Technology - Privacy Issues with Web-Based Medical Information Essay

Privacy Issues with Web-Based Medical Information Abstract: With growing concerns about the privacy of personal medical information, the president has taken action and passed regulations attempting to protect this privacy. It should work well in traditional health care situations, but it questions still remain about how applicable it will be to health care on the web. A hacker downloads thousands of medical records from the University of Washington Medical School [1]. Eli Lilly and Co. accidentally discloses the email addresses of 6000 patients who are taking Prozac [2]. With these incidents fresh in the minds of many people, the privacy of medical information has been a hot topic. It has joined other issues such as the confidentiality of financial records in the forefront of the American public’s consciousness. In April, 2001, President Bush made an unexpected move and gave the OK to Clinton-era rules that protect medical privacy. Much to the chagrin of the health care industry, Bush reversed his repealing of the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA), which requires doctors to get written consent from patients to share their medical information and allows patients to view their records and to amend them if necessary [3]. Commenting on the regulations, the President commented, â€Å"for the first time, patients will have full access to their medical records and more control over how their personal information will be used and disclosed.† [3] These regulations apply well to the physical world of health care, but when taken in the context of Web-based care, they become ambiguous, and even misleading, and fail to comprehensively protect privacy. President Bush’s move to implement the rules was a sur... ... 1. The Denver Post. November 20, 2001 Tuesday. First Edition. Pg C-01. â€Å"Web Health-Privacy Rules Help Few, Report Claims.† By Jennifer Beauprez 2. Exposed Online: Why the new federal health privacy regulation doesn’t offer much protection to internet users.† A Pew Internet Project report. Monday, November 19, 2001. 3. The Boston Globe. April 13, 2001 Friday. Third Edition. Pg. A-3. â€Å"U.S. Bolsters the Power of Patients to Guard Privacy of Personal Data.† By Anthony Shadid. 4. The Washington Post. February 10, 2001, Saturday. Final Edition. Pg A-10. â€Å"EEOC Sues to Halt Worker Gene Tests.† By Sarah Schafer. 5. www.healthprivacy.org/usr_doc/final%20Ooverview%20chart%2pdf. www.healthprivacy.org is the online manifestation of the Health Privacy Project, a program run by the Institute for Health Care Research and Policy at Georgetown University.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN TONI MORRISON’S Essay

ABSTRACT: Racial Discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of their race, colour, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status. In The Bluest eye ,Morrison took a different approach to the traditional White-Versus-Black racism. She acknowledged that most people are unaware of the racism that exists within a culture and often the racism that exists within themselves. Morrison’s essay describes a world free of racial hierarchy as dreamscape and unrealistic. Instead of such an imaginary place her works acknowledge cultural divides and the racism that exists within them. The middle class black society and the lower class black society, for example, are quite different from each other and are constantly conflicting .In The Bluest Eye ,Morrison distinguishes these divisions and their tensions through characters like Geraldine, Junior and Maureen Peal, who represent the privileged division of black culture .On the c ontrary,the less privileged division is represented by the MacTeer family and the ‘relentlessly and aggressively ugly’Breedlove family. Tension between the divided African American society is clearly represented by such characterization throughout Morrison’s Novel. African American literature is literature written by, about and sometimes specifically for African Americans, the black settlers in America. When the Africans settled in America, they were treated brutally by the Americans. They used them for their favour and hardly treated them as human beings. They wanted to show their protest so they used literature as the weapon to show their protest. The poet Phillis Wheatley and orator Frederick Douglass  were considered to be the beginners.Toni Morrision, Alice Walker etc followed their footsteps to show their protest. Chloe Anthony Wofford was born on Feb18, 1931,in Lorain, Ohio. She was second oldest of four childern. Her father George Wofford was a welder and her mother Ramah was a Chruch going women and sang in the choir.She took Latin in school and read many great works of European Literature. She was graduated in Lorain high school with honour in 1949.At Howard University, she was major in English and chose the classic for her minor. Since many people could not pronunce her name properly, she chose to cal herself Toni. After graduation in 1953 Toni continued her education at Cornell University. She married Harold Morrison and had two sons. But her married life was unhappy. Morrison went to work for Random House, were she edited works for such authors as Toni Cade Bambara and Gayl Jones. Mothers are almost always absent from the lives of Morrison’s characters ,having abandoned their children, died or simply disappeared .Despite the horrors of dislocation and slavery African American community searches for their Motherland, this was portrayed in the novels of Toni, as the absence of Mothers. The Novel †JAZZ† begins with a recap of Dorca’s murder and violet’s attack on her corpse. The couple that kill and then defaces the young girl seem immediately to be evil and immoral characters, but surprisingly Morrison goes on to flesh them out and to explain, in part ,that violet acts stem from suppressed anguish and disrupted childhoods. Racial discrimination is to treat differently a person or group of people based on their race.Power is a necessary precondition, for it depends on the ability to give or withhold social benefits, facilities, services, opportunities etc, from someone who should be entitled to them and are  denied on the basis of race, colour or national origin. Racial discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of their race, colour, descent ,national or ethnic origin or immigrant status. For example, it would be ‘direct discrimination’ if a real estate agent refuses to rent a house to a Person because they are of a particular racial background or skin colour. It is also racial discrimination when there is a rule or policy that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on people of a particular race, colour descent , national or ethnic origin or immigrant status. This is called ‘indirect discrimination’. For example, it may be indirect racial discrimination if a company says that employees must not wear hats or other headwear at work, as this is likely to have an unfair effect on people from some racial/ethnic background. THE BLUEST EYE Morrison’s first novel, The Bluest eye, was published in 1970.It tells the story of a young African American girl who believes her incredibly difficult life would be better if only if only she has blue eyes. When society is racist against a person ,the victim can avoid those within society who have become particularly offensive .But when the dear and near ones reject them, there is no escape from the pain, At this time,a person become completely immersed in misery and go insane .This is the fate of Pecola Breedlove . For Pecola, constant abuse by society and her family made her so utterly alone. Her brother runs away from home by encouragement from his mother ,who rejects the family and goes to work for a white family .By working for the white family , she got everything that she wanted and was needed .In doing so, she rejects the needs of her family entirely , not even her own daughter could call her â€Å"mother† instead she forces to call her â€Å"Mrs .Breedlove† , a symbol of the unfamiliarity of the connection that should be  filled with love, but is only filled with hatred and rejection. This increased when Pecola is raped by her father,followed by her mother beating her until the baby dies .This final blow ,the hopelessness of rejection caused by both the internal and external racism, was what drove Pecola insane, and would drive any person to madness ,because the pain that this racism caused is the pain of being alone, a pain which no human can bear. The abuse from racism is never forgotten , it leaves a scar â€Å"the pain may recede after time ,but the scar remains† Pecola Breedlove,a eleven year old little black girl, is plain and homely. By orders of the country, the Macteers take Pecola into their home to temporarily take care of her until the Country finds another home for her. It is here that she meets and becomes best friends with Claudia and Frieda. She is not happy with herself and longs for blue eyes, as they are symbolic of American white beauty. Pecola has a very difficult life growing up, as people torment her for being black and ugly. She is also raped by her father, and eventually becomes pregnant with his baby. However, the baby dies. Her mother treats her coldly, as she believes Pecola is ugly and is ashamed of her. Morrison introduces the adult character Geraldine late in the novel in order to depict the same-race racism as widely spread among the ages. Geraldine’s racism is plainly stated when she warns her son that there are obvious â€Å"difference between coloured people and niggers. Coloured people are neat and quiet; niggers are dirty and loud â€Å"(The Bluest eye). Geraldine is not only warning her son of these differences, but she is also spreading a racial stereotype. Toni uses the symbol, Hollyhock flower as beauty, confidence and strength of the privileged black society. She uses Dandelions as the less privileged black society (i.e.) lower class as ugly, useless, unwanted. As member of the less privileged society, Pecola associates well with the dandelions and believes â€Å"they are pretty†. Pecola sees the beauty in the dandelions that she is actually seeing the beauty in  herself and in her society, while others do not. Geraldine’s cat represents yet another symbol of the privileged society. The cat is â€Å"as clean and quiet as she is†. Geraldine’s son, Junior was neglected by his self-absorbed, cat-loving and nigger-hating mother. Junior revolts against his mother’s racist beliefs by abusing the cat which represents all that is dear to her. Junior feels out of place and drawn towards the black children his mother shuns. Claudia and Frieda give up the money they had been saving and plant Marigold seeds in hopes that if the flowers bloom, Pocola’s baby will live; the Marigolds never bloom. This shows that the younger generation accepts all the people equally. â€Å"Everyone is a child of God and all are created equally†. Racial discrimination is not only the problem of previous generations. Even in this century, one could find the practice of racial discrimination. For instance, the popular dancer Michael Jackson underwent many cosmetics, operations and tolerated pains to show that he too could be on par with white people with white skin.

What is the Impact of the Gender Diversity on Firm Performance - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2115 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Society Essay Type Research paper Tags: Gender Essay Did you like this example? What is the Impact of the Gender Diversity on Firm Performance? Submitted to: Submitted by: Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Background of the study Corporate governance Gender representation on corporate boards Aims and objectives of this research Structure of this research Ethical considerations Limitations References: Chapter 1: Introduction Background of the study In the corporate World, certain combativeness surrounds everything, be it the stacks of money or just the signature stationery. All of the objectives need to be defined, all of the facts drawn up, and all of the necessary measures taken so that everything is as close to perfection as achievable. The market is as competitive as ever, and it is a race for the first price. It is understandable then that why most every firm wants to avoid additional pressure in the case of a bad judgment or error (Tricker, 2012). Monks and Minow (2011) have discussed that there are several factors that rule the progress of such a firm, the employees, and the balance in the gender representation, the performance, the revenue, the management and the corporate governance. The inefficiency in even one of these aspects can bring a whole structure down to earth. Their relationship has been a heavy topic of discussion, and facts and figures are drawn up from the workings of virtually every firm so that the patterns can be studied and worked upon. Since all of these factors are relatives, gender equality also tends to lead to a better performance. It brings a pool of fresh talent, and secures the dedication of the trustworthy employees. The company is always innovative, owing to the different people, of diverse races and gender, voicing arguments and working together. All of this leads to a better working environment, that is rich in its resources but stern in its goals (Larcker and Tayan, 2013). By close observation of these patterns, it can be deduced that a good corporate policy that skims over all the social enigmas, is elementary in introducing gender diversity, which in turn proceeds to a secure and efficient teamwork. And only then can a prosperous enterprise value be foreseen (Tricker, 2012). In todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s society, it is not sufficient merely to progress, and to have a profitable expanse. To have a positive outcome in all your doings, your PR and reputat ion tends to matter more than even the investments sometimes. Corporate governance factors in outlining the objectives of a company, and the rules and regulations it works by. It keeps all the proceedings in check, and hence lays a foundation upon which the organization is based. Only when all these processes are controlled, can a company think of running smoothly and efficiently (Teigen, 2012). The issue of gender equality has garnered great limelight in the recent present, with huge focus upon the rights of women. And the evolution of media has also led to a revolution in our World. Gender diversity in the workplace is now a worldwide issue, so that countries like the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia to name a few, have introduced reforms throughout legal bindings. And in the case of incompliance with these legal terms, firms have to face a penalty. All this is being done of that a pressing social need is satisfied, and both sexes are awarded with the same rights and r espect (Kim et al, 2009). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "What is the Impact of the Gender Diversity on Firm Performance?" essay for you Create order Corporate governance Corporate governance is the basic set of requisites that a company functions upon but it is much more than that. It focuses on everything, from the initial planning to the carefully studied outcome. Its outline is not permanent, for like everything, it adapts to the changes consciously and efficiently. Gender equality and diversity are also under its focus. It gives out the fine print that clarifies the needs and the essentials. If all of these goals are satisfied, then the performance of the company is studied closely and hairs are pulled out in rectifying the mistakes and making amendments wherever theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re called for (Teigen, 2012). The value of a firm is a varying objective; it can never be defined with just one thing. Even if the profits are skyrocketing, that is no guarantee of a secure or high value. There are several reasons behind everything. And even here, a good repute is significant, be it by an effective HR, or increased dedication to all the legal b indings like the regional gender board diversity quota. And when all of these efforts are employed, can a company claim full security of its reputation and stakes. And even then, it can sometimes be a gamble (Tricker, 2012). A major misconception is that gender equality is an issue for the female sex only. But while women often have to earn less, and are treated to inferior jobs, men might face difficulty in procuring a flexible schedule, especially if theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re single dads. If the terms for these firms and organizations need to be redefined, they need to be redefined for both men and women. They should be awarded equal opportunities, along with a balanced representation in the board of directors (Larcker and Tayan, 2013). Women have proved time and time again that they excel in most fields; in several their success exceeds the stronger sex. And any racial or social discrimination is aptly insulting to their intelligence. Firms, whether voluntarily or until gove rnment pressure, have started picking up on gender diversity whilst appointing the board members. And it has lead to innovation and creativity, as in some matters, a woman can be much more insightful and can introduce efficient reforms. And together with the men, they both can work together, as two members of the team, and bring about a difference in the work on the whole (Monks and Minow, 2011). A company that regards gender equality highly is reputable, and attracts talent due to its popularity amongst the general public. Not only that but there are increased chances of employees staying if the company is fair and judicial in its dealings. It has also been witnessed that in some cases, gender diversity in the work place can lead to a bigger gain and hence a good revenue. Hence, keeping up with all the demands, and socio-economical pressures, it is elementary that board gender diversity be kept in one of the main objectives. And special data is drawn up to keep up with all the a spects, hence rooting for a better and balanced World (Kim et al, 2009). Gender representation on corporate boards Long gone are the days, when the female sex was referred to as inferior or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"weakà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. In the last 150 years, we have seen a revolutionized perception throughout the World regarding women rights. And women have appeared a strong power in the work industry, even at executive level positions. But that progress wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a fast paced one. For the female sex was treated to every kind of demeaning, inferior job before the voice of protest grew to such an intensity that now the situation in the work sector is much better and we see gender diversity as a national and international quota (Monks and Minow, 2011). According to Tricker (2011) the impact of board gender diversity upon the firm performance has been the object of a plethora of research papers, articles and books. And for every country, the charts drawn up represent conflicting information. But some general psychological factors remain the same for all. The major reason why the consider ation of a woman director and the designation of a female to a high standing post is evaded, is that women tend to be family oriented. They are devoted to their family after marriage, and hence work isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t one of their high standing priorities. But that doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t mean the entire female sex belongs to the same value. Now a day we find women who are equally passionate about their career as their male peers. For in most every field, the female sex when indulged thoroughly has proven to be more capable and sometimes successful than the male sex. The close competition between firms and a penalty for noncompliance with the government issued laws, has led on to a greater awareness of gender diversity. So now a dedicated woman is an important an asset as any man. Studying the patterns, we see that increased gender diversity may lead to bad performance after two years as the issues like sexual harassment may complicate the management. But a positive aspect i s that it could lead to a more affirmative image of the firm, because firms choose to establish it themselves, owing to the demands of the society (Kim et al, 2009). Yet while gender diversity leads to innovation and creativity owing to a better understanding of the markets involved, studies show that the improvement may have been present had no efforts for diversity had been made. Especially legal actions such as laws have been seen to have an adverse effect on the performance of a company on the whole, for this negative effect was witnessed even when the boards were changed voluntarily so it may be bigger if the action is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"forcedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ (Teigen, 2009). Hence while the propagation of gender diversity leads to a balanced workplace, it often tends to complicate the environment as new issues arise. So it doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t necessarily have a positive impact on the firm performance. That is why research and studies in this aspect need to continue so that the problems arising from a diverse board can be waived off without compromising on gender equality and the related (Larcker and Tayan, 2013). Aims and objectives of this research The proposed research will investigate the relationship between the Firm Performance, Value and Corporate Governance and Gender Board Diversity. This research will also focus on the fact that if there is an Impact of Gender Diversity in the boardroom on the Firm Value and the Corporate Governance. The following research questions will be discussed in this research: How many women are there on the corporate boards of the organizations under study? Has there been a trend of increase in women representation in these boards in recent years? What are the characteristics or factors that lead firms to appoint more women to their board of directors or top management team? What is the impact of increased female representation on a firmà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s financial results? Is there any impact of gender diversity in these corporate boards or not? Structure of this research This research is organized in 5 chapters. A brief overview of the chapters is presented below. Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter will introduce the research. Background of the study is presented as well as an introduction to the topics which will be studied. This chapter also presents the aims and objectives of the research. Chapter 2: Literature Review In this chapter, the literature already existing about the topic under study will be reviewed. A conceptual framework from the literature review will be developed. Chapter 3: Research Methodology In this chapter methodology pertaining to this research will be discussed. Along with that this chapter will also present why this methodology has been chosen. Other options available to chose from for preparing research design will also be presented. Chapter 4: Results and Analysis Results obtained from the research will be discussed in this chapter. Not only the results will be presented in this chapter but the analysis and outcomes of the research will also be included in this chapter. Chapter 5: Conclusion Research will be concluded in this chapter. This chapter will provide conclusive evidence about the findings of this research. Ethical considerations All data used in this research is either obtained through an officially published source, or is used with the permission of relevant person/organization. It has been ensured that no data used in this research is used without proper reference. The data which has been collected for this research is kept safe, and it has been ensured that no misuse of that data remains possible. Limitations This research is limited in the sense that not all aspects pertaining to corporate governance, governing boards and gender representation on corporate board can be studied in this research. Along with that, although the sample of firms studied for this research has been carefully chosen, the research does not include an exhaustive list of organizations. With the use of proper research methodology, effort has been made to draw conclusions which can be generalized and used for other set of organizations too. References: Kim, K. Nofsinger, J. and Mohr, D. (2009) Corporate Governance. Prentice Hall. Larcker, D. and Tayan, B. (2013) A real look at real world corporate governance. Larcker-Tayan Publication. Monks, R. and Minow, N. (2011) Corporate governance. 5th Edition. Wiley. Teigen, M. (2012) Firms, boards and Gender Quotas: Comparative perspective. Emerald group publishing limited. Tricker, B. (2012) Corporate Governance: Principles, Policies, Practices. Oxford University Press.