"My primary concern is with the ethics of representing vulnerable subjects—persons who are liable to exposure by someone with whom they are involved in an intimate or trust-based relationship, unable to represent themselves in writing, or unable to offer meaningful consent to their representation by someone else.... Of primary importance is intimate life writing—that done within families or couples, close relationships, or quasi-professional relationships that involve trust—rather than conventional biography, which can be written by a stranger. The closer the relationship between writer and subject, the greater the vulnerability or dependency of the subject, the higher the ethical stakes, and the more urgent the need for ethical scrutiny."—from the Preface Vulnerable Subjects explores a range of life-writing scenarios-from the "celebrity" to the "ethnographic"—and a number of life-writing genres from parental memoir to literary case studies by Oliver Sacks. G. Thomas Couser addresses complex contemporary issues; he investigates the role of disability in narratives of euthanasia and explores the implications of the Human Genome Project for life-writing practices in any age when many regard DNA as a code that "scripts" lives and shapes identity. Throughout, his book is concerned with the ethical implications of the political and economic, as well as the mimetic, aspects of life writing.

This book Clinical Trials in Vulnerable Populations has 12 chapters divided into 4 sections: Minority Patients, Women, Medically Compromised Patients and Clinical Trials. Contributing authors came from several countries, from Serbia to Turkey. The book was edited by Professor Milica Prostran MD, Ph.D., specialist in Clinical Pharmacology. The potential reader is shown a modern approach to clinical trials in vulnerable populations, from different points of view. The chapters deal at length and clarity with their topics. Finally, I believe, that this book I edited and reviewed with dedication will capture the attention of many readers, from medical students to practicing doctors and pharmacists. All of whom must consider this very important field of medicine: clinical trials in vulnerable patients.

" . . . an excellent primer for undergraduates and graduate students interested in vulnerable populations and health disparities." -- New England Journal of Medicine, July 7, 2005 "I have reviewed a number of books looking for meaningful content to help my students understand and work with vulnerable populations. This is the most comprehensive, yet understandable book on the topic." -- Doody's Reviews, 2005 ". . .combines thoughtful, coherent theory with a large amount of information available in a single source. It will prove to be a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, teachers, and students alike for years to come." -- Journal of the American Medical Association, April 20, 2005 Vulnerable Populations in the United States offers in-depth data on access to care, quality of care, and health status and updates and summarizes what is currently known regarding the pathways and mechanisms linking vulnerability with poor health and health care outcomes. Written by Leiyu Shi and Gregory D. Stevens, this book provides a coherent, well-integrated, general framework for the scientific study of vulnerable populations—a framework that is compatible with the focus of public health policy and the Healthy People initiative. The comprehensive volume Vulnerable Populations in the United States Discusses the determinants of vulnerability using a broad framework that includes both social and individual determinants. Portrays the mechanisms whereby vulnerability influences access, quality, and health status. Summarizes the literature and provides empirical evidence of disparities in health care access, quality, and outcome for vulnerable populations. Focuses on influences of individual risk factors and multiple risk factors . Reviews programs currently in place for vulnerable populations. Instructors material available.

Pain Management in Vulnerable Populations addresses the clinical problem of pain in vulnerable populations in our society. Their vulnerability is related to the challenging nature of their clinical conditions, for which standard therapies are often ineffective, or social factors, structural to the nation's health system, that limit access to the personalized, multidisciplinary specialty and integrative care that is needed. Each vulnerable group demands a unique approach - this book reveals the details behind the history, examination, and therapeutic options.to remediate vulnerability and achieve quality care in these populations.

This book provides nurses, clinicians, practitioners, educators and students working with vulnerable and underserved populations with essential information on effective wellness strategies to address inadequate nutrition, promote physical activity, and reduce perceived stress through an integrative health nursing framework. It begins with an overview of cultural humility, health inequities, and social justice, establishing the need for an integrative health nursing framework. In turn, the book addresses a broad range of interventions; particular attention is given to wellness strategies designed to prevent the adverse effects of poor nutrition, perceived stress, and lack of physical activity. Written by respected experts in the field, the book offers readers valuable insights into strategies for working with vulnerable populations. Accordingly, it will appeal to researchers working to diminish health inequities among vulnerable populations, and will be of particular interest to nursing educators, practitioners, and students.

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Climate change and urban development threaten health, undermine coping and deepen existing social and environmental inequities. A changing global environment requires transformative social responses: new partnerships, deep engagement with local communities, and innovation to strengthen individual and collective assets. The chapters of this edited volume have mainly been contributed by established and emerging scholars representing social work, sociology, development studies, law, government, social anthropology, urbanism, public policy, and other social sciences This book is to be used for academics, policy makers, social work students, lecturers and other stakeholders to promote advocacy for vulnerable client groups affected by climate change. It gives some measure of hope and makes the invisible visible, allowing for change.

This volume focuses on the status of the elderly and the disabled after disasters globally as well as the challenges of post-earthquake rebuilding in Haiti. The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has estimated that between 1987 and 2007, about 26 million older people were affected each year by natural disasters alone and that this figure could more than double by 2050 due to the rapidly changing demographics of ageing. People with disabilities (physical, medical, sensory or cognitive) are equally at risk of utter neglect during and after disasters. The Australian Agency for International Development estimates that 650 million people across the world have a disability and about 80 per cent of them live in developing countries. Similarly, before the January 2010 earthquake, Haiti was a “country with tremendous development needs and numerous impediments to development,” according to Congresswoman Maxine Waters when introducing a Resolution in the US House of Representatives to cancel Haiti’s debts in March 2007. These impediments included an overwhelming burden of international debt; lack of personal and community assets; and, very little or no internal and external capacities, all of which have been exacerbated by the aftermath of the earthquake. It was against this background that the Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters at the University of Massachusetts Boston organized two international Conferences in 2010 – in April, on Rebuilding Sustainable Communities in Haiti in the wake of the January Earthquake; and, in July, on Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People after Disasters. This edited book consists of selected papers that were presented at these academic events. The topics include Disaster Experiences of the Elderly and the Disabled in Nigeria; The Vulnerability of Elderly People in the Aftermath of Earthquakes in Iran; Methods for Assessing and Developing Understanding of Resiliency in Communities; The Tuareg’s traditional Shelter for Disaster Mitigation and Reconstruction in Libya; and, People with Disabilities in Haiti Before and After the 2010 Earthquake.

Current research suggests that biology, psychology, culture, and social standing all contribute to alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems in women, yet few books show how to account for these factors during evaluation and treatment. Especially in terms of vulnerable populations, acknowledging these influences proves crucial to effective assessment and help. Drawing on extensive empirical research, this volume provides the necessary concepts, tools, and techniques for culturally and socially inclusive practice with vulnerable female populations. After a brief history of substance abuse among women in the United States, along with an overview of previous epidemiological study, An-Pyng Sun systematically describes the characteristics and nature of AOD problems among pregnant women, teenage girls, older women, street-walking prostitutes, homeless women, and lesbians. Clearly and concisely, she presents the theories that explain women's AOD problems, along with their related risk factors, and recommends effective treatment guidelines and strategies that speak directly to the needs of individual clients. Vulnerable women are more likely to develop substance abuse problems than other women, and their consequences tend to be more severe. This volume organizes complex data into a practical framework so practitioners can successfully respond to this special population. It supplies a long-overdue, comprehensive, and comprehensible knowledge base for screening, assessment, and care.