Homelessness and Affordable Housing in Texas

Homelessness and Affordable Housing in Texas Ethics: Texas Homeless Network Samantha Maggiani Ethics are a critical component in any profession. This is particularly true for professions rooted in health or other human services. Professional ethics are at the core of the Social Work profession and are utilized when focused attention is needed on ethical issues that arise in practice. Ethical codes provide insight on ethical norms, provide guidance for ethically informed decisions, and contribute to the strengthening of professional identity (Warren, 2014). The literature and research on professional ethics has considerably expanded in recent years and many professional training programs address ethical issues. This awareness of ethical issues is necessary in a field like social work because of the complex ethical dimensions of practice. Social Workers often serve disenfranchised or vulnerable populations taking on a variety of roles and responsibilities. The profession focuses on the client and encourages taking a person-centered, humanistic approach to services. This approac h lends itself to ethical dilemmas as practioners are involved in very personal, sometimes life changing events with their clients. Because of this, it is important that professional ethics remain at the core of the work of social workers and other human service workers. Ethics are of extreme importance to Texas Homeless Network (THN) and are a value identified in their Guiding Principles to Service. THN works to provide exemplary standards of ethical behavior and believes it is imperative to achieving its mission (THN.org, 2015). THN does not provide direct services to clients. Rather, THN works with service providers and individuals working to end homelessness in Texas. Although they do not assist clients directly, staff at THN still encounters ethical dilemmas in practice. For example, a current ethical dilemma identified in practice is related to Source of Income Protections advocacy work. In April 2014, the city of Austin amended its housing discrimination ordinance to add â€Å"lawful sources of income† as a protected class. The ordinance classifies lawful sources of income as non-employment income such as social security benefits, child support, and tenant-based rental assistance otherwise known as housing vouchers. This amendment was approved unanimously by city council and was intended to increase housing opportunities for low income families, working poor, disabled, veterans, and the elderly. Austin City Council adopted this amendment in response to the large amount of fair housing complaints and increasing economic segregation the city was experiencing. Another piece of evidence supporting the ordinance was a 2014 Austin Tenant’s Council survey that found 91 percent of private landlords across five area counties who own units within a voucher price range refused to accept Section 8 vouchers (Austin Tenants Council, 2014). This refusal to accept vouchers concentrates voucher holders in areas of high crime, high poverty, and low performing schools, thus exacerbating the problems around economic segregation and economic mobility. Immediately after the ordinance was passed, the Austin Apartment Association (AAA) filed a lawsuit claiming the ordinance â€Å"contravenes both state and federal law† demanding it be declared invalid and unenforceable. Their argument is that private property owners have the right to use it as he/she sees fit as long as overt discrimination is not involved. The AAA says that their members are not refusing to rent to Black or Hispanic applicants because of their race and therefore no discriminatio n is taking place. On February 27, 2015 Federal District Judge Sam Sparks rejected the AAA’s request for an injunction that would have blocked the implementation of the ordinance. The court ruled that the AAA failed in its â€Å"burden of demonstrating a substantial likelihood of success on the merits† of the case noting that although some burden is placed on the landlord the ordinance was advancing â€Å"an obvious legitimate government interests of ensuring low-income, minority populations have access to affordable housing.†(Sparks, 2015) The judge also ruled that â€Å"the AAA was violating the liberty to contract or not to contract†¦except as restricted by antitrust, antidiscrimination, and other statues.†(Sparks, 2015) Judge Spark’s ruling allowed the City of Austin to continue working on implementation of the fair housing ordinance but now Texas’ lawmakers are getting involved. Legislators from around the state have introduced legislation that would reverse Austin’s Source of Income protections, as well as legislation that would not allow local municipalities to enact or implement similar ordinances that are more restrictive than state law. This attempt to turn the legislature into an appellate court is in response to Austin’s fair housing ordinance and other local more controversial ordinances, such as identifying LGBTQ as a protected class for housing. The proposed legislation would restrict local governments from enacting locally driven solutions for issues such as fair and affordable housing. The topic of housing discrimination of voucher holders has many ethical concerns. On one side is the AAA and its members who claim that the American system of laws and ethics allow them to rent to whomever they choose as long as they provide safe housing for all residents. On a different side of the ethical debate is the National Association of Social Workers that posits six ethical standards that are relevant to the professional activities of all social workers, some of which are directly related to this issue. For example, an ethical dilemma that THN has identified related to housing discrimination is (1) the responsibility to our clients to promote their well-being and (2) to respect and promote their right to self-determination (NASW, 2008). For this example, a caseworker is helping his/her client obtain and secure permanent housing with the use of a housing voucher. Ideally, the client would be given the opportunity to choose where he/she wanted to live and the case worker shoul d respect that client’s right to self-determination and autonomy and diligently help the client obtain their housing of choice. If the property owner does not accept vouchers, it is then the caseworker’s responsibility to serve as a liaison between the client and property management to educate property management and build a relationship for the client. This is where the ethical dilemma arises. As the social worker in this situation, does the client’s right to autonomy and self-determination trump the landlord’s right to the same? Do we restrict those rights to our clients and no one else? What if the landlord feels disenfranchised by the ordinance from the city taking away his property rights to choose who he wants to serve? These are all questions related to ethics that social workers must pay very close attention to in a situation like the one described. The factors impacting this dilemma on a micro level relate to the client and the landlords. If a client does not get the choice to live outside of high poverty, low opportunity areas, then the likelihood of his/her progressing toward self-sufficiency and success could decrease. For the property owners, they argue that their freedom to run their business as they see fit is unnecessarily, and illegally, compromised. On a macro level, not addressing the issue and accepting apartment owner’s ability to have a â€Å"no Section 8† policy would only intensify the already dire economic segregation and goes against the social work value to challenge social injustice. Based on analysis of the consequences of not implementing an ordinance like the one in Austin, as well as the actions and other alternative options that City Council looked at prior to enacting the ordinance, the ethically responsible response is to support the ordinance and combat social injustice. This argument is strengthened by the decision of Judge Sparks. Part of his reasoning is that the real world damage or â€Å"burden† to the AAA members of abiding by the ordinance is small given the fact that the voucher holders are still paying the rents charged by the property owners. They are not suffering an economic loss at all. So the bigger loss to society would be with the AAA’s reaction to the attempt by the City of Austin to address the realities of discrimination against voucher holders since it would further discrimination and maintain the racially segregated status quo that has existed in Austin for far too long. Other cities and some whole states have enacted ordinances similar to Austin’s with many already found constitutional in respective higher courts. Possible consequences to Austin’s plan to address housing discrimination is the effect on the relationship between AAA and local housing service providers. The service community has expressed concerns with such a public fight against the group since they often work together in partnership to house people within their programs. The AAA has identified reversing Source of Income ordinance as a priority this legislative session and there have been many heated conversations during public hearings and sessions on the chamber floor. This high-profile battle could have consequences on housing placement options for providers in the near future. But source of income protections are not enough to solve economic segregation. Texas cities are facing an unprecedented lack of affordable housing. Low wages and the underfunded, often inaccessible mainstream programs such as SNAP or TANF also contribute to the issues surrounding housing affordability for a large percentage of citizens. An effort to create a local minimum wage of fifteen dollars per hour would be needed also. To prevent similar ethical dilemmas from occurring it takes concerted, strategic efforts from all stakeholders involved. Public Housing Authorities and other city entities need to work harder to outreach to property management and apartment associations to educate them on their programs. Housing providers and human service agencies must work with their clients to advocate and share experiences with lawmakers. And agencies like THN that work with both, need to make more efforts to bridge the gap between providers and consumers. The current efforts by THN during t he 84th Legislature are exemplary of this effort to combat housing discrimination and prevent homelessness for vulnerable Texans. References Austin Apartment Association vs City of Austin. U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division. 27 Feb. 2015. Print. Austin Tenants Council. (2014). Voucher Holders Need Not Apply: ATC 2014 Study Housing Discrimination National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Washington, DC. NASW Press. Resources. Texas Homeless Network, Helping Communities End Homelessness. n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2015 Warren. (2014, January 1). Ethics in Social Work: An Ethical Code for Social Work Professionals. Retrieved from http://cdn.ifsw.org/assets/Socialt_arbete_etik_08_Engelsk_LR.pdf

Charles Darwin Essay -- Essay on Charles Darwin 2014

Charles Darwin began his scientific breakthroughs and upcoming theories when he began an expedition trip to the Galapagos Islands of South America. While studying there, he discovered that each island had its own type of plant and animal species. Although these plants and animals were similar in appearance, they had other characteristics that made them differ from one another and seem to not appear as similar. Darwin questioned why these plants and animals were on these islands and why they are different in ways. Darwin’s observations from the islands made him want to come up with some explanation to why this occurred. He began to do research of each the species that had lived on these islands and observe all of the characteristics that had. He noticed that the islands h...

Janie Crawford’s Quest in Their Eyes Were Watching God :: Their Eyes Were Watching God Essays

Janie Crawford’s Quest in Their Eyes Were Watching God Janie Crawford, the main character of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, strives to find her own voice throughout the novel and, in my opinion, she succeeds even though it takes her over thirty years to do it. Each one of her husbands has a different effect on her ability to find that voice. Janie discovers her will to find her voice when she is living with Logan. Since she did not marry him for love, tensions arise as time moves on and Logan begins to order her around. But Janie is young and her will has not yet been broken. She has enough strength to say "No" and to leave him by running away with Joe. At this point, Janie has found a part of her voice, which is her not willing to be like a slave in her husband's hands. After Janie marries Joe, I think that she discovers that he is not the person she thought he was. He tells her what to do the same way Logan did, just a little bit more delicately by saying that it is not a woman's job to do whatever he does not want her to do. Throughout her twenty years of life with Joe, Janie loses her self-consciousness because she becomes like a little kid being told what to do by an adult, Joe. She does it without even questioning herself, which is why I think that she loses the part of her voice that she has discovered by running away from Logan. At times, she has enough courage to say no to Joe, but he always has something to say back that discourages Janie from continuing her argument. But, in my opinion, Janie does not lose her will to find herself and it might have even become stronger because the reader can see that Janie is not happy with the way things are now and that she will probably want to change them in the future. When Joe dies and Janie marries Tea Cake, she feels free because even though Tea Cake asks for her opinion when he does something and cares about her. Since this is Janie's first marriage where she actually loves her husband, she feels free and discovers many new things in life that she has not noticed before. She becomes more sociable, wants to go places with Tea Cake, enjoys working with other people, and likes shooting game. Although she never shot a rifle before, she becomes a better shooter that Tea Cake, and he respects her for that,

How Information Flows Within An Organization Essay

Information Flow Must Be Relevant and Specific Although there exists an age-old saying â€Å"too much information is never enough,† specific need must be established in order to disseminate information properly. Without specific guidelines, information flood inhibits the ability to tailor the data for use and brings up privacy issues, which must ultimately be addressed and mitigated. In the military, there exists a multitude of data and information that is passed on a daily basis. From supply and logistics information, medical and dental information, and tactical and technical information, the information needed to operate and maintain a small piece of the military is exponential. Without clear and structured guidelines on how that information is collected and used, our military would be faced with an inordinate amount of data, but with no real method of using the information. The information must also be stored within systems that provide access to relevant information, and at the same time ensure that the contents of those systems are able to withstand any and all attempts to circumnavigate the security measures within the system. Within the organization, there are a different types of information. One such type is personal information dealing with individuals. Sensitive information like medical history, dental history, and current prescriptions is information that must be limited to the service providers, while still maintaining the privacy and security of the individual. For that reason, systems are developed to run on an independent network that limits medical facilities and their providers with this  information. From the doctor or nurse’s input into the system, this information is maintained on databases and servers that are secured, allowing access only to those systems that have a vested interest in the patient. Departments such as pharmacy, appointment scheduling, and referrals will all be allowed some access to an individual’s information. The delineating factor in providing this information is the ability to limit these different systems to only the information necessary to provide proper care. One example is a pharmacy knowing what type of medication a person needs without the entire medical history being on display for all within the pharmacy to view. Another example is information about specific, day-to-day operations. Within an organization, even a secure facility, information that is discussed and passed does not always warrant access by everyone within the facility. That is why classifications exist, in order to minimize the access of information to only those who are authorized while keeping records of where the information has been. With classified information, the method must also exist to transport the information using today’s technologies. A secure, independent network exists within the military that provides a transport strictly for secure and classified information called The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet, or SIPR). Another system, used for less sensitive information, is called The Non-Classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet, or NIPR). NIPR is divided internally in the organization through the use of different Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN’s) to allow different departments within the organization to communicate with each other without fear of overlapping their information with other agencies. NIPR is also widely known as the typical internet for the military since normal internet access is located within NIPR. Collectively, these two systems provide the military and its organizations to function and communicate on a daily basis, allowing the required departments and personnel access to relevant information without fear of privacy concerns. It can be argued that today’s society is dependent on information and that too much information is never enough. Some would argue that with more information at its disposal, companies, products and governments could provide better support and a higher standard of living for all. However, it is inherent on organizations with desires of a multitude of information to limit their scope of to the necessary information, in  order to prohibit information from being used in a hurtful or destructive manner. Ultimately, information flow starts and ends with the individual. It is the individual that provides information, transports information, and ultimately accesses information. It is the individual that must be the one who ensures that information is being handled in methods that serves its purpose, but does not infringe on the privacy of others.

Albatross Anchor Proposal

Introduction Processes and technologies have many variables; planning, analysis, designing and innovations. Albatross Anchor needs to become more effective with the opportunities and challenges in its operating environment. Albatross’ operating system must be capable of producing quality products (anchors) that are n demand within a time frame that is acceptable to the industry. Question One Based on the information presented in the scenario/case study discuss Albatross Anchor’s competitiveness in relation to (please address all items in the below list and provide support for your conclusions): 1. Cost a) Cost or Production: The first issue that needs to be addressed is; how much of the fabricating of the anchors could be outsourced? Albatross, a vertically integrated company has an antiquated and technology-deprived plant as well as non-compliant on safety and environmental issues. The factors that can make outsourcing desirable to Albatross Anchors are quality and speed. Quality, which is â€Å"standardization of parts, supplier certification, and supplier involvement in design can improve the quality of supplied parts. † (www. allbusiness. om) Speed of the supplier can produce the components quicker, with adaptability, flexibility and reliability then this is a time benefit for outsourcing. Albatross Anchors is lacking the production capabilities to output products in relation to the industry and customers demands. Outsourcing would be a benefit to the production of the customized and specific anchors and a valuable asset to put into action and still be able to keep the competitive edge. Albatross’ ability to produce the anchors on a larger scale with fewer, less expensive costs needs to be implemented. Technology, specialized trained employees and bulk purchasing are factors that contribute to the economic scale. An investment in specific technological production techniques would give Albatross more of a competitive advantage over other â€Å"anchor† companies. Increasing production efficiency would allow Albatross to reduce the company’s expenses. Reduced expenses means more cash to spend on operational expansion. Experienced and a specialized skilled labor force would improve Albatross Anchor because the ore skilled workforce the more capable workers would be to complete complex tasks. Albatross could hire more skilled labor force to reduce the workforce for their competitors. The advantage of a more highly skilled workforce is to improve the economies of scales because they could produce more anchors in less time. b) Economies of Scale: The ability to grow and expand would lead Albatross to purchase materials in bulk. Bulk purchasing would allow Albatross Anchor to benefit from a reduced average cost per unit. Economies of scale refers to the decreased per unit cost as output increases. More clearly, the initial investment of capital is diffused (spread) over an increasing number of units of output, and therefore, the marginal cost of producing a good or service decreases as production increases. )† (www. uslaw. com) c) Cost of Raw Materials Sitting Idle in the Warehouse: d) Cost of Finished Goods Sitting Idle in the Warehouse: To stay competitive, Albatross needs to implement the â€Å"Just-in-time† inventory control system. This system identifies that a â€Å"finished product should be produced just in time for delivery and the raw materials should be delivered just in time for production. † (www. referenceforbusiness. com) The â€Å"Just-in-time† system is used so materials and goods never sit idle for extended periods of time. If products or materials sit for long periods of time in warehouses, Albatross is wasting money and valuable space. Inventory management is another key factor for the success of Albatross Anchors. If Albatross wants to maintain an effective inventory of their materials, regular maintenance needs to be a priority. Inventory maintenance on a regular basis needs to 1) review all transportation alternatives and how this affects inventory and warehouse issues, 2) do periodic reviews of inventory, especially raw materials and finished products to ensure that customers orders are filled in a timely fashion and 3) establish a review system for managing inventory to ensure that obsolete materials are disposed of properly. Success of Albatross Anchors depends on a successful inventory management system. 2. Speed of manufacturing process from order to finished product. Albatross’ manufacturing speed needs to be improved in order to stay competitive in the industry. Albatross Anchors would benefit from the use of a computerized production scheduler, this scheduler creates schedules for the production down to the very second. Using flowcharts as well as a computer-based scheduler will take the guess work out of production and increase speed so to improve the lead time, reduce inventories, satisfy customers and still stay competitive. 3. Flexibility in filling order(s): Implementing a flexible manufacturing system would enhance and increase the speed of fulfilling the anchor orders of Albatross. The ability to easily make changes in the production of anchors would be a major strength for flexibility in volume and product. The manufacturing flexibility has three components: 1) the flexibility to produce varieties of different sizes of anchors by using the same machines and producing the same anchors on different machines, 2) the ability to produce new sizes of anchors on the existing machines and 3) using the flexibility of the current machines to design changes in the anchors. The present time, Albatross has dedicated machinery which lacks flexibility. Utilizing an FMS would produce benefit as less waste, quicker tool change, better control of quality, efficient uses of machinery and labor force, reduction in inventory, faster shipping and receiving as well as reduction in expenses. 4. Technology Technology in manufacturing operations is a vital part of the success of Albatross Anchors. Implementing automated and flexible manufacturing systems can aid the company to make collaborative decisions about the production of specific and different anchors. Applying current process, manufacturing, product and information technologies will benefit Albatross to supply employees, suppliers and customers with the best output for their marine craft, whether large or small. 5. Capacity and facilities The current facility layout for Albatross is inefficient for several reasons. The current flows of work, materials, receiving/shipping are not grouped together. Albatross can reduce manufacturing costs and improve profitability by improving the plant layout. Product layout would be the most beneficial for Albatross Anchors. This type of layout is an assembly line and workers have their stations with tools, materials to complete the manufacturing process for the anchors. Once the anchors have been manufactured, shipping them to a warehouse for storage is the most effective way. Product layout has a sequential arrangement of manufacturing processes, a continuous mass production and assembly, special equipment, a fixed path for material handling, balance for scheduling and efficiency. Implementing the product layout for Albatross will; 1) minimize material movement, 2) minimize the cost of handling materials, 3) provide work flow in an orderly and efficient manner suitable for the repetitive operations of manufacturing anchors. 6. Service to customers (what types of services would an anchor company provide to marine wholesalers? In any organization, service that is provided to customers must be held at a high standard. Exceptional service will generate a return of customer and profitability. Services that a marine wholesaler would look for would be; databases for products and manufacturers, on-time delivery, cost effective and efficient supply solutions as well as understanding customer’s requirements. â€Å"Technical expertise, alliances with strategic partners, logistics, supply chain management and specialized outsourcing provides strength to customer base. † (www. anchormarinesupplies. com) Question Two There are many ways that mushroom/bell anchors may be manufactured. Albatross Anchor is considering two new manufacturing processes (Process A and Process B) to reduce costs. Analysis of the information below will help determine which process has the lowest breakeven point (this validates the process is more cost effective). For each process the following fixed costs and variable costs are identified below: |Anchor and Process |Process A |Process B | |Sale price per anchor |$ 42. 0 |$ 42. 00 | |Total Fixed cost |$ 650,000. 00 |$950,000. 00 | |Variable cost per anchor |$ 36. 00 |$ 29. 99 | Based on the information in the table above complete the table below: Anchor and Process |Process A |Process B | |(a) Fixed costs per anchor |3,900,000   |11,409,500   | |(b) The total number of anchors to attain |108,334   |79,101   | |break–even point for Process A and Process B | | | c) Based on your calculations which Process (A or B) that you would recommend for adoption (you can select only one). Please make sure to explain how you arrived a t your conclusion. I would recommend Process A for Albatross Anchors. The fixed costs per anchor are lower than the total fixed costs which would generate a profit for the company but, the number of anchors to manufacturer is greater. Producing a larger number of anchors is a benefit when Albatross purchases bulk materials for process A. If Albatross can produce a large number of anchors on a monthly basis with lower production expenses then the company will turn a profit. Process A has the factors that all management supervisors want, low costs with a high number of products coming off of the production floor. Conclusion Albatross Anchors has the abilities to mass produce anchors for small, medium and large marine vessels. Albatross Anchors is a company that began in 1976 and has grown rapidly. In order for the company to make a large profit, the plant needs to be updated with technology, expand the production of the anchors and be a more friendly manufacturing environment. Providing exceptional service to customers, updating the facility, technology, flexibility with fulfillment of orders, speed of the manufacturing process, cost of production and materials as well as utilizing inventory, Albatross can become competitive once again. Through enhancing the manufacturing processes, Albatross Anchors will be the leader in the manufacturing of anchors in the future. References Evans, J. (2005). Total Quality Management, Organization, and Strategy, (4th Ed. ). Thomson, South-Western. Wilson, Dennis R (2004, March 22). Outsourcing Production and Jobs: Cost and benefits.. Retrieved May 10, 2011, from http://www. allbusiness. com www. uslaw. com www. anchormarinesupplies. com www. referenceforbusiness. com

Advance Directives

These are health care decisions made by a person on what he/she would like to be done to in case he/ she becomes incompetent at some time in future.   Decision making on health care issues is not easy and people are advised to seek advice from so many medical professionals in order to make the right kind of decision.   It is not only a persons doctor who should give directions on what to do then conclusions made from there, more information can be obtained from other health care professionals to help the person make satisfactory decisions on what he/she wants (Monagle and Thomasma 2004: 141). Advanced directives are made when one is mentally competent and are made on different forms as will be discussed.   Different patients suffer different illnesses or diseases and there are various cases of emergency.   Most cases that do occur are those of cardiac problems, respiratory and life sustaining problems.    Advance directives indicate what a person would like to be done to in case he/she can no longer make his/her own decisions (Monagle and Thomasma 2004: 141). A person is also allowed to assign this decision making role to a physician he/she trusts and knows his/her health status, therefore can make appropriate decisions.   Advanced directives as have been indicated, apply in different sections of healthy care.   Different health care departments have to abide by the advanced directives of the patients.   Almost all health care departments receive these advanced directives on what a patient would like to be done to.   An example is the emergency department that deals with resuscitation of patients with heart problems, respiratory problems among others (Bledsoe et al, 2008: 156). The paramedics in this department in most cases do not have the time to read and analyse the advanced directives written by the patient and the advanced directive may not even be available at the time of emergency.   They are always fighting to save the life of the patient at the time of emergency as their protocols dictate, giving them a hard time in consideration to advance directives documentation as well as information retrieval about the advanced directives. They therefore have problems with the advance directive system and forms.   Some countries or hospitals have developed different forms of advanced directives that suit the emergency department as well as other medical departments (Bledsoe et al, 2008: 157).   This will be discussed later.   The different forms of legal advanced directives are not known to so many people and so they do not know which one to use when in need of an advanced directive. Every adult in a mentally competent state is allowed to make a decision and write an advance directive.   It does not mean that if one does not have an advance directive then the person will not be treated or offered health care services, this is an optional measure just meant to give people a decent death or health care service of choice.   It is not only the people with terminal cases that write advanced directives.   Normal people who feel that accidents can occur to them and may need specific medical treatment write advanced directives indicating what they want and what they do not want when such a situation occurs (Cotts 2006: 5). This may be a problem though since the person at the time of decision making, do not know how the accident will occur or how his life will be affected after the accident.   It is only after the accident that the real facts can be revealed to the person.   This always causes problems with the close relatives to the incapacitated person.   Most cases of advance directive are on those with terminal illnesses who know that their life will not be good after some period of time and therefore make decisions on their life when they are fully competent (Cotts 2006: 5). People always make decisions not to be put into any life sustaining machines, not to be resuscitated or allow themselves to be treated so that there lives can be sustained.   An advance directive is just a guideline to a doctor on what the patient wants to be done to in cases of incapability.   An example of an advance directive is the Do Not Resuscitate, which dictates that a doctor should not resuscitate a patient in case of heart failure, or respiratory problem that makes the person not able to breath (Atkinson 2006: 46). There are different types of advanced directives.   These are anatomical donation, a living will and a health care surrogate designation.   There is a different form in case of emergency medical care.   If someone does not want any resuscitation in case of respiratory or cardiac rest, then a form of advanced directive known as the DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is used.   All these types have specific areas of use (Atkinson 2006: 46).

Performance Enhancing Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Performance Enhancing Drugs - Essay Example Performance enhancing drug tests are stricter for male than for female athletes. There is a list of substances banned in males only. Differences between the reporting level for men and women are also acknowledged. The confusion over the nandrolone issue is exacerbated by claims that low concentrations of metabolites conferred no performance -enhancing effect and are due to the contamination of supplements. This conclusion from a single untimed urine sample could not be substantiated; the possibility that the result arose from the long-term use by injection of nandrolone may seem unlikely in the present climate of testing but evidence to the contrary had to be unequivocal (Dean, 2000). The number of positive test results has increased dramatically in recent years, but still, researcher admit that differences in male and female constitution prevent laboratories to identify illicit substances. OTC drugs, such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, are relatively less potent and non-selective than other stimulants, hence their availability without prescription. Following Bowers (1997) this lack of selectivity, with a concomitant likelihood of side-effects, especially if used in supratherapeutic doses, makes them less desirable as potential performance -enhancing drugs, since no improvement in performance has been found in the few research studies on these drugs. Another argument is that women may have illnesses that require them to take particular drugs. It indicates an increasing trend in its use as a performance -enhancing drug, since its pharmacological properties are likely to have adverse, rather than positive, effects on performance in most sports. Statistical results prove that women swimmers perform much better than men because of inadequate drug tests and differences between male and female constitution.