The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Essay Example for Free

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Essay The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA got enacted in the year 1996 by U. S Congress. The first title of HIPAA offers protection to the workers as well as the families when they decide to change their jobs or incase they lose jobs. The second title of HIPAA which is also known as Administrative Simplification does require for establishments of the national standards of electronic care transactions, employers, the plans of health insurance and the national providers. This paper hence gives limelight to what HIPAA is all about and the people who ought to comply with the standards of HIPAA. HIPPA which was enacted in the year 1996 does require the HHS secretary to publicize all the standards for electronic exchange, security of the health information as well as privacy. The new standards are integral and are developed in order to offer protection to the integrity, confidentiality as well as the availability of the health information (Department of health Human services, n. d). In the past there were no any standards that offered uniform and comprehensive protection of the health information. The new HIPAA’S security standards will offer correct access of health information by the health providers, health plans, clearinghouses offering the appropriate safety measures against dissemination and misuse. The Electronic Signature Standard will offer a reliable way to assure there is message integrity, non repudiation and authentication. The covered entities ought to comply with the standards of HIPAA. The covered entities comprise of Health plans, health providers who do transmit any health information through electronic form and the Health Care Clearinghouses (Department of Health Human Services, n. d). The health plans include group or individual plans that offer or pay costs of the medical care which are covered in the entities. They comprise of vision, dental, vision, drug insurers, health organizations and maintenance, Medicaid, Medicare as well as the long term insurers (HIP, 2008). They also include the church and government sponsored health plans, employer groups and others. Every health provider who does transmit the health information electronically is also covered by this entity. The healthcare clearing houses are those entities that do process some of the nonstandard information that they do receive from other entities to a standard. The main benefits of HIPAA regulations to the healthcare organizations are the fact that the standardization of the electronic data will improve the transfer of information between the provider and the payer. Also HIPAA is beneficial as the codification of standards of the electronic data will trigger the medical providers to effectually move their medical services to the internet(Bureau for Medical Services, 2008). HIPAA will also offer the healthcare organizations with a prospect to simplify as well as streamline their infrastructure and operations offering important savings potential. With the implementation of the standards of HIPAA the administrative needs might decrease. The standards of HIPAA do not apply to the employers, casualty, life, disability and workers insurers as well as other health information users. The major goal of HIPAA’s privacy rule is to make sure that the individual’s information on health is protected and there is flow of the health information that is required to offer as well as promote quality healthcare in order to offer protection to the well being of the public. The privacy rule offers protection to people seeking healing and care and given the fact that the marketplace for healthcare is quite diverse, this rule is hence designed in a comprehensive and flexible way to cover disclosures and uses that ought to be addressed.

Pathophysiology of Huntington Disease

Pathophysiology of Huntington Disease George Huntington first described Huntington Disease in 1872 as coming on gradually but surely, increasing by degrees, and often occupying years in its development until the hapless sufferer is but a quivering wreck of his former self (Visser, 2010). Huntington disease is an inherited genetic disorder, which causes the progressive degeneration of selected nerve cells in the brain. This degeneration of nerve cells results in impairment of both mental capability and physical control which results in death (Visser, 2010). This essay will look at the pathophysiology of Huntington disease in relation to the possible signs and symptoms. While also identifying the risk factors and examining the relevant tests available with regards to screening, diagnosing and monitoring treatment within New Zealand. It will then further explore the treatment options available in New Zealand and treatment developments worldwide. Pathophysiology of Huntington disease in relation to signs and symptoms Huntington disease is caused by a genetic fault in a small section located on chromosome 4, which encodes a protein called Huntington (Porth, 2011). However, the function of the Huntington protein is still unknown, yet this protein appears to be important to neurons in the brain (Visser, 2010). This genetic fault results in a segment of DNA, known as a CAG trinucleotide repeat, this segment of DNA is made up of a series of DNA building blocks cytosine, adenine and guanine that appear multiple times in a row (Visser, 2010). The normal copy of this gene contains 6 to 35 copies of the trinucleotide repeat, compared to the faulty gene which contains 40 to 120 copies of the trinucleotide repeat resulting in this gene producing an expansion of Huntington’s gene (Porth, 2011). The larger number of trinucleotide repeats is generally associated with an earlier onset of Huntington’s’ disease. This is shown as adults with Huntington’s disease generally have 40-50 tri nucleotide repeats where people with the juvenile form of this disorder tend to have more than 50 trinucleotide repeats (Visser, 2010). Also, Visser (2010) suggests that due to the elongation of the CAG trinucleotide segment, the segment gains a toxic function that disrupts the normal function of neurons and eventually leads to the death of neurons. Cells are known as building blocks of life that use energy to carry out biological functions, while also producing oxidants that can potentially damage themselves; Yet, these cells can make such chemicals harmless (Visser, 2010). Current studies suggests that the protein Huntington somehow prevents the brain cells from protecting themselves against the toxic chemicals which results in Huntington’s disease causing the localized death of brain and spinal cord cells (Porth, 2011). Basal ganglia are the first neurons to be affected by Huntington disease; these neurons are associated with a variety of functions that modulate motor movements, emotions, cognitive and learning abilities (Porth, 2011). Therefore the deteriation of basal ganglia results in many symptoms which commonly occur around 35 and 55 years of age, however these symptoms will progressively get worse which results in the individual passing away in around 10-20 years (Porth, 2011). There are early signs and symptoms of Huntington disease which include uncontrolled muscular movements, memory problems and mood changes (Visser, 2010). Yet, these symptoms quickly develop into serious motor impairment conditions such as eye movement disorders, spasticity, dysphagia, dysarthria, myoclonus, and the main impairment chorea which involves rapid, jerking movements that the individual has no control over (Porth, 2011). As Huntington disease develops it results in a cognitive decline, mental slowing which is the inability to remember people and to make decisions for oneself (Porth, 2011). This can all eventually lead to dementia. There are many factors that influence behavioural symptoms which include stress about the disease, family relationships, and as the pathways through the basal ganglia become disconnected which results in a loss of frontal lobe functions (Visser, 2010). The major behavioural symptom is depression with 30% of individuals with Huntington disease exper iencing major depressive or dysthymic disorders and 6% resulting in suicide (Porth, 2011). Other behavioural symptoms such as personality changes results in the individual appearing to have no interest in life or the individual having increased anger and irritability which further links to impulsive actions and violence, these actions can cause stress in relationships between family members (Visser, 2010). Risk Factors of Huntington disease Everyone receives two copies of each gene which are singularly known as alleles, one from each parent, that are present in all cells of the body (Lemiere, 2004). Therefore most individuals are born with two normal copies of each allele (Lemiere, 2004). However in the case of hereditary disorders specifically Huntington’s disease, an individual is born with one normal gene and a gene defect which is called a mutation (Lemiere, 2004). Huntington disease has an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern which means that a child of a parent who carries the mutation has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation (Frank, 2014). If the child inherits the mutation the child will develop Huntington’s disease some point in the individual’s life, and can also pass it on to their children. But if the individual does not inherit the mutation then they cannot pass it on to their children (Frank, 2014). Yet, there are also rare cases where individuals develop Huntington’s disea se, without a family history of the condition (Visser, 2010). This generally happens because of a genetic mutation during the father’s sperm development (Visser, 2010). However, there is a process where fertilized embryos can be tested for Huntington’s disease prior to the embryos being implanted within a mother’s womb called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (Christian, 2007). This technique allows the parent that carries the Huntington’s disease to avoid passing the genetic condition to their children (Christian, 2007). Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is completed through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) where the mother’s egg is fertilized with the father’s sperm outside the body (Christian, 2007). The eggs then develop into embryos, after three days of being cultured in the laboratory the technique of embryo biopsy is performed, this test checks the embryo for the Huntington’s disease and therefore all the embryos are then implanted back into the mother (Christian, 2007). New Zealand has been ethically approved for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis however this is only under special circumstances (Chris tian, 2007). The government only funds pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for 40 couples a year with one single attempt at pregnancy; this funding includes all serious genetic conditions (Christian, 2007). Relevant diagnostic, screening and monitoring tests in New Zealand Genetic tests are an example of a diagnostic as it is a procedure performed that establishes if an individual has the presence or absence of Huntington’s disease (Lyon, 2013). Individuals that have symptomatic symptoms of Huntington’s disease may be recommended by health care professionals to undertake a genetic test for the faulty Huntington gene (Visser, 2010). However, there is also predictive DNA testing which is for asymptomatic individuals with a 50% chance of developing Huntington’s disease, these individuals are tested to see if they will be affected or not by the faulty gene in adulthood (Visser, 2010). Both of these genetic tests are accomplished in the same way and can be done in Auckland laboratory (Lyon, 2013). Genetic testing is done by DNA being extracted from the individual’s blood sample, and then the DNA being purified (Lyon, 2013). A technique called polymerase chain reaction is then implicated to locate the two Huntington genes, once fo und millions of exact copies are made for further analysis (Lyon, 2013). This further analysing is when the DNA is sorted by size to determine the number of CAG repeats in each gene. The three outcomes to the test are based on the CAG repeats (Lyon, 2013). If an individual receives a negative test it means the CAG repeat size is 30 or less and therefore the individual is not at risk of developing Huntingtons disease, but if an individual receives a positive test it means the CAG repeat size is 40 or more and the individual will develop Huntington’s disease generally in adulthood (Lyon, 2013). However if an individual receives uninformative it mean the CAG repeat is in the immediate range between 31-39 and is unclear if the individual will develop Huntington’s disease (Lyon, 2013). Other tests available are known as screening this is where a series of tests are used to predict the presence of disease in individuals at risk (Lemiere, 2004). These tests include neurological examinations, along with structural and functional imaging. Neurological examinations are performed by a neurologist, which intensively interviews an individual to obtain the medical history and rule out other possible medical conditions (Lemiere, 2004). Some key aspects neurologists use to identify Huntington’s disease include taking a family history as Huntington disease is an inherited disorder and taking note of reflexes, muscle strength and eye movements as some of the earliest manifestations of the disease are â€Å"subtle chorea, eye movement and fine motor abnormalities† (Lemiere, 2004). However, Lemiere (2004) suggests that the Huntington gene defect may influence brain function and behaviour during asymptomatic years, this research has been conducted using presymptomati c individuals who have a positive gene defect. These individuals had a volume reduction of â€Å"30.9% for the caudate, 29.3% for the globus pallidus and 25.7% for the putamen† (Lemiere, 2004) compared to individuals with a negative gene defect from offspring of Huntington disease patients (Lemiere, 2004). This research shows that the decline of basal ganglia occurs gradually before the onset of Huntington disease symptoms (Lemiere, 2004). Therefore healthcare professionals can use MRI and CT scans of the brain to help determine if patients have Huntington’s disease (Lemiere, 2004). The monitoring of treatment is extremely important in Huntington’s disease and dependently relies on the motor, behavioural and cognitive aspects of the individual (Frank, 2014). After the onset of Huntington disease the individuals’ functional abilities gradually worsen over time due to the Huntington gene mutation that causes a localized death of neurons which helped to regulate the motor movements, emotional and cognitive abilities (Frank, 2014). The loss of these abilities requires the individual to seek help for all activities of daily care, yet later in the disease the individual will be confined to a bed with the inability to speak (Frank, 2014). This gradual decline of the individuals’ condition makes it important for health care professional to monitor the individuals’ treatments and adjust the treatment accordingly to the disease progress (Frank, 2014). Further, the drugs used in treatment of Huntington’s disease has the potential to cause significant side effects that can worsen symptoms of the disease (Frank, 2014). Therefore it is critically important for health care professionals to monitor the risk- benefit ratio effect the treatment has on an individual (Frank, 2014). Treatment available in New Zealand and further treatment developments worldwide Currently, there is no cure for Huntington disease, but medications, psychotherapy, speech and physical therapy can be implemented to help minimize symptoms while also allowing the individual to adapt to their condition (Frank, 2014). Medications to help treat movement disorders in New Zealand include Xenazine this medication helps to suppress chorea, but has possible side effects of aggravating depression (Frank, 2014). Also, the use of certain antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol and clozapine can help alleviate choreic movements and further controlling hallucinations and violent outbursts, but the possible side effects can worsen dystonia and muscle rigidity (Frank, 2014). Due to the loss of frontal lobe functions as an effect of the disease, there needs to be increased psychiatric support for individuals with Huntington’s disease (Visser, 2010). This support can come from medications that support depression such as antidepressants which include fluoxetine, sertraline and esctislopram (Frank, 2014). This treatment of depression can further help to improve the symptoms of sleep disturbance, social withdrawal and lack of interest in general life (Frank, 2014). However, using antidepressants can include the side effects of insomnia, diarrhoea, nausea and sexual problems (Frank, 2014). Other medications to help individuals can be antipsychotic and mood stabilizing drugs which help to supress violent outbursts, highs and low mood swings, the common side effects of these medications include weight gain, tremor and gastrointestinal problems (Frank, 2014). Psychologists can provide talking therapy for an individual with Huntington disease, this therapy allows the individual to understanding the conditions effects, while further discussing the problems and feeling the individual has (Frank, 2014). Such problems the individual could be concerned about are talking, eating and swallowing this is because Huntington disease impairs the control of muscles of the mouth and throat (Frank, 2014). A speech therapist can address these issues and improve the individual’s ability of communication by implementation communication devices (Frank, 2014). Physical therapy is also an important part of Huntington disease as the exercises provide help improve strength, balance and coordination, which further results in the individual maintain mobility for as long as possible and minimizing the possible falls (Frank, 2014). Even though there is no treatment the research field is still dynamic there are a high number of on-going or recently completed studies in relation to Huntington disease (Frank, 2014). Also, in the USA there has been a break through approach called gene-silencing (Carrol, 2013). This approach relies on the fact that DNA is not directly copied from the protein, but is made up from a chemical RNA first; this RNA message is chopped up and thereby stops the cell making the Huntington protein (Carrol, 2013). Although this approach does not stop the individual from carrying the Huntington disease and, therefore the individual can still pass the gene on, this approach stops making the protein that attacks the brain cells (Carrol, 2013). Another breakthrough development happened in the UK this is of a tool called CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) that targets and cuts out specific small pieces of RNA (Carrol, 2013). This tool is used in the approach genome ed iting. This approach is different to gene silencing as it corrects the defect, which results in the individual not having the genetic defect and therefore produce babies without Huntington disease (Carrol, 2013).

An Essay on the American Civil War

An Essay on the American Civil War Civil War Essay The Killer Angels, By Micheal Shaara tells the story of one of the bloodiest battles during the Civil War: The Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought for three days July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This battle is considered to be the turning point of the war, whichever side was to win this battle would overall win the whole war. The Battle of Gettysburg was not only the most significant of the civil was it was the battle with most casualties in the American Civil War. One of the biggest questions about the Civil War is why the men of both sides fought. The answer is not as simple as many might think. Most people, before reading this book probably thought the South fought the war only because they wanted to keep their slaves. This was only the case for a few Southerners, contrary to popular belief only a small percentage of people in the south owned slaves. Each side, the North and the South had their own reasons, but both a lso had one similar cause in common for fighting in the Civil War. In the beginning cause for the South was more about for the right to secede, and the North was about preserving the Union. But as the war went on, the causes to fight changed. The North then added that they were fighting to free the slaves, and the South fought to keep their constitutional rights to owning a slave. The South fought for their constitutional rights as a separate nation. These ideals definitely molded the way the war was fought by the South. The Confederate states seceded from the union over the issue of states’ rights and the power of state governments to totally rule over its land and decide its own issues. The South felt as if they were being controlled by the Northern government, which to felt like a foreign government. â€Å"Youve gotta tell them that what were fighting for here is the is the freedom from what we consider to be the rule of a foreign power! I mean, thats all we want. Thats what this war is all about.† This quote that was said by Armistead, expresses how the South felt about the North. The South was clearly angry because the North, where the Federal Government was located did not know what was necessary to help the South prosper. This also shows that the war was not only about slavery. The Confederates were mostly protecting their families and property from destruction, shown mainly in the later stages of war. To go along with that, many Confederate soldiers expressed the fear of being controlled by the North. This reaction, along with wanting self-government, seemed to be the main reason that kept the Confederate’s spirits high throughout most of the war, even in spite of the Union’s military advantages. Many Southerners believing that they would have their own nation also lead to their high spirits. They were attempting to establish a new nation and were put down by Lincoln. Lincoln claimed that secession was illegal, and did not want to allow the southern states to secede. â€Å"Now you suppose that we all join a club, a gentlemens club. And then, well, after a time, several of the members began to, uh began to *intrude* themselves into our private lives, our home lives. Began tellin us what we could do, what we couldnt do. Well, then, wouldnt any one of us have the right to resign?† This quote from the book expresses how the South felt about not being allowed to secede. The Northerner’s reason to fight in the Civil War was to preserve and restore the union. The Union believed that the Southern States did not have the right to leave the Union because they were a part of America. When interpreting of theConstitution, there were two different iadeals on the role of the federal government. Federalists believed that the federal government and the executive branch needed to maintain their power for the Union to survive. The anti-federalists believed that states should keep much of their authority and power within the new nation. Preserving the union was not a very popular cause in The Killer Angels and in the actual Civil War. This was mostly because majority of men didn’t want to fight for a cause that didn’t have a lot of emotional connection behind it. That is why preserving the Union was not mentioned much though out the book as much as freeing the slaves. â€Å"I dont really understand it. Never have. The more I think on it the more it horrifies me. How can they look in the eyes of a man and make a slave of him and then quote the Bible? But then right after that, after I left the room, the other one came to see me, the professor. I could see he was concerned, and I respected him, and he apologized for having offended me in my own home.(177). Through this quote one can see just how important the cause for abolishing slavery was to the Northern army. They felt it was their duty to stop the oppression of blacks, in order to restore the country as a whole. As the Civil War went on, it soon became obvious to most that the Union could not be restored unless slavery, the cause of the conflict was abolished. With that, the objective for the war had been changed. The issue of slavery now mattered to Union Soldiers, especially after Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. This officially freed slaves that were being held in Confederate-controlled areas. Many people in the North opposed the emancipation, but during the second half of the war, many people began to change their minds when they realized that emancipation could affect Union morale in a positive way by supporting it, Instead of just fighting for the idea of â€Å"saving the Union†, the soldiers were now fighting for the cause of liberty as well. â€Å"This was the first place on earth where the man mattered more than the state. True freedom had begun here and it would spread eventually over all the earth. But it had begun here. The fact of slavery upon this incredibly beautiful new clean earth was appalling, but more even than that was the horror of old Europe, the curse of nobility, which the South was transplanting to new soil. They were forming a new aristocracy, a new breed of glittering men, and Chamberlain had come to crush it. But he was fighting for the dignity of man and I that way he was fighting for himself. If men were equal in America, all the former Poles and English and Czechs and blacks, then they were equal everywhere, and there was really no such thing as foreigner; there were only free men and slaves. And so it was not even patriotism but a new faith. The Frenchman may fight for France, but the American fights for mankind, for freedom; for the people, not the land. (27) The cause of liberty, as defined by both sides, figured highly in the reasoning of many soldiers. Those of the North felt they were fighting to not only preserve the Union but to keep alive the spirit of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution. Lastly, and perhaps more pronounced as the War dragged on, the soldiers of both sides fought for each other. Many of us volunteered to fight for the Union. Some came mainly because we were bored at home and this looked like it might be fun. Some came because we were ashamed not to. Many came because it was the right thing to do. This is a different kind of army. If you look at history you’ll see men fight for pay, or women, or some other kind of loot. They fight for land, power, or because a king makes them, or just because they like killing. But we’re here for something new. This has not happened much, in the history of the world: We are an army out to set other men free. America should be free ground, all of it, from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow, no man born to royalty. Here we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here you can be something. Here is the place to build a home. But it’s not the land. There’s always more land. It’s the idea that we all have value, you and me. What we’re fighting for, in the end†¦ we’re fighting for each other. (32) The Civil War gave back Americas title as a country that fights for freedom, a title that America previously claimed to be in its constitution. The Civil War proved that the USA was a country of freedom-fighters. The major similarity between the two sides that appears in the book is how that both sides believed that they were fighting to preserve the rights of others. Soldiers on both sides believed that they were fighting for the same basic idea of liberty, but they interpreted it in completely different ways. People in the Union believed that the preservation of the U. S. government was most important, with natural rights of humans coming second. The Confederates, believed that the government was more a part of the problem than the solution, and that the solution (for the confederates) was to rebel. In their eyes they saw the North as tyrannical and controlling. Both sides also turned to nationalistic and patriotic ideas. The nationalism of the Union soldiers was more evident, beca use Lincoln from the very beginning of the war had been fighting to preserve the Union. With the help of reading The Killer Angels, one will certainly grasp the essence of the Civil War and why it was fought. Both sides knew what they were fighting for and believed their causes were worthy of losing men. While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves and the restoration of the union, while Southerners focused on defending their right to self-govern. In the end, the one significant similarity the North and the South had was that they were Americans fighting for their liberties and what they believed in.

Internet Research and Internet Plagiarism Essay -- Internet Online Com

Internet Research and Internet Plagiarism As wonderful as it is, the Internet is not the be-all and end-all of your research. A college-level term paper that uses only the Internet for information will probably not cover its subject adequately, and thus will not receive a high grade. There are several reasons for this. For one, the Internet tends to cover subjects more superficially than the printed literature, without the depth and context provided by a book. Most Internet sources also lack explicit citations to other sources for reference; such citation is an important part of articles found in professional journals and is one of the ways in which scholarly accountability is maintained. Another important reason that the Internet should not be the primary information source for a term paper is the considerable variation in the quality of information available on the Internet. This variation is due to the Internet's lack of a standard for information quality. Printed, or "hardcopy," literature has a built-in safeguard to promote high quality information -- peer-review. Peer-review means that the editor of the article or book has sent the manuscript to authorities in the subject matter (people like your professors). These reviewers evaluate the manuscript and reach a general consensus that the work meets the required standards. Reviewers cannot advise an editor to reject a manuscript simply because they might disagree with it. They can advise to reject it if there are flaws in the way in which the subject was investigated, if there are major internal inconsistencies, if the manuscript does not adequately deal with important counter arguments, or if the existing literat ure is not adequately referenced. Reviewers commonly off... ...re, because that implies the words are your own. If you find a particularly elegant or useful phrase in the literature, it can be included in the term paper provided the phrase is within quotation marks and its source is cited. Larger textual passages should be indented, but this is very unusual in science articles (it is more common in the humanities and social sciences), and is generally discouraged in scientific writing. Plagiarism can be avoided by reading the source material and taking notes and NEVER copying word for word. This must also apply to the Internet. Never cut and paste from a source into your term paper. As an added disincentive to cut and paste from the Internet, remember that, should your professor suspect that a phrase is not your own, the Internet could be easily searched for that phrase. Plagiarism from the Internet is very easy to catch!

Culture and a Mans Dying Wish :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A man dies. His community's culture deems that he be buried in holy ground lest the community suffer some catastrophe. He, having always been at odds with his community on this point, has left a provision in his will that he be cremated and his ashes scattered into the ocean. The body waits in the hospital while the community debates the issue. What is to be done?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The elders have asked for a moral opinion. What is one to say? If the belief that the man must be buried is one deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of the community, then a decision to cremate him would cause an uproar. On the other hand, if there are some who sympathize with the man, either decision might cause a schism within the community. The ultimate action would have to depend on much more than the culture's belief about burial. It would have to take into account the culture's beliefs on individual rights, freedom of belief, and the validity of the man's will. It would also have to take into account the moral implications of carrying out a man's dying wish and the repercussions of violating a sacred social institution. This is not a decision to be taken lightly, but by stepping back and weighing the options carefully, one can come to a conclusion which would be the most moral given the situation. I say most moral because there really is no right choice here. Any action taken will most definitely be wrong to at least one group of people. Here no plea can be made to universal morality because neither belief in its specific sense appeals to any pure moral intuition. People on the other side of the world might have neither the belief that the man should be buried, nor the belief that his ashes should be spread. Each person's choice would be too influenced by his own cultural morality, and so nobody would really have a right to judge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Were I to be asked for an opinion on this matter, I feel I would have no authority in my response. It is really the community's choice, and I would be afraid to make a decision which affects people completely strange to me. I doubt they would ask me in the first place, but were I to be asked my opinion I would say that the man should be buried in the special burial ground.

Characteristics of Adolescents Essay

Intellectual, moral, physical, emotional, and psychological development of Middle School students. Middle Schoolers undergo profound changes during their adolescent years, and unlike infancy, they are witnesses to these changes. Complicating things further is the fact that these changes do not occur at the same rate in each individual. While all adolescents do not share these characteristics, it is safe to say that many do. Understanding that these characteristics are developmentally â€Å"normal† is helpful. At the same time, while these changes are necessary and natural, they present challenges to parents, teachers, and Middle Schoolers themselves. Intellectual Development * Display a wide range of intellectual development. * Are in transition from concrete to abstract thinking. * Are intensely curious and dabble in a wide range of pursuits, few of which are sustained. * Prefer active over passive learning activities. * Prefer interaction with peers during learning activities. * Respond positively to opportunities to participate in real life situations. * Are often preoccupied with self. * Have a strong need for approval and may be easily discouraged. * Develop an increased understanding of personal abilities. * Are inquisitive about adults, often challenging their authority, and always observing them. * May show disinterest in conventional academic subjects but are intellectually curious about the world and themselves. * Are developing a capacity to understand high level or sophisticated humor. Moral Development * Often show compassion for those who are downtrodden or suffering and have a special concern for animals and environmental problems. * Are moving from acceptance of adult moral judgments to development of their own personal values. (Nevertheless, they tend to embrace values consistent with those of their parents.) * Are capable of and value direct experience in participatory democracy. * Greatly need and are influenced by adult role models who will listen to them and affirm their moral consciousness and actions as being trustworthy role models. * Are increasingly aware of and concerned about inconsistencies between values exhibited by adults and the conditions they see in society. Physical Development * Experience rapid, irregular growth. * Undergo body changes that might cause awkward, uncoordinated movements. * Have varying maturity rates, with girls tending to mature one-and-a-half to two years earlier than boys. * May be at a disadvantage because of the varied rates of maturity that require the understanding of caring adults. * Experience restlessness and fatigue due to hormonal changes. * Need daily physical activity because of increased energy. * Develop sexual awareness that increases as secondary sex characteristics appear. * Are concerned with body changes that accompany sexual maturation and changes resulting in an increase in nose size, protruding ears, long arms, and awkward posture. * Prefer junk food but need good nutrition. * Often lack physical fitness, with poor levels of endurance, strength, and flexibility. * Are physically vulnerable because they may adopt poor health habits or engage in risky experimentation with drugs and sex. Emotional and Psychological Development * Experience mood swings often with peaks of intensity and unpredictability. †¨ * Need to release energy, often in sudden, apparently meaningless outbursts of activity. * Seek to become increasingly independent, searching for adult identity and acceptance. * Are increasingly concerned about peer acceptance. * Tend to be self-conscious, lacking in self-esteem, and highly sensitive to criticism. * Exhibit intense concern about physical growth and maturity as profound physical changes occur. * Increasingly behave in ways associated with their gender as gender role identification strengthens. * Are concerned with many major societal issues as personal value systems develop. * Believe that their personal problems, feelings, and experiences are unique to them.

A Social Activity That Brings the Best or, and the Worst of an Individual

There are many social activities these days that tend to show us that part of a person's character that has remained hidden from public view for so long.Activities such as company picnics, sports festivals seem to do the trick. But none of those activities can beat one of the most popular social activities that always bring out the competitive streak in an individual. I am talking about a class reunion.A class reunion is a social activity wherein classmates and friends from past eras get together years later and try to catch up on each other's lives and activities. During a class reunion, it seems that people have permission to revert to their old ways while in high school or college.It is a social situation where old wounds are reopened but not necessarily healed by time or apologies. It is an event where people gossip about who is was voted the most successful and yet seems to be the biggest failure in life. It is a time for life comparisons and reflection. None of which helps a pe rson's self esteem or sense of importance about life and other things.Class reunions are supposed to be a time of reminiscing and healing. Instead, it serves as a reminder to others regarding how they have not achieved the peak of success in their lives, or failed to achieve that which they bragged about in high school or college.It brings out the worst in an individual because of the way the person is treated for not being able to achieve his classmates ideal of him. It can also be a social activity that brings out the best in an individual when he can brag about his successes in life and hold his classmates in his own personal court where he feels he can help those whom he deems as less fortunate than he is.Think about. Ask your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, I am sure they will more than willing to tell you about the horror story that their class reunion turned out to be.That is because after the pleasantries are exchanged, all that is left is to try to find the failure s of each other. Just like when they were in regular school. Let's face it, class reunions are their passport to acting like their immature counterparts in high school even if only for one night. Â