A policy mapping analysis of the U.S. Congressional approach to medical aid-in-dying

Oregon was the first state to legalize medical aid-in-dying (MAID), in 1994. Since then eight states and Washington, DC have legalized MAID through legislation. Despite literature exploring the legal and ethical aspects of MAID, very little research examines MAID policy at the federal level. This study aimed to 1) examine the objectives of MAID legislation introduced to the US Congress, and 2) investigate whether these bills increase or decrease access to MAID. This study used the congress.gov website to search for bills related to MAID introduced by the US Congress between 1994 and 2020. From the 98 bills identified, we excluded bills that were not directly related to MAID or were introduced in subsequent congresses. In total, 23 bills were retained and analyzed. The greatest number of bills aimed to restrict funds for MAID, followed by bills that sought to regulate the drugs used for MAID. Other bills prohibited the development of policies supporting MAID, regulated penalties for practitioners related to the drugs used for MAID, and restricted legal assistance for accessing MAID. These bills intended to block or limit patient access to MAID by restricting drugs, funds, health care services, legal assistance, policy, and research. These findings suggest that the federal approach is incongruous with the growing numbers of states that have legalized MAID. Federal policymakers must develop policies to 1) prevent discrimination against vulnerable groups, 2) support funds to study MAID, and 3) build a system to allows eligible individuals to access MAID equally.

A Policy Mapping Analysis of the U.S. Congressional Approach to Medical Aid-in-Dying

This study examines the goals of medical aid-in-dying (MAID) legislation introduced to the US Congress from 1994–2020 using a policy mapping analysis approach. Using congress.gov, we identified 98 bills, 23 bills were analyzed in this study. Most of the bills aimed to restrict the use of federal funds, to regulate the drugs commonly used for MAID, to prohibit the development of policies or practices supporting MAID, and to regulate practitioners’ roles in MAID. In practice, these bills would limit patient access to MAID by restricting drugs, funds, health care services, legal assistance, policy, and research. These findings suggest there lacks congressional support for MAID, even though polls of the public are divided yet favorable. Policymakers who support MAID should consider affirmative policies that 1) prevent MAID policies from discriminating against vulnerable groups, 2) support funding to study the use of MAID, and 3) build avenues to allow all qualified people to access MAID in places where it is legal.

A Sensitive File Abnormal Access Detection Method Based on Application Classification

As the access control mode of notepad files cannot meet the requirements of risk control for sensitive file hierarchical access, this paper proposes an application classification-based detection method for abnormal access to sensitive files. The application classification and file classification, access control policy mapping, and basic and preset policy detection are designed. Combining the operating system’s identification control of different applications at runtime, we monitor the abnormal access of sensitive files by hierarchical applications. The cross-access experiment of different levels of application to different sensitive files verified the effectiveness and security of hierarchical access control strategy and sensitive file abnormal access detection and reduced the risk of disclosure of sensitive files.

Autism and education—international policy in small EU states: policy mapping in Malta, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Slovenia

Background Special education provides an array of support that can advantageously meet special education needs (SEN) of children with autism. This report maps autism and SEN policies, and tension of international legislation in Malta, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Slovenia. Methods A policy path analysis was performed using a scoping review as fundamental methodological framework. Results Education for children with SEN developed from limited education towards segregation, and further to integration, and inclusion in mainstream education. International policy has greatly influenced the education systems under study. The rights to education and to have SEN addressed have been adopted in all countries. Inclusion is seen to be gradually incorporated by Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg—closely following values of international documents through concise SEN policies. Slovenia’s education system remains segregated, indicating potential tension. Conclusions It appears that mainstream schools offer SEN services until no longer feasible for the child in the majority of investigated countries. Inclusion has become a guiding principle for most education systems under study. Finally, small states either commit to the implementation of inclusion or delay it and attempt to improve the education system for children with SEN in different ways.