to other public interests. A recent UK case, ABC v St George’s…
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Upcoming event: the 2019 Food Governance Conference
Sydney Health Law is hosting the second Food Governance Conference from the 3rd to the 5th of July this year. The Conference is a collaboration between Sydney Law School, the University’s Charles Perkins Centre and The George Institute for Global Health. The 2019 Conference will explore how law, policy, and regulation address (or contribute to)…
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The ten secrets to surviving Law School REVEALED
I originally wrote this post in 2017, but I’m reposting it this week to share with my new students. Good luck with law school! OK, that title was complete clickbait. And usually this is a blog about health law. But we run a Master of Health Law program, as well as doing research, so I…
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Regulation of alcohol advertising is failing Australia’s young people: new research on the ABAC Code
Exposure to alcohol advertising influences the likelihood that young people will begin drinking, that those already drinking will increase their intake, or engage in risky drinking. Accordingly, the World Health Organization calls for regulation that reduces the impact of alcohol marketing on young people, including by addressing the content and volume of marketing, as well as…
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Upcoming events: Protecting children from unhealthy food marketing – learning from the past, ideas for the future
Along with Cancer Council NSW and the Charles Perkins Centre’s Food Governance Node, Sydney Health Law is hosting an event on regulation of unhealthy food marketing to children. Protecting children from unhealthy food marketing remains a hot topic, given increasing concern about children’s diet-related health. In Australia, food marketing to children is regulated largely through…
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Some recent cases on s 5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW)
Section 5O of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (CLA) introduced a modified version of the Bolam principle into the law of civil liability in NSW, extended to professionals other than medical professionals (the original subject of the principle). The effect of s 5O(1) is that a court is prevented from making a finding of…
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Santa, Coke and Christmas: Why we need legislative restrictions on unhealthy food marketing to children
Laws in many countries prohibit false and misleading advertising. The recent case of ACCC v Heinz (which I discussed in a blog post last week) shows how these laws can knock out false and misleading food advertisements. But what about the perfectly legal promotions for unhealthy foods and beverages that fill our TV screens, social…
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ACCC v Heinz: A significant win for public health
In a significant victory for public health, Australia’s Federal Court has held that Heinz engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in the marketing of a snack food targeted to toddlers (ACCC v Heinz [2018] FCA 360). The case should be seen as a win for public health not just because of the final outcome, but…
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Upcoming events: The Food Governance Showcase
On Friday the 3rd of November, Sydney Health Law is co-hosting the Food Governance Showcase at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. The Showcase will present new research from University of Sydney researchers and affiliates, examining the role of law, regulation and policy in creating a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system. The Showcase…