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9 J. Biosecurity Biosafety & Biodefense L. 1 (2018)

handle is hein.journals/jbbl9 and id is 1 raw text is: 





Victoria Sutton'


Introduction to Volume IX

1 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA, E-mail: vickie.sutton@ttu.edu

DOI: 10.1515/jbbbl-2018-0011


We  are pleased to publish Volume IX of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety and Biodefense Law. This volume con-
tinues the Journal's tradition of shining light on emerging and important issues within the fields of biosecurity,
biosafety, and biodefense law, both from a practical as well as a theoretical perspective.
   The  lead article of Volume IX is a transcript of a presentation entitled Ethical Challenges in Biosecurity and
the Lawyer's Obligations. Dr. Sheri Dacso, Partner at Seyforth Shaw, and Cheryl Erwin, Director of Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center Medical Bioethics Program, presented on both the ethical framework of
bioethics in clinics and the application of bioethics and cyber terrorism laws.
   The remaining articles selected for Volume IX are divided into four subject-matter areas. The first addresses
biological threats and national preparedness. The second addresses Good Samaritan laws in response to bio-
logical epidemics. The third focuses on the environmental ramifications of released biological agents. Finally,
the fourth addresses public health regulations.
   The first section provides an in depth look at the United States' regulations and laws in place that help pre-
vent and mitigate biological threats. Lionel Jake Roach addresses the compensatory laws governing medical
coverage to victims of terrorism in his article The Disability Benefit Implications of an Intentional Biological Weapon
Attack. In her article Regulations & Resolutions: Does the BWC Prevent Terrorists from Accessing Bioweapons?, Sarah
Scrivner discusses potential terrorist possession of biological weapons and international law currently in place.
Carder Brooks, in his article Classifying and Regulating Biological Agents in the United States: Problems Posed to
Global Biosecurity, discusses how the classification of biological agents in the United States effects biosecurity
regulations. In A Fresh Threat: Will CAS9 Lead to CRISPR Bioweapons?, Daniel Willingham touches on the manu-
facturing of biological agents through gene editing devises such as CRISPR, and how current regulations could
address such a biological threat.
   The second section takes a brief look at Good Samaritan laws throughout the United States. Author Nicolas
Northcut in his article Is the Good Samaritan Really Good? A Look into the Possible Harm Caused by Current Good
Samaritan Laws, discusses how the lack of uniformity among the states creates ambiguity in protection, and how
that might complicate and even obstruct necessary aid in the event of a bioterrorist attack.
   The third section discusses the environmental impacts and effects that may take place in various biological
events. Uzochukwu  Okonkwo,  in his article Human Life and the Environment: Is There a Balance?, examines the bi-
ological alteration of mosquitos in response to Zika, and further discusses the societal and ecological side-effects
this could have on ecosystems. Additionally, in the article Biological Warfare and Environmental Decontamination
Post-Exposure: Who Is Responsible?, Kristyn Urban-Sorensen analyzes the response time and decontamination
legal frameworks of biological threats.
   The final section addresses the public health regulations and issues of compulsory vaccinations and man-
dated quarantine in response to infectious diseases. Chase Price explores the history and policy behind Texas
quarantine laws in his article All Things are Bigger in Texas: Due Process Issues of Area Quarantine. Emily Thakar,
in her article God Bless Texas: Should Texas Eliminate the Vaccine Exemption for Reasons of Conscience?, considers
the policy behind state vaccine exemptions and their effectiveness. Volume IX concludes with the article Gov-
ernment and Immunization: Can We Do That?, by Tyler Vessley. In this, Mr Vessley argues that individual states
have the authority to mandate vaccinations during outbreaks, regardless of exemption statutes.
   The  interdisciplinarity of the Journal requires a broad range of talent in the biological sciences as well as
law and  legal writing. It is also a peer-reviewed law journal, which is the exception rather than the rule in
scholarly law journal publishing. The production of Volume IX is due to the many talented people across these
disciplines for who a warm thank you is in order. I thank the anonymous peer reviewers and Board of Editors
for their steadfast dedication to this growing area of law and to the Journal. Sincere thanks also go to our
Student Board of Editors: Editor-in-Chief, Courtney Campion; Executive Managing Editor, Nina Dinh; Lead
Articles Editor, Robert Avila; and Organizational Development Editor, Andrew Tingan. Each member  of the
Student Board of Editors devoted themselves to preparing articles for publication and day-to-day management
of Volume IX. Additionally, our outstanding Associate Editors ensured every detail of the editing process was
skillfully executed to meet the deadlines for Volume IX. Finally, a special thanks to Professor Brie Sherwin who

Victoria Sutton is the corresponding author.
© 2o8 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.


1


DE GRUYTER


journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety, and Biodefense LaW. 2018; 20180011

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