Indexicals and essential demonstrations

In this paper, I discuss some of Maximilian de Gaynesford’s arguments regarding indexicals. Although I agree with his treatment of the first singular personal pronoun as a prototype of demonstrative expressions, I challenge his refusal to treat indexicals as complex demonstratives. To offer an alternative to this refusal I try to develop a common ground from different theories that consider indexicals as linguistic constructions that embed a nonlinguistic element, following an original idea in Frege’s latest writings. These views form the backdrop on which we can put forward the claim of treating all indexicals as complex demonstratives. In the central part of the paper, I criticize each of de Gaynesford’s arguments against the reduction of indexicals to complex demonstratives. Besides, I propose a new definition of the concept of “demonstration” as a nonlinguistic feature of all indexicals in their referential uses, to contrast de Gaynesford’s rejection of the idea that demonstrations are an essential feature of indexicals. Eventually, I strengthen my claim by distinguishing indexicals from proper names and definite descriptions on the ground that only perceptual indexicals necessarily require an accompanying demonstration. However, the main point of the paper is a negative one, that is the rejection of de Gaynesford’s arguments against the reduction of indexicals to complex demonstratives. More work is needed to reach a positive conclusion on this topic.

Experiences of Jewish and Arab Healthcare Practitioners Treating Terrorists in Israel

The growing number of terror attacks worldwide draws attention to the difficulties that healthcare practitioners experience when they treat terrorists or suspected terrorists. Research literature on the challenges faced by healthcare practitioners treating terrorists in conflict areas is limited. In-depth interviews were conducted during 2016–2017 with 50 Jewish and Arab healthcare practitioners (managers, physicians, and nurses) employed in 11 public hospitals in Israel, who treat Palestinian terrorists and security prisoners, in the context of a prolonged and violent national conflict. Jewish practitioners find it emotionally difficult to treat terrorists and security prisoners. They face an ethical dilemma when called upon to save the lives of those who took life and find themselves identifying with the victims. Arab practitioners identify with both sides of the conflict. Three coping strategies were described: maintaining a humanistic standpoint; adherence to a standard of detached professionalism; and refusal to treat terrorists and security prisoners.

Contracts of War

This chapter covers black soldiers’ agitation against unequal treatment from the US Army, including inferior pay and lack of access to promotion, and the Confederacy’s refusal to treat black soldiers as prisoners of war. It focuses on the contractual argument that black soldiers, who had enlisted under promises of equality, made in the black press and in communications with government officials, an argument that related to the citizenship black soldiers sought their service to win and the description of citizenship enumerated by Edward Bates in 1862. This chapter also deals with the parallel campaign of agitation waged by black civilians on the home front, and it deals with the end of the Civil War and the anxiety felt by African Americans who feared they would be forsaken when the fighting ended.

Ethical position of medical practitioners who refuse to treat unvaccinated children

Recent reports in Australia have suggested that some medical practitioners are refusing to treat children who have not been vaccinated, a practice that has been observed in the USA and parts of Europe for some years. This behaviour, if it is indeed occurring in Australia, has not been supported by the Australian Medical Association, although there is broad support for medical practitioners in general having the right to conscientious objection. This paper examines the ethical underpinnings of conscientious objection and whether the right to conscientious objection can be applied to the refusal to treat unvaccinated children. The implications of such a decision will also be discussed, to assess whether refusal to treat unvaccinated children is ethically justifiable. The best interests of both existing and new patients are crucially important in a doctor’s practice, and the tension between these two groups of patients are contemplated in the arguments below. It is argued that on balance, the refusal to treat unvaccinated children constitutes unjustified discrimination.

Legal Aspects of Psychopharmacology Practice

The United States is characterized by a very aggressive legal system, where many complaints and lawsuits occur. Psychiatrists are vulnerable to such reactions by patients, sometimes justified, often not justified. Paying attention to legal risks is an unavoidable and necessary part of clinical practice. Besides malpractice concerns, which occur infrequently and with a high threshold, clinicians should be aware of the much more common practice of complaints to state medical regulatory boards. Such complaints have a low threshold and involve a bias against clinicians. Besides adequate documentation and attention to transference, clinicians should ensure that patients engage in agreed-upon treatment plans. Refusal to treat and/or termination of treatment is an important mechanism that clinicians need to employ to counteract legal risks.

Translational competency

This article introduces the notion of ‘translational competency’, a skill of attending to different understandings of health and how these are negotiated between medical settings and everyday life. This skill is especially important for the design of obesity-prevention policies and programs, given the diverse values surrounding both healthy eating and desirable weight. Through its focus on communicative interactions, translational competency entails a refusal to treat cultural differences regarding diet or body size as a problem. Rather, it encourages engagement with the relational contexts out of which health problems develop and transform, taking culture to be a process of negotiation and adaptation. In this article I present an example of the utility of the skill of translational competency taken from research on obesity in Guatemala. I then illustrate how translational competency might be used in the design of obesity interventions.