Georgetown University Law Center

About: Georgetown University Law Center is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Supreme court & Global health. The organization has 585 authors who have published 2488 publications receiving 36650 citations. The organization is also known as: Georgetown Law & GULC.

Public Reporting of Hospital Infection Rates: Not All Change is Progress

Abstract: Health-care associated infections (HAIs) are a major public health issue. In response, twenty-five states have adopted public reporting of hospital-specific HAI rates, but there is considerable diversity in how each state presents information. In related work, we assess the efficacy of these efforts, by scoring individual states on the content, credibility, and usability of their public reports and websites. In this article, we address a related but distinct topic. We focus on three states (California, Pennsylvania and Washington) which have made substantial changes in their HAI public reports, websites, or both during the short period since they began disclosing HAI rates. Indeed, Washington has made two sets of substantial changes to its HAI public reports/websites. How have these changes affected the content, credibility, and usability of these reports and websites? Stated more bluntly, does change mean progress? Sadly, as we show, the answer is sometimes “no.” We then discuss the lessons that other states should draw from these case studies.

It's the Aggregation, Stupid!

Abstract: This Comment reviews James Surowiecki's book, The Wisdom of Crowds (2004). It first situates Surowiecki's arguments with respect to traditional ideas of crowd stupidity, on the one hand, and Hayekian arguments about spontaneously ordering systems, on the other. Surowiecki notes that crowds can be both much smarter and much stupider than their component parts. The Comment examines Surowiecki's criteria for distinguishing smart crowds from stupid ones. It then applies those criteria to juries and theories of deliberative democracy, and makes several suggestions as to how we can structure deliberative institutions so as to make them wiser than their members.

America’s Second War of Independence: The Barbary Pirate Wars and Their Effect Upon American Geopolitical Power

Abstract: The Barbary War seems like a perfect Hollywood movie, complete with pitched naval battles, marine landings, and gallant charges against the enemy. The conflict is also referred to as the First Tripolitan War, the conflict spanned the years of 1801 to 1805. This war marked the first time that American military power was projected across the world. This paper explores how the economic rationales of the war eventually led to the development of the nascent American Navy. The war marked the beginning of America's long history of overseas power projection - and without it - then nation would have lacked an experienced and battle-hardened naval force. It also gave Americans early heroes, such as Stephen Decatur and Richard Somers, and helped fashion a true national identity. Without the Barbary wars, America may have never broken out of its shell of isolation and begun its long path to a place of dominance in world affairs.

Regulatory developments in data communications: the past five years

Abstract: Since its creation in 1934, the Federal Communications Commission has exercised regulatory jurisdiction over all interstate common carrier communications service in the U.S. The Commission has broad powers to review rates and tariffs, determine investment and operating practices, approve new plant installations, and literally shape the entire communications carrier industry, but historically the Commission has failed to exercise these powers vigorously. Instead it, like most government regulatory agencies, has tended to become dominated by the industry it supposedly regulates, and has come to place the status quo high on its list of values to be protected; until recently, that is.