Law Commons^™

Constructive Cigarette Regulation, W. Kip Viscusi

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Professor W. Kip Viscusi argues for a move away from the adversarial approach to tobacco regulation, an approach that is currently embodied in class action lawsuits and the proposed broadening of FDA regulatory power over cigarettes. In this Article, he suggests that the FDA should take a constructive role in fostering technological innovations to promote cigarette safety, in much the same way that the government currently fosters safety improvements in motor vehicles and jobs. Professor Viscusi claims that the objective of government policy should be to promote informed consumer risk taking-an approach which recognizes that adult consumers have a right …

Teen Prostitution In Japan: Regulation Of Telephone Clubs, Andrew D. Morrison

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The history of prostitution in Japan may be traced to the eighth century. Originally, prostitutes carried on their trade individually and independently. Around the thirteenth century, however, the nature of prostitution changed, as prostitutes formed small enterprises located in red-light districts. By the seventeenth century, red-light districts existed throughout Japan.

In 1900, the Japanese government, realizing the widespread proliferation of the prostitution industry, passed the Regulation for Control of Prostitutes. The law regulated prostitution nationwide by requiring prostitutes to register with local government authorities and to undergo regular health inspections. This system continued until the end of World War Two, …

Psychiatric Evidence In Criminal Trials: To Junk Or Not To Junk?, Christopher Slobogin

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

This Article begins, in Part I, with a brief review of the past four decades" of psychiatric and psychological testimony in criminal trials (henceforth referred to simply as "psychiatric testimony"). Although this review cannot be called comprehensive, it does make clear that, contrary to what the popular literature would have us believe, psychiatric innovation is neither at an all time high nor the prevalent form of opinion testimony by mental health professionals. At the same time, such "nontraditional" expert opinion from clinicians, on those rare occasions when it does occur, has changed over the past few decades in both content …

Primum Non Nocere: The Expanding "Honest Services" Mail Fraud Statute And The Physician-Patient Fiduciary Relationship, Gregory D. Jones

Vanderbilt Law Review

In one case, a physician refers a patient to a certain hospital in return for an undisclosed referral fee from the hospital. In another, a physician decides not to refer a patient to a specialist for further examination. The physician, however, does not disclose to the patient that part of the cost of sending the patient to the specialist would come out of the physician's potential earnings. In the previous examples, has the physician breached her fiduciary duty to the patient by not disclosing her own financial interest in the patient's treatment? If so, the physician could be guilty of …

The Future Of The World Health Organization: What Role For International Law?, David P. Fidler

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

This Article has tried to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of international law in WHO's future. Whether WHO realizes it, international law has had and will continue to have effects on international health policy. In the future, WHO has a choice: It can continue to act as if international law plays no role in global public health or it can build the commitment and capacity needed to integrate international law into its endeavors and into the creation of global health jurisprudence. Building such commitment and capacity will not resurrect WHO to its past glories, but they may very …

Teen Smoking Behavior And The Regulatory Environment, Joni Hersch

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Professor Hersch argues that most state regulations aimed at fighting teen smoking have had little or no effect. She provides evidence that despite widespread age restrictions on purchasing tobacco, most teens do not consider it difficult for minors to purchase tobacco products within their community. She also presents evidence demonstrating a strong correlation between smoking rates and perceptions about the addictive nature of smoking. These findings suggest that facilitating greater awareness of the addictive power of cigarettes could be effective in curbing teen smoking. She explores the potential for parental restrictions on limiting teen smoking, but provides indications that parents …