Self-defense in Criminal Cases Essay -- essays research papers

Self-defense in criminal cases. One of the frustrations faced by many businesses is that after the perpetrators of crimes have been identified, the District Attorney's office will not pursue the case. One option is for victims to sue the DA in an attempt to compel him to prosecute, but this would be costly and proving dereliction of duty would be difficult. The DA is effectively immune. Other options are more promising. The law should encourage (and prosecutors' offices should welcome) private preparation of criminal cases. Prosecutors' budgets simply do not allow vigorous prosecution of all the available criminal cases. Logic and evidence show that in private law, plaintiffs win about 50 percent of the cases that are tried. This is because the parties are more likely to settle lopsided cases out of court. Public prosecutors, by contrast, win far more than 50 percent of their trial cases because they have budget constraints and so elect whenever possible to go to court with only the cases they are likely to win. Vi ctims should be allowed to hire private attorneys and other professionals to prepare cases against the accused and thereby extend public prosecutors' resources. The attorneys can be retained pro bono (for the good) or for compensation. This is already done in some white collar cases where financial complexities exceed the prosecutors' expertise, such as complicated embezzlement cases, some oil and gas swindles and cases involving the misapplication of construction trust funds. At present, many cases are never prosecuted for one reason or another. For example, in about 40 percent of federal embezzlement and fraud cases, charges are dropped because of insufficient evidence to convict, given the resources at hand.85 In some instances prosecutors "deputize" attorneys to try cases, too. Many private attorneys have criminal experience as former prosecutors or public defenders. A logical extension of private preparation for trial is the complete privatization of the prosecutor's job by contracting out. Private attorneys, of course, are often appointed on a pro bono basis for criminal defense. Private attorneys could be deputized for a single trial or for ongoing prosecutor's work, either pro bono or under contract. The same remedies are available to finance criminal prosecution as civil litigation. Commercial insurance policies could be exp... ...ting witnesses before a grand jury, or the person being investigated, has become a well orchestrated, even cynical, minuet. The first and most important task may be overcoming the cynicism of so many lawyers in and out of government to whom concern for "fairness" somehow signifies weakness. It is a cynicism that government lawyers should not have the luxury of acting upon. In reality, a commitment to fairness is a highly reliable sign of strength and confidence in the merits of one's position, and it is usually those who fear the fairness of the forum who most fear outcomes based on merit. Recently, a controversy has erupted over whether Justice Department lawyers are bound by state codes of ethics and analogous local federal court rules of practice. The issue stems from rules that restrict contact by lawyers with parties known to be represented by counsel, including corporate parties. In essence, the government is seeking to exempt its own lawyers from state and federal court ethical restraints in ways that would go far beyond issues of witness contact. Courts, thus far, have been unsympathetic to this government effort at unilateral exemption from the rules of ethics.

Project Management for Dummies, by Stanley E Portny

The â€Å"Dummies Series† book, Project Management for Dummies, by Stanley E. Portny (Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2001), is, in my opinion, a relatively easy-to-read (although also somewhat structurally fragmented in places), step-by-step â€Å"how-to† book, for either current or prospective project managers, with or without experience. In life, every individual has projects to complete – usually a never-ending series of them, in fact, and often more than one project to complete simultaneously. One's projects may be personal or professional; voluntary or required. They may be for our selves alone; for friends or family; for churches, clubs, or communities; special events; or for colleagues; companies, or employers. As the author concurs, in his â€Å"Introduction† to the text: Projects have been around since ancient times. Noah built the ark, Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine – all projects. . . . Why then, is the topic of project management suddenly of such great interest today? The answer is simple. The audience has changed and the Management projects in particular, however, as Portny also points out, within Chapter 1, must meet three key criteria; they must have (1) â€Å"Specific outcomes†;(2) â€Å"Definite start and end dates†, and (3) Established budgets† (p. 10). Further, as that chapter mentions, project management â€Å"includes three basic operations† (p. 12), which are: (1)planning; (2)organizing; and (3) control (Portny). In management today, for managers at all levels, completing projects; meeting project goals; and meeting project deadlines, are more important, as skills, aptitudes, and professional achievements, than ever before, especially within today's super competitive business environment. As Portny also states at the outset: â€Å"Successful organizations create projects that produce desired results in established timeframes with assigned resources† (p. 9). Clearly, those who can successfully, skillfully, and within budgets and deadlines complete projects have an advantage over those who cannot. Many suddenly find themselves project managers, not by choice, but due to either changed or expanded job descriptions or expectations, or just plain company need. Increasingly, project management has increasingly become a ticket to job promotion and career advancement (or not). Moreover, if one has no previous formal training in project management, one may need to simply learn such skills on the job, and quickly. Project Management for Dummies is written for such individuals: those who would like to develop new project management skills (but also for those who desire to increase their current ones). The book is, I believe, potentially very useful for readers within either group. This book guides one through the beginning, middle, and ending project stages. It offers guidelines and tips on planning; navigating through ambiguities and uncertainties; teamwork; time management, organizational strategies; handling paperwork; staying on track; meeting deadlines, and bringing projects to a successful, satisfactory, and timely conclusion. Topics Project Management for Dummies covers include: making project schedules; building teams and sustaining teamwork; budgeting; coping with risks and surprises; optimally integrating technology into project management; and keeping team members motivated, on task, and within budgets and deadlines. Structurally, the book is divided into five parts (I-V). Each part consists of between three and six chapters, with 20 chapters in all. Chapter headings and topics covered include (to name but a few) â€Å"What is Project Management (And How Do I Get Paid Extra to Do It?)† (Chapter 1); â€Å"Estimating Resource Requirements† (Chapter 5); â€Å"Tracking Progress and Maintaining Control† (Chapter 10); â€Å"Dealing With Risk and Uncertainty† (Chapter 15); and â€Å"Ten Tips for Being a Better Project Manager† (Chapter 20). There are also two appendices (A and B) and an index. Chapter 2 covers defining and understanding what one is trying to accomplish with a project, knowing who and what one is doing a project for, and why that person or entity needs the project completed. This chapter also offers ways to avoid others' having unrealistic expectations of the project or oneself as manager. â€Å"Looking at the big picture† includes â€Å"figuring out why you're doing This project†; â€Å"identifying the initiator†; â€Å"identifying others who may benefit from your project† and â€Å"defining needs to be addressed† (pp. 29-32). In short, Chapter two focuses on defining the rationale(s) and parameters of the project; clarifying those for oneself and for all others involved; and laying the initial groundwork toward project completion. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 focus on â€Å"Getting from Here to There†; â€Å"You Want This Done When†; and â€Å"Estimating Resource Requirements†. Key ideas contained within these chapters, include knowing and planning all steps of a project, including making a â€Å"work breakdown structure†; â€Å"knowing how much detail is enough† (p. 49); â€Å"developing and analyzing a network diagram† (p. 71) and â€Å"assign your project's personnel needs† (p. 105). Chapter 5 in particular also stresses the importance of finding the right people to assist with the project. Portny observes â€Å"Your project's success rests on your ability to enlist the help of the right people to perform the necessary work† (p. 106). Portny also stresses that, toward that same end, â€Å"identifying skills and knowledge needed to perform your project's activities† (Project Management for Dummies) and Finding people who in fact possess all of those required skills will either make or break a project. One of the chapters I found most personally useful was Chapter 6, on â€Å"The Who and How of Project Management†. Here, Portny covers three main topics: (1) â€Å"Distinguishing the project organization from the traditional organization†; (2) â€Å"Clarifying the roles of different people in the matrix organization†; and (3) â€Å"Recognizing key tips for increasing the chances of success† (p. 137). As Portny also notes in this chapter, project management structure and atmosphere may be, and very often is, much different than overall company structure and atmosphere, and one is wise to be clear at the outset on the differences between the two. While projects are company activities, they nevertheless typically take on atmospheres, conflicts, and lives of their own. For example, one operates within both a centralized company structure and a functional departmental or area structure in most parts of one's job. However, project management may send one outside one's own functional structure into various other functional structures within the centralized one. Those areas outside one's usual functional structure become the unique â€Å"matrix structure† (p. 141) of the project. Understandably, the matrix structure of an individual project will spawn (and necessitate) much different communications; alliances; interrelationships; interactions, and interdependencies than will usual, more typical work activities. Key players in a project matrix environment, which obviously differs from one's overall work environment, will typically include the â€Å"project manager; project team members; functional managers; and upper management† (p. 143). Chapter 7 covers choosing and involving the â€Å"Right People† (p. 149) in one's project. Supporting ideas covered in this chapter include the importance of understanding one's project's audience (â€Å"any person or group that supports, is affected by, or is interested in your project† (p. 150). Each project also has â€Å"drivers†; â€Å"supporters†; and â€Å"observers† (p. 158) and it is equally important, Portny suggests, for project managers to identify and know each of them, and their respective roles. Of crucial importance to project success, also, is â€Å"Finding a project champion† (p. 159) or someone high up in one's organization that will support and encourages the project. Teamwork is crucial to successful project completion. Chapter 8 explains the importance of â€Å"defining team members roles and responsibilities† (p. 166), and making sure all team members are aware of their own and each others' roles and responsibilities. Therefore, lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability must be clearly established at the outset, and sustained throughout the project. This chapter also discusses strategies project managers can use should they have to deal with micromanagement from above, such as â€Å"setting up times to discuss interesting technical [or other] issues with the person† (p. 181). The book also covers ways of tracking progress and maintaining control (Chapter 10); ways of keeping everyone informed (Chapter 11), including sharing information both in writing and at meetings; and ways of encouraging peak performance in team players (Chapter 12), including providing rewards and helping players maintain motivation. Chapter 14 focused on handling risk or uncertainty, including ways of identifying possible risk factors; assessing risk impact, and preparing a risk management plan. Key advice of this chapter is to realistically assess risks to the project, and to have a risk management plan for handling them. Later chapters included advice on how to hold people accountable (Chapter 18); getting a project back on track (Chapter 19)and tips for optimal project management (Chapter 20). All in all, I benefited from reading and reflecting on the guidelines, strategies, and tips plentifully contained within Stanley E. Portny's Project Management for Dummies. The only aspect of this book that I found disappointing was that of that it had far fewer specific examples, of actual project management situations to illustrate major points and concepts, than I would have liked. I learn best and most easily from examples and discussion of how those examples illustrate theoretical concepts. I would have liked for Portny to do more of that in this book than he did. Major strengths of the book include its being thorough; comprehensive; well organized, and practical.

California s Implementation Of Children s Health...

The state of California is active in the payment and delivery system reform. Of the 38 million residents in California, more than 15 million receive care through delegated arrangements with provider organizations in the commercial market, or through Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program), Healthy Families (California’s implementation of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)), and Medicare Advantage plans (California Health Care Almanac, 2015). For the past decade, California’s reimbursement has been through shared risk pool, pay-for-performance quality incentive programs, and full and partial capitation (Pegany Connolly, 2014). Pegany Connolly (2014) state that under the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACO) programs, providers and hospitals don’t want assume additional risk, and reward does not outweigh the risk and investments costs. To increase the potential and impact of ACA reform, California policymakers should take advantage of the ACA delivery and payment reforms, and do so will require careful attention. The Medicaid health home state The Medicaid health home state plan option looks promising for the state of California. This expands beyond the traditional medical homes model, that in many states, have developed in their Medicaid programs. It offers home health services to eligible individual with chronic conditions, with flexibility in selecting home providers (Medicaid.gov, n.d.). States participating in this option must require that hospitals whoShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Tobacco Cessation And Its Effects On Health And Well Being Of The Community Essay1233 Words   |  5 Pagesproposed multiple solutions to reach this goal. This program aims at redesigning the Medicaid system through domains that introduce new facets that build off of new or old projects. Domain four primarily deals with the State s Prevention Agenda on its intended influence to population-wide health. A specific project introduced in this domain focuses on promoting tobacco use cessation in low socioeconomic status populations and those with poor mental health. The objective of this prevention project is toRead MoreThe Force Within Hospital Walls Paper1494 Words   |  6 Pagesgovernment regulations that have generated complex billing systems adding up to what seems an incomprehensible puzzle (American Hospital Association, 2015). It seems to be a â€Å"mission impossible† in considering the voluminous amounts of data that the Health Information Management (HIM) and Patient Financial Service (PFS) departments must process and convert to an acceptable form for reimbursement. The heart and lungs of a hospital are the HIM and PFS departments. Data Collection and its Importance AsRead MoreThe Impact Of Medicaid Expansion On Pregnant Mothers And Their Newborn Children1700 Words   |  7 Pagespregnant mothers and their newborn children. Issues explored were the history Medicaid, current perceptions regarding the program and its recipients, the benefits of Medicaid and the reasons that some states have chosen to opt out of the expansion. The methodology used for this study was to research peer reviewed articles and journals to determine the positive and negative effects of Medicaid expansion and compare data from states that have implemented program expansion to those states that haveRead MoreIs Family Paid Leave?1533 Words   |  7 Pagesonly after the â€Å"no fault† divorce implementation by California in 1969 and its subsequent adoption by other states in 1970 that divorce rates increased to 3.5 per thousand over the subsequent nine years. Divorce rates peaked at 5.3 per thousand with the average declining to 4.0 in 2000 and dropping as low as 3.2 in 2014. Sociologists have estimated that if we as a country had not adopted the â€Å"no fault† divorce of the seventies; there would be 750,000 less children retained, a 1.2 million decline inRead MoreShould Illegal Immigrants Have Access to Health Care?2988 Words   |  12 Pagesfunded healthcare services in the United States, cause a financial drain not only on the healthcare system but also the national economy. For example, FAIR (Federation for American Immigration) estimates that the cost of reimbursed medical care in California in 2004 was about $1.4 billion and $.85 billion in Texas, with one of the frequent costs to U.S. taxpayers being the delivery of babies to illegal alien mothers. Opponents furthermore have argued that Americans have greater obligations to theirRead MoreEssay on Telepsychiatry: Improving Mental Health Possibilities1655 Words   |  7 Pagesas difficulties in classifying, diagnosing, and reporting mental disorders. Limitations to adequate mental health services including social stigma, cultural incompatibility between patients and providers, language barriers, lack of insurance and logistical barriers. In addition, significant differences in socioeconomic status, lifestyle behaviors, and access to care have resulted in health disparities between rural and urban communities (Institute of Medicine, 2004). According to Sulzbacher et alRead MoreMain Components Of The Health Belief Model1246 Words   |  5 Pagesour target community. One theory that could help accomplish this goal is the Health Belief Model. One of the key components of the health belief model is perceived susceptibility. A key strategy for our advertising campaign may be to st rengthen the belief that the target population is indeed susceptible thus encouraging involvement. Several of our stated impact objectives could benefit by applying elements of the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory and Protection Motivation Theory. WhenRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act ( Aca )2269 Words   |  10 PagesWith the implementation of any new program there are bound to be unforeseen errors that causes the plan to be seen as failing when in reality it is just working through some issues. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is going through that process right now. A simple example to point to is the website that was built for the new healthcare system crashing when it was launched. The ACA is also exposing flaws in how healthcare is funded and also projected. With an estimated 32 million people gaining accessRead MoreMental Illness And Substance Abuse Problems1563 Words   |  7 Pagespopulation who have mental illness or substance abuse problems. The first section of this literature review explores programs on help people with mental illness or substance abus e, the second section discusses finding health care for them and lastly, the third section reviews effective discharge planning. Effective Treatment Modalities: Programs Most of the research supports the use of programs to reduce recidivism among formerly incarcerated population with substance abuse and mental issues. This studyRead MoreEssential Aspects Of The American Healthcare System2932 Words   |  12 PagesAmerican health care has evolved since World War Two (eg., who has health insurance, how expensive is health care, what citizen-patient outcomes/life expectancy look like, etc.). If you want to understand why we are the only developed country with an employer-based health insurance — really, the only one — then you had better get familiar with the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. The 1954 code is the document in which the federal government codified into law that companies can provide health insurance

The Effect of Minimum Wage on the American Economy

The Effect of Minimum Wage on the American Economy A sensitive topic for many Americans is their income. Many people’s income relies on minimum wage. In 2012, 3.6 million people received an hourly pay at or below the national minimum wage. There is an ongoing debate in Congress as to what the national minimum wage should be. Currently at $7.25, Obama has suggested raising the national minimum wage to $9.00. Depending on a person’s economic perspective, raising minimum wage could be positive or negative. Minimum wage has the ability to change lives. Small businesses and unemployment, teenage demographics, and the cost of civilian goods would be most affected. Many areas could be affected by a change in minimum wage, but potentially the most†¦show more content†¦The money to pay for an increased minimum wage has to come from somewhere, and there are only a few places that it can come from. The extra money could come from the company’s investors in the form of lower profits; from customers in the form of higher prices; or from workers in the form of fewer jobs. Since the marketplace is very competitive, businesses will resist lowering investors’ profits and raising prices for customers because of the potential risk of losing them. This leaves only cutting workforce as a way to get the money businesses need to afford an increased minimum wage.There are always exceptions, but historically, businesses have financed increases in the minimum wage by laying off minimum wage workers. In 2009, when the most recent minimum wage increase occurred, the national unemployment rate rose 5-10 percent. (Perry) If this were to happen again, the national unemployment rate, currently stuck at 7 percent, would skyrocket. This would be detrimental to low income Americans because many could end up losing their source of income. As time goes on, the unemployment rate should lower, but the initial spike in unemployment could hurt many families and lives. Specifically, teenage employees would be critically affected by an increase in minimum wage. Most teenagers who work take on minimum wage jobs. In fact, half of minimum wage employees are under the age ofShow MoreRelatedThe Effect Of Minimum Wage Increase On Childrens Social And Economic Standings, Making It Popular With Women1569 Words   |  7 Pages Arguments for an Increase in the Minimum Wage One of the most obvious and anticipated effects of a minimum wage increase is the income increase especially for families on and below the poverty line. An approximated 16.5 million people stand to gain from added wages, and most families incomes would, in fact, rise above the federal poverty threshold (Congressional Budget Office). With so many families depending on the minimum wage to forge a livelihood, an increase would be a blessing in disguiseRead MoreEffect Of Raising Minimum Wage1215 Words   |  5 PagesEffects of Raising Minimum Wage The minimum wage in this country has been a controversial issue. Many people believe it will help reduce poverty and boost the economy. However, they are not looking at the downfalls this will bring to our country. This could make the unemployment population rise, it will raise prices of other things, and would have little effect on reducing poverty. Raising the minimum wage would have a negative influence on our country. This movement throughout our countryRead MoreMinimum Wage Is The Lowest Payment Permitted By Law Or Special Agreement882 Words   |  4 PagesMinimum Wage Minimum wage is the lowest payment permitted by law or special agreement (labor union). Minimum wage jobs are normally designated for young adults or teens. It does not really permit a suitable living wage for a person with a family. The jobs with minimum wage are learning positions. They enable the worker to gain skills for higher paying jobs. Raising the minimum wage presents a series of advantages and disadvantages to the worker and the economy. Minimum wage was introduced in 1938Read MoreMinimum Wage1535 Words   |  7 Pagesstandard minimum wage level has been a controversy over its insufficient wages set for working class Americans. The minimum wage was established to protect unskilled workers from being exploited by employers’ low pay. Introducing the minimum wage provided stabilization in the workplace, but as the cost of living increases, working Americans are demanding a livable wage. In the recent past, the American dream fadedness changed the way Americans view the economy. For many wageworkers, the American dreamRead MoreA Brief Note On Raising Minimum Wage1088 Words   |  5 PagesBrendan Mason Mrs. Scruggs 08/07/15 Raising minimum Wage There is always talk about the problems of North Carolina’s economy, and these problems then become publicized and put throughout the media, informing people on the condition of their state’s economy. A popular topic lately is the state’s minimum wage, and whether it should be raised or if we should keep the current minimum wage. Usually, opinions vary on what to do about minimum wage, however there certainly seems to be a larger group ofRead MoreRaising The Federal Minimum Wage889 Words   |  4 Pagesthe federal minimum wage would positively effect the economy. In doing so, I will be discussing how an increase in the federal minimum wage would make a vast improvement on the way many low income families live, and also how raising the federal minimum wage would boost the economy as it desperately needs. In raising the federal minimum wage, one might argue that it would cause a spike in the unemployment rate. The reasoning is that it would force employers to balance the increase in wages that theyRead MoreThe Economic Case For Raising The Minimum Wage927 Words   |  4 PagesEconomic Case for Raising the Minimum Wage The United States is recognized for its economic opportunities. Thousands come to this country for the chance to improve economic stability and climb the social ladder – opportunities usually not available in their home countries. However, there has been increasing concern regarding American wages compared to the rise in the cost of living. Many of the lowest paid workers receive wages that is far much below the federal minimum provision as stipulated in theRead MoreRaising the Minimum Wage: A Counter-Intuitive Solution Essay753 Words   |  4 Pagesbelieve that raising the minimum wage will resolve poverty issues and lack of pay with the signing of legislation, the raising of the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour (as advocated by President Obama and the Democrats) would cause the poverty issue to be worse than it already is; inflation would occur, employees would be laid off, and minimum wage employees would lose welfare benefits, thus offsetting the wage increase. The Governme nt should consider the effects on the American economy as a whole, as opposedRead MoreMinimum Wage Should Be Raised910 Words   |  4 Pagesperson can maximize the American Dream on the minimum wage† (Benjamin Todd Jealous). In 1938, minimum wage was created by the federal government in order to protect workers by ensuring a minimum of twenty-five cents per hour worked. Though President Roosevelt had the right idea in protecting the workforce, something needs to be done to ensure that Americans are getting a reasonable amount of money for the amount of hours they have worked. As Benjamin Todd Jealous stated, minimum wage is not enough forRead MoreEffect Of Raising Minimum Wage1215 Words   |  5 PagesEffects of Raising Minimum Wage The minimum wage in this country has been a controversial issue. Many people believe it will help reduce poverty and boost the economy. However, they are not looking at the downfalls this will bring to our country. This could make the unemployment population rise, it will raise prices of other things, and would have little effect on reducing poverty. Raising the minimum wage would have a negative influence on our country. This movement throughout our country is being

Natural and Sexual Selection of Vestigial and Wild Type...

Natural and Sexual Selection of Vestigial and Wild Type Drosophila melanogaster Abstract In this experiment, vestigial flies as well as wild type flies were used to create some diversity as well as test one of our hypotheses. Our hypotheses are as follows; 1) The wild type flies will have a greater relative fitness compared to the vestigial flies based on only sexual selection. The wild type has a relative fitness of 1 since it has fully functional wings. Vestigial Winged flies are not as sexually appealing since their wings are not functional and the wing movement is a vital part of their mating ritual. 2) The vestigial fly will have a greater relative fitness when considering both sexual and natural selection. With the presence of†¦show more content†¦With the presence of natural selection (fly paper hanging from top of cage) posing a larger threat to the wild flies b/c they can fly better, this will allow vestigial flies to prosper better. Materials and Methods To set up this experiment, two twenty-five gallon aquariums, 3 petri-dishes, 200 flies, rotten bananas, and yeast were used. The bananas chosen to be an accelerant for the growth of the yeast and were frozen so they would be easier to cut. The yeast was used because the drosophila melanogaster prefer this as a food source. The vestigial and wild type flies were sexed (to determine their sex), sorted, and counted. An initial population size of 100 total flies was decided so that it would be easier to determine the phenotypic percentage of the total population. Fly paper was placed in one of the sets of cages to impose a method of natural selection as well as the sexual selection which is being solely tested by the other set of cages. It was decided that there would be 80 vestigial flies and 20 wild type flies to total to an initial population of 100 drosophila. Next, the flies were anesthetized flies using Fly Nap. The flies were counted out to reach desired ratio, sexing the flies making sure there are equal amounts of males and females to be sure there is ample individuals to allow successful mating. The fly’s food was prepared by taking a frozen rotten banana, cutting it in half, mashing up the banana meat, and mixing yeast into it. The

Pros and Cons of Managed Care Free Essays

Care Some of the pros for managed care are; Preventive care — HMOs pay for programs, they are set up and are intended at keeping one healthy (yearly checkups, gym memberships, etc. )The idea is, so they won’t have to pay for more costly services when and if one gets sick. Lower premiums — Because there are limits set as to which doctors one can see and when one can see them, HMOs charge a premium and usually they are lower premiums. We will write a custom essay sample on Pros and Cons of Managed Care or any similar topic only for you Order Now Prescriptions — As part of their precautionary retreat, most prescriptions are covered by HMOs for a co-payment that also can be very low. Fewer unnecessary procedures —doctors are given financial incentives from HMOs , to provide only needed care, so doctors are less likely to order costly test or surgeries that one does not need. Limited paperwork — While healthcare professionals and facilities have more paperwork, under managed care, HMO members usually only has to show their membership card and pay a very low co-payment.Some of the cons for managed are; Limited doctor groups — To keep financial burdens down, HMOs tell one which doctors’ one can see, including specialized fields. Restricted coverage — one cannot expect care on command because ones primary-care physician must justify the need based on what benefits ones plan covers. Prior approval needed — If one would like to see a specialized doctor or go to the emergency room, one would need permission from their main physician. Possibility of under treatment — Because of the incentives given doctors to limit care, the doctor may try to hold back on good care management he would give. Compromised privacy — HMOs use patient records to keep an eye on doctors’ performance and efficiency, so particulars of one’s medical history could be seen by other people. Getting medical care used to be thought of as trouble-free. One would go to the physician of their choice, get great care and their health insurance would cover the cost of seeing the physician and cover tests needed.These networks should stand for better earth care for less money. But as they work hard to keep out of pocket expenses down, the scary tales it causes are frightening: â€Å"drive-by† mastectomies, when women are not allowed facility stays after harrowing breast removal; As network bureaucrats who deny a claim for coverage to the emergency room when heart attacks turn out to be indigestion; doctors who get year -end payoffs to give constraining care and don’t communicate to patients about better costly treatments.Those against managed care aren’t so kind. It can be said that the system that once commended physicians for working too much for the patient now, are given an incentive for doing a lot less. â€Å"The incentive now is to put bounds on care,† says (Dr. Donald Hanscom, a Beverly gynecologist. ) â€Å"Everything is money. â€Å"After a decade of wining and dining the public with lower premiums and a wider spectrum of benefits, the inexperienced period for managed care is noticeably over. Those opposed are uneasy by the idea of unethically abuse.They are apprehensive members, many are not getting the care needed, the specialists they want, or the coverage one should get to have, especially in health urgencies. They also are concerned about issues that come up that have plagued the healthcare system elsewhere in the nation, such as stifling guidelines set up that keep doctors from suggesting more costly treatment choices. Although they say their far reaching goal is to provide a greater healthcare, the business has brought forth an unwelcoming talk that seems to challenge that.Patients who choose a doctor that does not participate in a â€Å"The† network, either at their own expense or with restricted coverage by the network, are considered â€Å"leakage. † Doctors who go against the networks system to get better treatment for their patients sometimes risk being blackballed out of and the network. It’s reassuring to know that some networks are doing a good job, but lawmakers are dealing with a weary opposition that isn’t frightened by what the nation thinks. Those up on the hill have responded with a charge of state and national bills pointed at bringing in a bo oming healthcare industry that’s pretty much free-for-all.For their part, the networks don’t see what the entire objection is about. They say productiveness and peoples request will keep their guidelines just and within ones means. â€Å"The networks are trying not only for cost, but also for class and peoples’ satisfaction. It’s a patron service industry when you get right down to it. The network points to their absolute success in bringing down costs and keeping the mass of network enrollees happy. Each month people across the nation join a network, so it’s plain that, Network care is here to stay in one shape or another.Those against and those rooting for that of managed care agree that the existence of unconstrained health care on demand is declining. As health care costs push very high yearly, some say it’s time for all to comprehend that the medical healthcare industry has financial restrictions just like any other industry. â€Å"People have been brought up to believe that health care is an entitlement,† says (Jeanne Holland, executive director of Northeast Physicians-Hospital Organization) at Beverly Hospital. They think ‘Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and health care on demand. ‘ Consumers need to change their thinking. â€Å"Resources http://ask. reference. com/related/History+of+Managed+Care? o=102545qsrc=121l=dir, Retrieved, October 26, 2010 http://www. ecnnews. com/hlth/manintro. htm, Retrieved, October 26, 2010 http://ezinearticles. com/? Health-Insurance-Types, Retrieved, October 26, 2010 http://www. senioranswers. org/Pages/prosandcons. htm, Retrieved, October 26, 2010 How to cite Pros and Cons of Managed Care, Papers

Technology - Evolution - and Interplanetary Travel

Question: Discuss aboiut the Technology, Evolution, and Interplanetary Travel. Answer: Introduction: It is quite perilous for any human being to go to space, be there for some time to accomplish any purpose or mission and come back on earth (Hooper, (n.d.)). This is fundamentally because space environment is very hostile for humans. For many years, most space missions have been done by humans but majority of them have turned to be riskier and more challenging to collect the scientific data needed. As a result, engineers and astronauts have been prompted to develop robots that can perform better than humans in space missions. Robots in Space is a term used to describe robots that are used for space explorations or missions. Today, most space missions are now being performed by robots and there is an ongoing debate on whether robots should entirely replace humans in future space explorations. There are numerous robots in space that have been used for different space missions. Among the first robots in space were orbiters, landers and rovers sent to Mars. The first robot to be sent in space was Sputnik 1 by Russia and this happened in 1957 (Davison, 2010). Mariner 2 was the first lander to be sent to Venus in 1962. Mariner 4 was the first orbiter to be sent to Mars in 1965. In 1970, Venera 7 was sent to Venus and became the first robot in space to send data directly to the earth. Viking landers was sent to Mars in 1976. The launch of Voyager 1 2 happened in 1977 and these robots are still making their way from the solar system and are now in the heliopause (Wethington, 2016). The robots are sent in space by different space organizations including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency, USSR, Canadian Space Association, etc. Up to date, several robots have been sent to different destinations of the solar system including the moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus (McKinnon, 2014). There are different types of robots in space, in terms of sizes, shapes and functions. Some of these include: Orbiters, Flyby Probe, Landers, Rovers, Robot Arms, Atmospheric Probes, and Humanoid Robots. These robots have some similar characteristics such as sensors, actuators, controllers, power supply and radio communications. These are the systems that enable the robots to travel into space, collect data while in space, process it and send it to the earth. Sensors collect information regarding the robot and the environment where it is. The work of controllers is to process information collected from sensors, as per instructions sent from the earths ground control station, and ensure that actuators receive the right command signals. Actuators are responsible for converting command signals from controllers into actions (The Open University, (n.d.)). Power supply acts as a source of power needed to facilitate the operations of the robot. Robots in space can be grouped into two major categories: remote manipulator system (RMS) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV). RMS robots are those that are sent into space accompanied with astronauts. These robots are said to be manned. On the other hand, ROV robots are the type of robots that are sent into space without the company of humans. These robots are said to be unmanned (Woodfill, 2011). Unmanned robots have become more popular over the recent years mainly because of the fatalities caused of the lives that were lost with some manned robots. Approximately 20 astronauts had died during spaceflight and several others during spaceflight tests. This includes accidents such as Space Shuttles, Soviet Soyuz, X-15, and Apollo 1, among others (Borenstein, 2014). It is also important to note that unmanned robots are connected to ground stations that control them and constantly monitor and record what they do during the spaceflight. There are several advantages of using robots for space missions than humans. Some of these advantages include: they do not need food not drinks; have a lower risk factor; have greater ability to survive in difficult surface and hostile atmospheric conditions present in space; and they can work untiringly for longer. The robots in space are designed to endure life-threatening conditions such as extreme weather conditions (extreme cold and heat), ionizing radiation and rugged surfaces. These robots are able to replace or support humans in performing tasks in space that are time consuming, very difficult and dangerous. In addition, robots in space are more precise and faster than humans. Robots in space perform a wide range of functions. This includes positioning or fixing instruments so as to take certain measurements, installing a structure on space, collect samples for further analysis; or move around just like an astronaut. Most of these tasks are very difficult or even impossible to be performed by humans because of numerous challenges such as nearly zero gravity and extreme environmental conditions in space that makes it difficult for humans to stand, walk or even breathe. Numerous projects are being implemented to develop more sophisticated robots with greater ability to stay longer in space, collect more comprehensive data and perform virtually the same as astronauts. One of these futuristic robots is Robonaut 2, which is a humanoid robot that has a similar appearance to astronauts and is also designed operate in a similar way as astronauts. Robonaut 2 is a humanoid robot that is first ever to be sent to space. The $2.5 million humanoid robot is made up of a head, torso, and limber arms, and is about 1.01m tall and weighs approximately 150kg (Hornyak, 2011). This space robot is designed to function almost the same as an astronaut (NASA, 2010) and it was sent to ISS (International Space Station) in 2011 (Nowakowski, 2016). Some of its key features include: telemedicine applications, robotic exoskeleton, robotic glove, and more advanced sensing, safety and motion systems (Niles, 2015). To improve the efficiency of robots in space, organizations such as NASA are now developing and testing space robots in places known as analogs. These are areas whose environments are controlled to have similar characteristics as those in space. One of such areas is Arizona desert where NASA robotic specialists perform field tests to analyze new concepts for ground support, spacewalks and rovers (May, 2014). Considering all the achievements so far and the ongoing developments in space exploration, it is certain that robots in space will continue helping humans to understand the universe better and probably make a conclusion on which places within the space support life (Launius and McCurdy, 2012). For this reasons, robots are very essential machines in future exploration of the space. However, this does not mean that they will replace humans participation. Therefore it is not a matter of making a choice between robotic and human space exploration but the two are very essential for successful space exploration. The integration of humans and robots will facilitate extensive space exploration without losing lives unnecessarily (Mann, 2012). Bibliography Borenstein, S., 2014, A look at people killed during space missions [Online]. Available: https://phys.org/news/2014-11-people-space-missions.html [Accessed March 18, 2017]. Colwell, J., 2014, Robots vs Astronauts [Online]. 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