Volume 14, Issue 1

Drug shortages are not a new phenomenon in the United States. Current policies and regulations can be improved to better utilize drug compounding facilities to ensure patient safety, provide practical standards for the interstate market, and focus on patient needs in the marketplace. Adjustments in regulation and incentives such as performance-based bonuses are necessary to encourage registration for 503B outsourcing facilities and address shortages for less profitable drugs. Diversity of drug supply sources is also of the utmost importance to secure the trade of essential medicines in times of drug shortages through a globally diverse supply chain along with a strong system for domestic drug manufacturing and compounding facilities.

Biotechnology is a broad range of technologies that employ living organisms or parts of them to make diverse products. Biotechnology, within the American bioeconomy, is a growing topic of concern with recent investments to help address infectious diseases, food security, and energy security. From vaccine development to comprehensive DNA mapping, the medical biotechnological industry is rapidly expanding at the forefront of technological advancement. The evolution of biotechnology as it is known today began in the 1980s with the commercialization of biotech products. The future of biotechnology is bright with scientific breakthroughs, government incentive offerings, cost-effective research and development, and therapeutic advancements to cure medical conditions that currently have inadequate or no inaccessible therapies.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) represents a significant legislative step in protecting U.S. citizens from genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment. However, despite its broad preventive measures, GINA has limitations in scope and enforcement. Notably, it does not extend protections to life insurance, disability, and long-term care insurance, leaving U.S. citizens susceptible to genetic discrimination. State-level legislative efforts have tried to reconcile these vulnerabilities. Many state-level legislative efforts vary in effectiveness, with some states like Florida and Illinois enacting more robust laws. The future of genetic information protection requires an amendment to GINA or new federal legislation, drawing from successful state models to ensure adequate protections. This paper advocates for such national legislation, highlighting the minimal impact on the life insurance market and the importance of safeguarding genetic privacy to foster trust in genetic testing and scientific progress. 

Americans take great pride in their constitutional freedoms, especially the renowned First Amendment, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (U.S. Const. amend. I) The free exercise of religion is safeguarded by the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause; yet, in the face of a public health crisis – how far does this protection extend? Moreover, does the Free Exercise Clause cover all Americans equally? In 2020, the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic began testing the limits of the First Amendment. President Joseph Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin mandated that all active and reserve military members take the newly developed COVID-19 vaccinations. Failing to comply would leave service members with no other option than to be dishonorably discharged from military service. This paper seeks to analyze the current case of thirty-five Navy SEALs who were denied religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccines, and examines the implications this has on First Amendment protections for military servicemembers.

There is a growing interest in developing artificial intelligence (AI) weapon guidance systems in the military domain. Current guidance systems employ various methods to guide a weapon to its target. This target accuracy is a critical factor for its effectiveness. Artificial intelligence capabilities could enable these systems to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as identifying potential threats or targets on the battlefield while continually improving the system’s performance at its assigned task.

The English word “empathy” originally comes from the German word “Einfühlung,” which translates to “feeling into.” As defined by Merriam Webster, empathy is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing feelings, thoughts, and experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner. Often, the terms “sympathy” and “empathy” are used interchangeably. However, the two terms do have distinct meanings. Sympathy refers to the feeling of care and sharing of another’s difficulties, whereas empathy refers to placing yourself in someone else’s position and understanding that person’s point of view. In doing this, the empathetic person experiences the feelings of another. To an attorney, empathy provides numerous aids but also may contribute to several downfalls in the legal profession. This Comment will examine the impact of empathy on legal practitioners, assessing its influence on both compliance with legal standards and the mental well-being of attorneys.