Should Drinking during Pregnancy be Criminalised to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

The harmful effects of alcohol use during pregnancy have been well documented. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the collective term encompassing the various clinical diagnoses that can occur in a child who was exposed to alcohol prenatally. The affected child suffers a range of lifelong primary and secondary disabilities. There is no cure for FASD; but it is preventable if women do not drink during pregnancy. Should women be banned from; and/or punished for drinking during pregnancy for the sake of preventing fetal harm? This article considers the appropriateness of criminalising drinking during pregnancy as a means of preventing fetal harm and consequently FASD in children; and concludes that criminal approaches are unjustified; potentially discriminatory and likely to be ineffective

Nanotechnology in Medicine and Healthcare: Possibilities; Progress and Problems

"Nanotechnology or nanoscience covers the investigation; design; manipulation; precision placement; measurement; modelling or fabrication of matter; structures; devices and systems that exist at the nanoscale - essentially at the atomic and molecular size levels. Nanotechnology has the potential to change the way we address some of the world's most critical development problems. In 2005; the United Nations (UN) Millennium Project's Taskforce on Science; Technology and Innovation concluded that nanotechnology can contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); specifically; the goals to reduce child mortality; improve maternal mortality and combat HIV/AIDS; malaria and other diseases. Health; specifically improved primary healthcare; is one of six focus areas highlighted in South Africa's National Nanotechnology Strategy (NNS); where nanotechnology can offer the most significant benefits for the country. Nanotechnology can revolutionise the practice of medicine and the delivery and accessibility of health care. However; despite the significant benefits of nanotechnology; there are problems that could prevent it from being widely accepted. The qualities that make nanotechnology so appealing are also those that give rise for concern. In particular; there are uncertainties about its potential impact on human health; the environment and societies in general; along with the concern that nanotechnology; much like genetic engineering or modification; is ""messing"" with the building blocks of nature and is therefore ""unnatural"" even unethical. This article considers these concerns and concludes that there is nothing intrinsically good or bad about nanotechnology; but that its acceptability will depend largely on how it used and introduced into society. "