Monopolies on patented prescription Drugs essays

Monopolies on patented prescription Drugs essays In the United States any person or organization can patent an invention or original concept for a period of 17 years during which time the idea or the product cannot be duplicated, manufactured or sold by anybody else other than the patent holder. Patenting has been sorely abused as many drug manufacturers have literally monopolized the market by obtaining patents for important life saving drugs. Patenting creates a monopolistic market scenario in which the patentee who enjoys a competition free market dictates the price of the drugs. Invariably these drugs are priced very high and it is the consumers who are affected the most. While we cannot neglect the fact that the patentee has spent millions of dollars in research and development of the drug we cannot totally ignore the consequences for the consumers as well. The swelling prices of prescription drugs are definitely forcing us to thinkover alternative options and importing cheaper drugs are certainly a choice to be considered. The government formulated the MEDSA (Medicine Equity and drug safety act) to facilitate the import of cheaper drugs from other countries but owing to safety considerations the act is yet to be enacted. There are arguments that the cost that will be incurred by FDA in testing and approving these gray goods would minimize any potential benefit for the U.S So with MEDSA yet to be implemented the domination of the monopolies continues. What's even more alarming is that Patentee's go out of the way to delay the generic drugs from coming to the markets. A case in example is Paxil' a drug that continues to earn huge profits for GlaxoSmithKline. The company has made serious infringements and has managed to freeze any competition by obtaining new patents for the various ingredients in the drug. Market statistics indicate that Paxil continues to earn $4.4 million ...

The Harmful Effects of Red Tides

The Harmful Effects of Red Tides â€Å"Red tide† is the common name for what scientists now prefer to call â€Å"harmful algae blooms.† Harmful algae blooms (HAB) are the sudden proliferation of one or more species of microscopic plants (algae or phytoplankton), which live in the ocean and produce neurotoxins that can cause negative and sometimes fatal effects in fish, birds, marine mammals, and even humans. There are approximately 85 species of aquatic plants that can cause harmful algae blooms. In high concentrations, some HAB species can turn the water a reddish color, which is the source of the name red tide. Other species can turn the water green, brown, or purple, while others, although highly toxic, do not discolor the water at all. Most species of algae or phytoplankton are beneficial, not harmful. They are essential elements in the foundation of the global food chain. Without them, higher life forms, including humans, would not exist and could not survive. Causes Red tides are caused by the rapid multiplication of dinoflagellates, a type of phytoplankton. There is no single cause of red tides or other harmful algae blooms, though abundant nutrients must be present in sea water to support the explosive growth of dinoflagellates. A common source of nutrients is water pollution. Scientists generally believe that coastal pollution from human sewage, agricultural runoff, and other sources contributes to red tides, along with rising ocean temperatures. On the Pacific coast of the United States, for example, red tide occurrences have been increasing since about 1991. Scientists have correlated the increase of Pacific red tides, and other harmful algae blooms with a rise in ocean temperature of approximately one degree Celsius as well as increased nutrients in coastal waters from sewage and fertilizers. On the other hand, red tides and harmful algae blooms sometimes occur where there is no apparent link to human activity. Another way nutrients are brought to surface waters is by powerful, deep currents along coastlines. These currents, called upwellings, come from nutrient-rich bottom layers of the ocean and bring to the surface massive amounts of deep-water minerals and other nutrients. It appears that wind-driven, near-coast upwelling events are more likely to bring the right types of nutrients to cause large-scale harmful blooms, while current-generated, offshore upwellings seem to lack some necessary elements. Some red tides and harmful algae blooms along the Pacific coast also have been associated with cyclical El Nino weather patterns, which are influenced by global climate change. Interestingly, it appears that iron deficiencies in sea water may limit the ability of dinoflagellates to take advantage of the abundant nutrients present. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, and probably elsewhere, large amounts of dust blown west from Africas Sahara Desert, thousands of miles away, settle on the water during rain events. This dust is believed to contain significant amounts of iron, enough to trigger large red tide events. Effects on Human Health Most people who become ill from exposure to the toxins in harmful algae do so by eating contaminated seafood, particularly shellfish. However, toxins from some harmful algae can also infect people by spreading through the air. The most common human health problems associated with red tides and other harmful algae blooms are various types of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and neurological disorders. The natural toxins in harmful algae can cause a variety of illnesses. Most develop rapidly after exposure occurs and are characterized by severe symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. Most people recover within a few days, though some illnesses linked to harmful algae blooms can be fatal. Effects on Animal Populations Most shellfish filter seawater to collect their food. As they eat, they may consume toxic phytoplankton and accumulate toxins in their flesh, eventually becoming dangerous, even deadly, to fish, birds, animals, and humans. The shellfish themselves are unaffected by the toxins. Harmful algae blooms and subsequent shellfish contamination can cause massive fish kills. The dead fish continue to be health hazards because of the risk that they will be eaten by birds or marine mammals. Economic Impacts Red tides and other harmful algae blooms have serious economic as well as health impacts. Coastal communities that rely heavily on tourism often lose millions of dollars when dead fish wash up on beaches, tourists fall ill, or shellfish warnings are issued because of harmful algae blooms. Commercial fishing and shellfish businesses lose income when shellfish beds are closed, or harmful algae toxins contaminate their fish. Charter boat operators are also affected, receiving numerous cancellations even when the waters they typically fish are not affected by the harmful algae blooms. Likewise, tourism, recreation, and other industries may be adversely affected even though they are not directly hurt by the algae. When a bloom is reported, many people grow cautious, even though most water activities are safe during red tides and other harmful algae blooms. Calculating the actual economic cost of red tides and other harmful algae blooms is difficult, and not many figures exist. One study of three harmful algae blooms that took place in the 1970s and 1980s estimated losses of $15 million to $25 million for each of the three red tides. Given the inflation that has occurred in the decades since the cost in today’s dollars would be significantly higher.

Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Case - Essay Example Through the bill of sale, Riley transferred to Thelma one-half undivided interest in seven units of the property. Through the assignment, Riley also assigned one-half undivided interest in the lease property. This interest included the right of survivorship in favor of Thelma for the other half interest held by Riley. The consideration for both of these agreements was $1.00. The two separated and Thelma went to court seeking to end their domestic partnership as well as enforce the two agreements. According to Riley, the two agreements lacked consideration. On the other hand, Thelma argued that their pending engagement and the amount that she had deposited into their joint account was sufficient consideration for the enforcement of both agreements. The trial court upheld the agreement and divided the property in accordance with the sale agreement as well as the assignment. Riley was not satisfied with the decision of the trial court and went to the Court of Appeal of Tennessee to appeal against the decision of the trial court. Reasons: the court looked at the two agreements and examined them to check whether the four elements that a valid contract should fulfill were present. These four elements are offer, acceptance, consideration and intention to enter into a legally binding contract. The court in looking at the element of consideration, ruled that it was adequate. In a contract, consideration need adequate but sufficient. The court stated that consideration however small is sufficient consideration. It is the responsibility of the seller to seek Consideration is the element that distinguishes a gift from a sale and in this circumstance; the court held that the detriment suffered by the defendant in this case does not have to be equal to the responsibility that is assumed. So long as there was no fraud in passing the interests, the court could

Critical Reasoning and Information Analysis Essay

Critical Reasoning and Information Analysis - Essay Example The more we learn about neuroscience, the more we understand that information literacy is a fundamental aspect of the human brain (Kandel & Squire 2000), and that humans are simply more naturally adapted to understanding certain things (like personal experience) than others (like numerical data). This sheds light on why we understand the world in the way we do. Like neuroscience, information technology is a growing field that is having a growing impact on the world. Firstly, it, for the first time, gives humans a different kind of intelligence to compare ours to: we can understand ourselves by seeing how different or similar computers are when serving different functions (Schellhammer 2008). Furthermore, information technologies like the internet are giving humans a broader understanding of our identity as going past small scale, tribal allegiances, because they allow for much more communication over large ranges. This communication is incredibly important, because social understandings play an important role in critical thinking. There are many cases where one’s social or cultural atmosphere have drastic impacts on the way they understand the world. Firstly, we pay a great deal more attention to those things that happen in proximity to us: which includes both personal actions, and friends. That means that problems that are common in one’s social group, for instance, will appear disproportionately larger than a more important problem that happens to people that are unrelated to you. This bias can cloud critical thinking, and must be avoided. The problem is, however, that other ways of understanding the world (such as universal laws of logic) do not function much better. This is because we are hard-wired to pay less attention to logic than emotions, as emotions played a more important role in our evolutionary history. So while universal logic might seem important at understanding things in a globalized society, it can often be ignored.

College Admissions Essays - A Photograph -- College Admissions Essays

College Admissions Essays - A Photograph Attach a small photograph (3.5 x 5 inches or smaller) of something important to you and explain its significance. At an age when my friends’ floors were strewn with toys, dirty clothes, or video-game cartridges, mine was smothered in paper of all sorts — books, magazines, reams of white and college-ruled, paper bags, paper airplanes. This pattern has survived, and it is representative of the way I live. The house of my life is built on a foundation of paper. Certainly this element is crucial in all our lives. From money to facial tissues to news to playing cards, paper is a vital organ of the body politic. And I, as a student, laden with schoolwork (and college application forms), should naturally expect to be particularly prone. But, for me, paper goes even beyond this role: Virtually all of my favorite activities are paper-based. I compose music, poetry, and prose. I do mathematics, with massive scratchwork as a by-product. I solve cryptic crosswords. Last year, I was involved in CX debate, which may be cynically but not inaccurately said to consist essentially of reading prepared pieces of paper in a strategically determined order. To me, paper is the natural medium for connecting the mind — whether in its imaginative, mechanical, or emotive capacity — with the physical world. Small wonder, than, that I find I express myself more effectively in writing than in speech, or that, on my habitual multiple-hour w alks, I often carry blank paper and pens to jot down any arbitrary thoughts that might seem worthy of retention. Even beyond this, my intimate relationship with paper extends to some unorthodox functions. I have developed a rudimentary sile... ...ell-checkers. And my dependence on paper embodies not only resourcefulness but thrift. I rarely buy new clothes; I use public transit (or walk), which appears especially frugal in light of today’s gasoline prices. Paper, being plentiful and inexpensive, fits into this scheme. Recently, I took this trait to a new height: whereas I previously sent paper to the recycle bin after depleting one side, I now make a conscious effort to use both sides of every sheet, thus saving on future purchases. Paper is the staple of my existence (no pun intended). From when I was six and spent my days filling pads with fantastical designs for houses, zoos, and factories, to the present, when I surround myself with sheets bearing drafts of essays on one side and systems of equations on the other, my life has been ruled by this ruled substance — simple, utile, and ubiquitous.

Peace Like A River REACTION Paper

Trust God Peace Like a River, By Leaf Anger is about how miracles can work throughout your life. The book displays examples of hardship that God guides the Land family through. They turn to God and have faith during the worst times, and they remember that He has already taken care of all of their problems before they even happen. One example of God intervening is when Jeremiah, the school Janitor, hears chaos in the locker room.He then goes into to see his son's girlfriend, Dolly, getting bullied by Israel Finch and Tommy Abacas. Jeremiah stops the boys from hurting Dolly and beats the two boys for touching her. But the problem escalates when Swede Land, Jeremiahs young daughter starts to get physically abused by the two young boys. Finch and Abacas begin to blow the issue out of proportion, and soon enough, Dad gives warnings to the boys that he will take the matter into his own hands.One night Dad lures the two boys onto the Land family's property when he begins to shoot at Israel Finch and Tommy Abacas. After all of the things Israel Finch and Tommy Abacas had done, Dad goes to court he learns that world Is Judged unfairly and the only hooch He has is to break out of Jail, facing his entire life paying the price for the mistake, he made by protecting his family by not getting the law Involved by the beginning of the entire Incident.In my opinion Dad should not be punished for his mistake for the rest of his life. The town did not take the Incident seriously; they should have given the boys warnings. If anything the law should have been Judged fairly. But I also realize that, the mistakes you make during your youth can affect your entire life big or small. It makes a huge Impact on your life. So be careful on the hoicks you make no matter how old you get. Live life by getting to know God better and have faith In him to move mountains.Peace Like A River Paper By Gamekeepers had done, Dad goes to court he learns that world is Judged unfairly and the only mistak e, he made by protecting his family by not getting the law involved by the beginning of the entire incident. His mistake for the rest of his life. The town did not take the incident seriously; they entire life big or small. It makes a huge impact on your life. So be careful on the and have faith in him to move mountains.

Charles Darwin s Time ¸ And The Story By Ray Bradbury

Years ago, Charles Darwin developed a theory of evolution. The strong will readjust and change while the weak die off. This became known as natural selection. The world is ever changing and in order to survive, one must adapt to their surroundings. Without doing so, the chances of survival are slim. Much like society today. Society has the top 1%, who are adjusting just fine to this ever changing world. But what about the other 99% of people? Majority of them are the ones struggling to change their life. Whether it be by going to school to earn a degree and a higher paying job, or cutting back on expenses to afford the necessities of life, one must adapt. Dystopian literature gives people an idea of what could happen in this ever growing, refined world. Most dystopian literatures install a sense of fear in people. A fear that society could be taken over by a select few, an unnatural force, or Mother Nature herself. The movie, In Time ¸ and the story by Ray Bradbury, The Murderer, g ive chilling examples of what could, or could not, become of just Earth, but society as well. The film In Time takes place in the distant future. Time has replaced currency. Every person has a bright green clock on their arm showing how much time (or money) they have. Due to genetic engineering and scientific advances, once one turns 25, they stop aging. They are given a year left to live unless more time can be earned. The social classes are divided by time zones. The ghetto, or slums, live inShow MoreRelatedDover Beach and Farenheit 4511461 Words   |  6 PagesMatthew Arnold, is a statement about losing faith as a result of enlightenment. In an emotionally charged scene in Ray Bradbury’s novel, Fahrenheit 451, fireman Guy Montag reads the poem aloud to his wife and her friends. Bradbury could have chosen any piece of literature for Montag to read as a means of unveiling his collection of hoarded books and his newfound interest in reading them. Bradbury uses this particula r piece because the speaker in the poem is expressing feelings that are very similar to thoseRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesCity Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee Bradbury VP Director of Marketing: Patrice Lumumba Jones Senior Marketing Manager: Nikki Ayana Jones Senior Managing Editor: Judy Leale Production Project Manager: Becca Groves Senior Operations Supervisor: Arnold Vila Operations Specialist: Cathleen Petersen