Decision making under uncertainty: Starr's Domain criterion

Theory and Decision - This paper examines a decision making under uncertainty criterion first introduced by Starr, which differs from the classical criteria. The rationale and properties of this...     

PLANNED AND UNPLANNED BEQUESTS

We distinguish between bequests that are planned as part of a lifetime optimization process and those that are the unplanned result of errors in forecasting the date of death. Given the initial endowment we expect a positive relation between the bequest and the planning horizon, and a negative relation between unexpectedly long life and the bequest. A unique data set on wealthy decedents and their parents provides measures of expected horizons based on parents' longevity. Both predictions are confirmed, and there is an especially large and significant positive relation between the bequest and the length of the planning horizon.     

Meeting the Needs of the Adoption Triangle Through Open Adoption: The Birthmother

Open adoption is a relatively new and controversial practice. However, in many cultures this practice is traditional. In this first of a series of articles, the affect of open adoption upon birthparents is discussed. The open process facilitates appropriate grieving, enables decision making and furthers the growth of the birthmother.     

The American Sociological Association dues structure

In this article, we report on the extent of voluntary compliance by ASA members with the Association dues structure. Comparing our findings from a random survey of ASA members with the distribution of member payments by incomebased dues category, we find a fairly high degree of noncompliance in the highest dues category. This implies, and we observe, that higher fractions of ASA members pay dues in the lower income categories than is consistent with their self-reported income. David N. Laband, author of five books and many journal articles. Richard O. Beil, author of numerous articles in management and economics journals.     

Adjusting and Comparing Survival Curves by Means of an Additive Risk Model

Survival curves may be adjusted for covariates using Aalen's additive risk model. Survival curves may be compared by taking the ratio of two adjusted survival curves; the ratio is denoted the generalized relative survival rate. Adjusting both survival curves for all but one of a common set of covariates gives the partial relative survival rate, which measures the covariate-specific contribution to the generalized relative survival rate. The generalized and partial relative survival rates have interpretations similar to the traditional relative survival rates frequently used in cancer epidemiology. In fact, the traditional relative survival rate can be generalized to a regression context using the additive risk model. This population-adjusted relative survival rate is an alternative and useful method for removing confounding effects of age, cohorts, and sex. The authors use a data set of malignant melanoma patients diagnosed from 1965 to 1974 in Norway. The 25-year survival of 1967 individuals is studied.     

How to keep the Joint Commission happy and plaintiff's attorneys frustrated

With the first minimum standard by the American College of Surgeons in 1918, the credentialing of physicians became formalized Since those days, in which a physician was basically required to be licensed and of high professional, moral, and ethical character, many requirements have been added. All have been appended for the safety and quality of care of our patients. However, liability attorneys have discovered credentialing requirements and found them a veritable gold mine for litigation. As rapidly as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) offers another standard to help us protect not only our patients but also ourselves in this litigation-bent atmosphere, attorneys engineer a way to bring suit, using the standard as if it were a requirement for prevention of negligence rather than a self-imposed goal for attainment of quality. This article presents a method of credentialing medical staff members that neutralizes the threat of antitrust actions alleging the compromising of livelihood by the denial of membership or clinical privileges. Additionally, the methodology offers maximal protection and integrity of credentialing procedures while optimizing compliance with Joint Commission standards.