Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: With culture as a core essence, this research explores patient-physician communication in a social and cultural context in China as well as presents another way of reflecting the Asia-centric thoughts on theorizing health communication. Specifically, the importance and influence of culture in the physician-patient communication is discussed. The author will discuss problems that emerged in the research process. In conducting this research, expected meanings from the cultural context were lost in translation. For instance, the concept of the Chinese way of giving money to the doctor as "Red Bag" is very difficult to translate into English. Another example would be "relationship", which has multiple levels of meanings in the Chinese languages and culture. However, when translated into English, it loses its meaning.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: One of the more recent trends in globalization is the increase of medicine testing abroad. Western pharmaceutical companies relocate risky medicine tests to resource-poor countries. Most of us will have the intuition that this relocation is not unproblematic, without immediately knowing what is wrong or why. I argue that ipso facto relocating medicine tests to developing countries is not intrinsically wrong; even more, it can even have beneficial effects for resource-poor countries. The problem, however, is the difficulty of distinguishing beneficial and harmful (or even exploitative) forms of medicine testing. The aim of the paper is to map the institutional context in which this practice of relocating medicine tests abroad has emerged and discussing the role of western governments in regulating this practice. The argument proceeds in three steps. I start by discussing the various reasons why it is attractive for western pharmaceutical companies to relocate these medicine tests, and distinguish these reasons in ethically-neutral and ethically-problematic ones. Secondly, I present a preliminary formulation of principle of justice determining a fair distribution of burdens and benefits of border-crossing medicine tests. Finally, I show how this principle of justice for border-crossing medicine tests and the separation between ethically-neutral and ethically-problematic reasons for relocating medicine tests can be useful in determining western policies towards the relocation of medicine tests of western pharmaceuticals to resource-poor countries.

The paper is organized as follows. Section 1 provides a general background for the discussion and describes the role of medicine tests in the process of developing new medicines. Section 2 explains how globalization has changed the practice of medicine tests. It gives an overview of the incentives for pharmaceutical companies to relocate their medicine tests to resource-poor countries. Moreover, it shows why globalization has weakened the ability of national governments to regulate the practice. Section 3 discusses the role western regulations can play in the decisions of pharmaceutical companies to relocate medicine tests. I argue that the interests of several groups must be balanced – patients and pharmaceutical companies in western countries and resource-poor countries and their citizens. Moreover, I present a consequentialist argument on how these interests must be balanced. Section 4 discusses a central issue in current political debates – double standards in medical research – are shows how my approach, as developed in section 4, can be helpful in discussing this example. Section 5 concludes.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Millions of Americans access the Internet for health information, which is changing the way patients seek information and how they often treat certain medical conditions. It is estimated that there may be as many as 100,000 health-related Web sites. The availability of so much health information permits consumers to assume more responsibility for their own health care. At the same time, it raises a number of important issues that need to be addressed. The health information available to Internet users may be inaccurate or out-of-date. Potential conflicts of interest result from the blurring of the distinction between advertising and professional health information. Also, potential threats to privacy may result from data mining. Health care consumers need to be able to evaluate the quality of the information provided on the Internet. Various evaluative mechanisms such as codes of ethics, rating systems, and seals of approval have been developed to aid in this process. The effectiveness of these solutions, however, needs to be evaluated. Finally, the last issue this paper attempts to address is the importance of including patients in developing standardized quality assurance systems for online health information.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This exploratory paper examines the role of biomedical knowledge and practices in the perpetuation of colonial rule by focusing on the institutional development of biomedicine and public health measures in colonial India. I adopt Michel Foucault’s theory of biomedicine as a 'new technology of power' which at the individual level is centrally focused on the human body as an object and target of power, and at the collective level aided political power in controlling populations through public health measures. Following historical literature on colonial India, I argue that introduction of biomedicine in the colonies was as much an administrative necessity as it was a part of a larger project of cultural hegemony and the spread of Western ideas, institutions and practices.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This session explores how young people in the Bay Area are experiencing its racial and cultural diversity and what new identities, networks and political movements they are developing. Panelists will speak from a range of perspectives--academic research, grassroots activism and advocacy, and divergent life experiences.