Guarding against the dangers of childhood diseases

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Many measles cases are now reported across the nation, highlighting the importance of childhood vaccinations. While the measles outbreak has gotten people lining up for vaccines, it has also spurned anti-vaccination arguments based on old myths about the medical practice.

Particularly alarming is what some parents are willing to do to show their mistrust of vaccines. There was even an anti-vaccination children’s picture book published with the aim of educating children on the benefits of having measles. The book’s author said that “according to natural health sources, [some diseases] are beneficial to the body.” The book has since received more than 800 one-star ratings and negative reviews.

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Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health has had to issue a strong recommendation against intentionally exposing children to measles. This move was in response to rumors of “measles parties” spreading after a local radio station in San Francisco reported that a mother offered to arrange a play date among sick and healthy children. The health department warns that such intentional exposure puts children at unnecessary risk and contributes to the spread of the disease.

It’s difficult to see the benefits of acquiring the disease when, in some parts of the world, measles is still one of the main causes of death. Additionally, the families in these areas often don’t have the luxury of choice in the vaccination debate because they simply don’t have access to the vaccine.

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Parents of children who have seen the effects of the disease first hand implore others to vaccinate their children. Notably, Roald Dahl has written about the importance of vaccination after his daughter died of measles encephalitis. Dahl said, “In my opinion parents who now refuse to have their children immunized are putting the lives of those children at risk.”

Additionally, choosing not to vaccinate your children also puts other kids in danger. One of the important principles related to vaccination is community immunity. Some people like infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are not eligible for certain vaccines. For their risks against certain diseases to be kept to a minimum, most members of their community need to be protected against illnesses. When more people choose not to be immunized, the whole community is put at risk of an outbreak.

The art of settlement: Tips for peaceful arbitration

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Arbitration, as a form of alternative dispute resolution, has a number of advantages over judicial proceedings. It is faster than conventional litigation and it can be less expensive and more flexible for opposing parties.

Despite its perceived advantages, however, arbitration has its own drawbacks. Due to its exclusive dependency on agreements, arbitration may sometimes be subject to pressure from the stronger and wealthier party, causing a disparity in settlements.

For speedy, successful, and fair resolutions, below are tips for resolving arbitrary cases:

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Agree to arbitration before engaging in legal processes. Arbitration attorneys stress the importance of both parties contemplating on agreements at the earliest possible stage of the resolution. The absence of an agreement, regardless of how often both parties communicate, may impede the chances of agreement once the dispute develops.

Avoid personal attacks. It is vital that both clients and lawyers keep their emotions in check during arbitration. All parties must be objective and professional when presenting the merits of the case before the arbitrator.

Choose a neutral site when settling a case. Both parties must agree on a neutral site or facility to avoid biases when coming up resolutions.

Be creative on demands. Claimants and offenders may have the flexibility in devising remedies for damages. For instance, using a certain approach, both parties may set a minimum amount that may be rewarded no matter the outcome of the negotiation. Both parties should also think of techniques on how they can maximize rewards by considering non-economical settlements such reinstatement of a job or an asset.

Arbitration is a powerful tool for resolving disputes. Apart from the techniques mentioned, both parties must have a deep understanding of the nature of the situation to ensure all interests are addressed.

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