Marketing human organs: The autonomy paradox

The severe shortage of organs for transplantation and the continual reluctance of the public to voluntarily donate has prompted consideration of alternative strategies for organ procurement. This paper explores the development of market approaches for procuring human organs for transplantation and considers the social and moral implications of organ donation as both a “gift of life” and a “commodity exchange.” The problematic and paradoxical articulation of individual autonomy in relation to property rights and marketing human body parts is addressed. We argue that beliefs about proprietorship over human body parts and the capacity to provide consent for organ donation are culturally constructed. We contend that the political and economic framework of biomedicine, in western and non-western nations, influences access to transplantation technology and shapes the form and development of specific market approaches. Finally, we suggest that marketing approaches for organ procurement are and will be negotiated within cultural parameters constrained by several factors: beliefs about the physical body and personhood, religious traditions, economic conditions, and the availability of technological resources.     

The three latent classes of adolescent delinquency and the risk factors for membership in each class

This study used latent class analysis to examine subpopulation membership based on self-reports of delinquent behaviors obtained from Australian youth. Three discrete identifiable classes were derived based on 51 indicators of physical violence, property damage, minor infractions, drug use, and social delinquency. One class of youth engaged in primarily rule breaking and norm violations including underage alcohol use, typical of this age period. A second class was more actively delinquent emphasizing drug use, trespassing, and various forms of disobedience. A third class of highly delinquent youth differed from their counterparts by endorsing drug use, thievery that involved stealing money, goods, and cars, property damage, gambling, precocious sexual experiences, involvement with pornographic materials, and fighting. Multinomial logistic regression predicting class membership indicated highly delinquent youth were more likely to be older males, use venting coping strategies, and be fun or novelty seeking compared with rule breakers. Findings are discussed in terms of refining current taxonomic arguments regarding the structure of delinquency and implications for prevention of early-stage antisocial behavior.     

Toward a Framework for Islamic Psychology and Psychotherapy: An Islamic Model of the Soul

A uniquely Islamic theoretical framework for an Islamic psychology has yet to be established. To do so requires that we understand how human beings are conceptualized within the cosmology that characterizes the Islamic tradition. This paper presents a model of the soul from within an Islamic paradigm, generated through a grounded theory analysis of interviews with 18 key informants with relevant academic or religious expertise. The model elaborates aspects of a mechanism for the development of the soul that constitutes a potential foundation for an Islamic theory of human psychology and has particular relevance for Islamic approaches to psychotherapy.     

CONTRIBUTION A UNE ETUDE COMPARATIVE DES REPRESENTATIONS DES ROLES ET STATUTS MASCULINS ET FEMININS CHEZ LES JEUNES TUNISIENS SCOLARISES

After highlighting the local problems of the investigation and the cooperation with the other research groups, the authors describe the sample of subjects which is not representative of the whole Tunisian youth, and the application conditions of the questionnaire in Tunis. The Masculinity score is not affected by sex, age and academic orientation while sex and academic orientation influence the Femininity score. Sex is an important variable on the Importance of Marriage (F>M) and the Number of children desired (Fgt; M) but does not influence Educational Aspiration and Expectation. About the same findings are obtained for both sexes on the occupational values: Success is the most important factor. Academic orientation affects Success and Security (technical > college), and Creative, and Prestige (college > technical). The authors conclude that for the sample of subjects studied, attitudes, motivations and representations are changing.     

Randomized Control Trial of Teaching Recovery Techniques in Rural Occupied Palestine: Effect on Adolescent Dissociation

This study assessed the effect of a cognitive behavioral group intervention, Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT), for adolescents with high levels of posttraumatic stress (n = 154), from villages in occupied Palestine. A randomized control trial involved standardized measures to assess war stressors, posttraumatic stress, depression, and dissociation. Program fidelity was measured by presenter and observer ratings and program delivery cost was calculated per adolescent. High levels of traumatic exposure, dissociation, and posttraumatic stress were found. In comparison to a wait list group (n = 75), TRT adolescents reported significantly fewer posttraumatic stress symptoms postintervention. Depression and dissociation remained stable for TRT adolescents, but worsened for those on the wait list. Given the high returns and low costs, this cost–benefit analysis makes a clear case for TRT to be delivered throughout the West Bank. Longitudinal evaluation is needed to assess adolescent traumatization and the impact of TRT within a context of ongoing violence.     

Trauma Recovery in Interprofessional Cross-Cultural Contexts: Application of an Ethical Framework

Research into the complex interactions of personal, professional, and interprofessional ethics is in its infancy. Where interprofessional decision making is made in cross-cultural contexts, ethical dilemmas multiply; inversely, research to guide judgments is sparse. This study sought to explore interprofessional ethical decision making within a project, which delivered Western trauma-recovery training to counselors in Palestine. A cross-cultural interprofessional ethical framework was adapted and later applied to project decision making. A case study is presented based on field note reflections. Researchers perceived the following to be important in addressing ethical decision-making dilemmas: defining interprofessional and cross-cultural language; long-standing relationships of trust; workers liberated from organizational agendas; democratized processes; and flexible structures. Recommendations are provided to help plan and evaluate interprofessional cross-cultural initiatives.     

Attribution and helping behavior: testing the attribution-affect-help judgment model in a Saudi sample

A review of the literature on Weiner's attributional theory indicates that the theory has not been tested in Arabic cultures. The present study examined the reactions of Saudi men toward a friend with AIDS, using Weiner's attributional theory of social motivation. A sample of 298 Saudi men read two different vignettes about a friend with AIDS, in which the cause of AIDS was manipulated. Then the assignment of responsibility, reactions of anger and pity, and participants' willingness to provide help were measured.     

The efficacy of massage on short and long term outcomes in preterm infants

Purpose

Premature infants lack the tactile stimulation they would have otherwise experienced in the womb. Infant massage is a developmentally supportive intervention that has been documented for several decades to have a positive effect on both full term and preterm infants. The purpose of this study was to assess the short and long term benefits of massage on stable preterm infants.

Methods

A quasi experimental design was used, 66 infants were recruited from two university hospitals with tertiary level NICUs; 32 infants received the massage therapy by their mothers. Data collection by a researcher blind to the infants’ group assignments included weight at discharge, pain responses on the PIPP scale at discharge, length of stay in hospital, neuro-developmental outcome (Bayley scores) and breastfeeding duration at 12 months corrected age.

Results

Infants who were massaged had significantly lower scores on the PIPP after a heel-stick compared to before the massage and had lower PIPP scores at discharge compared to the control group. Massaged infants had higher cognitive scores at 12 months corrected age. Weight gain, length of stay, breastfeeding duration and motor scores did not differ between groups.

Conclusion

Stable preterm infants benefit from massage therapy given by their mothers and may be a culturally acceptable form of intervention to improve the outcomes of preterm infants.