Isaac, Thomas

Dually Disadvantaged and Historically Forgotten?: Aboriginal Women and the Inherent Right of Aboriginal Self-Government

This article examines the assertion that Aboriginal self-government could limit the individual rights of Aboriginal women in Canada. The authors argue that these concerns are legitimate given the historical discrimination experienced by Aboriginal women. The article begins with a historical perspective and moves to examine the potential impact of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms upon Aboriginal women's rights. The article concludes that the rights of individual Aboriginal women need to be recognized and protected within any developments concerning Aboriginal self-government.

Rapid HIV Screening at the Point of Care: Legal and Ethical Questions

This report discusses whether rapid HIV screening tests should be used by health care professionals. The authors maintain that rapid testing on pregnant women who are unaware of their HIV status at the time of labour, should be delayed until there is further research. They argue that while rapid testing would allow mothers to take preventative measures to reduce mother to child transmission during birth, it also raises concerns of higher chances of 0 positives, inadequate counselling, screening without the mother's consent, and lower protection of confidentiality.