Call For Papers

Global Infectious Diseases: New Challenges and Solutions

Infectious diseases were once relegated to the dustbin of history, but today emerging and re- emerging infectious diseases threaten health and health care systems in every country. Issues include whether we are blundering into a post-antibiotic apocalypse; how to prevent the emergence of global infectious diseases; and how to ensure equitable access to appropriate prevention and therapies across all income groups.

Recent events, such as the measles outbreak in the United States, the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and litigation over a compounding pharmacy’s liability in the spread of fungal meningitis, highlight the legal, medical, and bioethical challenges posed by infectious diseases. This symposium will focus on the interdisciplinary considerations and obstacles raised by these and similar developments. Panels will discuss challenges and constraints to developing new treatments for infectious diseases, the global challenge of addressing diseases that do not recognize national borders, responsibilities relating to vaccination, the development of “super bugs” due to excessive use of antibiotics, and the possibility of expanding tort liability to cover the spread of infectious diseases.

AJLM will hold its annual symposium on Saturday, January 30, 2016. Accepted papers will be published in the Symposium Edition and presented at the symposium in Boston. This is an open call for papers from any academic perspective, including, but not limited to, law, public health, medicine, economics, bioethics, history and anthropology.

Please send a one page abstract, as well as complete contact information, to ajlmsymposium@gmail.com by May 1, 2015. Selected authors will be notified by May 15, 2015. Full-length articles should be submitted by October 2015 for inclusion in the symposium. AJLM pays for reasonable travel expenses of invited authors.