Health Law Faculty News

George H. Mahon Professor Susan Saab Fortney

April 11, 2007: Prof. Fortney and Adj. Professor Gene Valentini will be speaking to the Seniors are Special Group at UMC. They will introduce the Health Care & Bioethics Mediation Clinic and conduct a simulation.

February 12, 2007: Professor Fortney Participated in the TTU Ethics Week program on Ethics in Science and Medical Research.

Professor of Law Jennifer S. Bard

Professor Jennifer S. Bard, Alvin R. Allison Professor of Law, has published an op-ed in the May 9, 2009 Houston Chronicle titled "Don't blame health officials for flu response." Bard writes, "Consistent funding for planning and maintaining the public health infrastructure is what can prevent disaster. Lets not let what looks like a narrow escape turn out to be an excuse to stop spending money on public-health infrastructure. Planning isn’t anything to laugh about."

Professor Jennifer S. Bard to speak at The 30th Annual Health Law Professors Conference on May 31 - June 2, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics annual Health Law Teachers Conference is intended for professionals who teach health law or bioethics in schools of law, medicine, public health, health care administration, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry. This conference combines presentations by experienced health law teachers with the opportunity for discussion among conference participants. The program is designed to provide participants with updates on issues at the forefront of law and medicine and to provide them with the opportunity to share strategies, ideas, and materials.

Professor Jennifer Bard moderated the Ethical Issues Involved with the Gardasil Vaccine panel discussion at the Cancer Prevention Conference held at the Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock Texas, on March 31, 2007.

Professor of Law Jarod Gonzalez

On March 20, 2007, Professor Jarod Gonzalez served as a panelist at the Texas Nurses Association (TNA) District 18 monthly meeting in Lubbock, Texas. The panel discussion concerned nursing union activity throughout Texas and provided information to TNA members about collective bargaining laws and the concept of workplace advocacy. The panelists and TNA membership engaged in a spirited discussion about the effects of collective bargaining on patient care and how TNA members can best advocate for patient care and their own professional development. The panelists and nurses also analyzed whether Texas House Bill 1707, which would require certain patient-nurse staffing ratios in hospitals, is beneficial legislation.