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Many legal systems throughout the world have established out-of-court remedies to rectify miscarriages of justice and wrongful convictions. In Canada, this extraordinary remedy is served by a government minister, who is entrusted with the assessment of claims of innocence post-conviction. While researchers have already addressed various concerns over the current conviction review process (Braiden & Brockman, 1999; Walker & Campbell, 2009; Roach, 2012a), Roach (2012b) emphasized that little is known about the applicant’s lived experience. This thesis intends to explore the underlying rationale of the current regime under section 696.1 of the Criminal Code and shed light on how the Canadian government, through the Minister of Justice addresses claims and attempts to remedy wrongful conviction. A case study of Mr. Hailemikael Fekade Kassa’s criminal case file, an applicant who consented to this study of his second-degree murder conviction in 2009, will be used to explore the challenges faced by a Canadian claimant of innocence in preparation of his post-conviction review application. This research has revealed that: (1) the Canadian conviction review process implicitly removes the responsibility for error from the conventional justice system; and (2) despite significant evidence capable of raising doubt, the applicant under study encountered great difficulty in meeting the stringent eligibility criteria. A review of the literature provides the necessary contextual information to this critical examination through a comparative study of the post-conviction review schemes operating in North Carolina, the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada. Further, this project uses Foucault’s (1991) theory of governmentality as its analytical framework to investigate the governmental technologies and rationalities securing the current objectives of the Canadian review process and to explore the effects of policy at the micro-level. Following a presentation of the major findings and brief discussions of the evidence discovered in Mr. Kassa’s file, a final analysis situates the research findings within governmentality theory and highlights their broader implications.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of African American women with secondary infertility, defined as an inability to conceive or carry a baby to term after a previous conception. Research on secondary infertility has ignored the prevalence of the condition in African American women. The implications of secondary infertility in African American women have immediate and far-reaching health and psychosocial consequences. African American women rely on interconnectedness and social networks; therefore, social networks and social support served as the key concepts underwriting the study's conceptual framework. Social networks and social support underscore the connection between those needing and those rendering support during stressful life events. The study consisted of 10 African American women ages 18-75 years old, who met the inclusion criteria for the study. Participants completed screening questions, a brief demographic questionnaire, and an interview. Their experiences were captured through first person accounts during one-to-one semi-structured interviews developed through pilot testing. Qualitative analysis yielded four themes: (a) defining family and adjusting to the change in definition of a family; (b) experiences with secondary infertility; (c) psychosocial stressors and supports from friends and family; and (d) treatment and intervention. This research promotes social change by informing clinical practice through access to culturally competent resources, increased responsiveness and policy development promoting timely access to care.

This thesis sets out to provide a deep analysis of the mechanisms for review of convictions in New Zealand and England after initial appeal rights are exhausted, and to identify the key areas of similarity and difference between these systems, the reasons for these differences, and their implications. The appeal systems in each jurisdiction are briefly examined, alongside the pressures and restrictions on their functioning. Particular attention is paid to the options for appeal out of time, and for revisiting appeal decisions if new material comes to light. The main discussion is of the specialist procedures for review of suspect convictions in each jurisdiction: the Royal Prerogative of Mercy process carried out by the New Zealand Ministry of Justice and the work of the English Criminal Cases Review Commission. This discussion presents the results of empirical research carried out by the author utilising the files of each of these bodies. It investigates the legal context in which each body functions, and provides an account of how each body functions in practice, by examining the circumstances in which each body will contemplate referring a matter back to an appeal court and the means by which a determination is made as to whether to do so in an individual case. In addition it examines the various factors (legal and non-legal) which impact on their work. Finally, the key features of the two systems are contrasted, with a discussion of the areas of similarity and difference, as well as the possible implications of these, in particular for reform of the New Zealand processes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-04-14 / Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is considered to be one of the principal causes of miscarriages. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare with literature prophylaxis against miscarriages utilizing low doses of heparin and aspirin with emphasis on the clinical complications of the syndrome. In a prospective study, 34 gestations of women with histories of multiple miscarriages and positive levels of antiphospholipid antibodies were studied in the period from April 1998 to July 2004. These patients were compared with a control group of 40 gestations of women without history of miscarriages. Complications such as hypertensive disease in pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, premature separation of the placenta, prematurity and miscarriages were investigated. Serologic tests for anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant were also performed for all the women who had suffered from miscarriages. Diagnosis of anticardiolipin antibodies was achieved using the ELISA test. Investigation of the lupus anticoagulants was made by the partial activated thromboplastin time. Women with positive antiphospholipid antibodies were submitted to prophylactic treatment during the gestation using low doses of acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/day) associated with low doses of subcutaneous heparin (5,000 IU twice daily). Statistical analysis was made using percentages, the Fisher exact test and the non-paired t-test. An alpha error of 0.05 was considered acceptable. The age range of the study group was from 17 to 41 years old and of the control group the ages varied from 18 to 36 years old. Three miscarriages (8.8%) occurred in the study group and none in the control group. Hypertensive disease specifically related to pregnancy, oligohydramnios and separation of the placenta were not associated to these antibodies. However, there was a correlation between the antibodies and intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weights and prematurity. In conclusion, prophylaxis is efficient in the prevention of miscarriages, however it does not prevent against low birth weights, prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction. / A síndrome dos anticorpos antifosfolipídeos é considerada umas das principais causas de aborto. Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar a eficácia da profilaxia de perda fetal, comparando com a literatura, e avaliar as complicações obstétricas de gestantes com SAAF que utilizaram a profilaxia com heparina e a aspirina em baixas doses. Foram avaliadas em estudo prospectivo e aleatório, no período de abril de 1998 ajulho de 2004, 34 gestações de mulheres com história pregressa de perdas fetais e positividade para os anticorpos antifosfolipídeos. Foi comparado com um grupo controle, também prospectivo e aleatório, de 40 gestações de mulheres sem história pregressa de perdas gestacionais. Investigaram-se complicações como doença hipertensiva, restrição de crescimento fetal, oligoâmnio, descolamento prematuro de placenta, prematuridade e aborto. Os testes sorológicos para os anticorpos anticardiolipina e o anticoagulante lúpico foram realizados em todas as mulheres com história pregressa de perda fetal. O diagnóstico dos anticorpos anticardiolipina foi realizado pelo teste ELISA. A investigação do anticorpo anticoagulante lúpico foi feito com o tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativado. As mulheres portadoras de anticorpos antifosfolipídeos fizeram tratamento profilático durante a gestação com baixas doses de ácido acetilsalicílico (1 00mg/dia) associado a baixas doses de heparina subcutânea (5.000 U duas vezes ao dia). Os dados foram expressos em forma de percentagem (freqüência), e os testes estatísticos utilizados foram o teste exato de Fisher e teste t não pareado, admitindo-se um erro alfa de 5%. A faixa etária do grupo estudado variou entre 17 e 41 anos e a do grupo controle entre de 18 a 36 anos. Ocorreram três perdas gestacionais (8,8%) no grupo de estudo e nenhuma no grupo controle. A Restrição de Crescimento Intrauterino, o baixo peso dos Recém-nascidos e prematuridade foram relacionados (p <0,05). Nota de Resumo Conclui-se que a profilaxia foi eficaz na prevenção do aborto, porém não preveniu o baixo peso, a prematuridade e a restrição de crescimento intra-uterino. Não foram observadas as associaçoes destes anticorpos com a Doença Hipertensiva Específica da Gestação, o Descolamento Prematuro da Placenta e o oligoâmnio (p < 0,05), porém observa-se uma tendência ao oligoâmnio, o que seria mais bem avaliado com um estudo com maior número de gestantes.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2014-05-22T16:14:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rozana Oliveira Gonçalves. Alterações... 2013.pdf: 539056 bytes, checksum: be74d5c934d4d2098ccee4e146563b3b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-22T16:14:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rozana Oliveira Gonçalves. Alterações... 2013.pdf: 539056 bytes, checksum: be74d5c934d4d2098ccee4e146563b3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / O abortamento é considerado um problema multifatorial, cujas principais causas envolvidas na sua etiologia são os fatores ambientais (como exposição a substâncias tóxicas), genéticos, anatômicos, endócrinos, imunológicos, trombofílicos e doenças infecciosas (como toxoplasmose, rubéola). No entanto, os fatores genéticos são atribuídos principalmente aos abortamentos de primeiro trimestre da gestação. As alterações cromossômicas, o polimorfismo C677T, no gene da metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase (MTHFR677C>T); o polimorfismo G1691A, no gene do Fator V de Leiden (FVL1691G>A), e o polimorfismo G20210A, no gene da protrombina (PRT20210G>A), têm sido associados a problemas obstétricos, incluindo aborto recorrente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar associação entre as mutações relacionadas à trombofilia, presença de alterações cromossômicas e a ocorrência de aborto espontâneo recorrente e avaliar possíveis interações entre as referidas mutações e as alterações cromossômicas. A casuística foi composta por 151 mulheres com história de aborto recorrente, 94 parceiros e 100 controles (mulheres sem histórico de aborto). A investigação das mutações foi realizada pela técnica de Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase- Polimorfismo de Tamanho de Fragmento de Restrição. As alterações cromossômicas foram investigadas pela cariotipagem com banda–G. A frequência das alterações cromossômicas foi de 7,3% nas mulheres com abortamento recorrente e 1% nos controles (p=0,022), e de 2,1% nos parceiros. No entanto, a frequência dos alelos MTHR677C>T (23% versus 22,5%), FVL1691G>A (1,5% versus 1% ) e PRT20210G>A (1,45% versus 0%) foi similar entre casos e controles, respectivamente. No grupo investigado, foi observada associação entre aborto recorrente e alterações cromossômicas, mas não foi encontrada associação com os polimorfismos gênicos investigados. / Abortion is considered a multifactorial problem, the most important causes involved in its etiology are, environmental factors ( as exposure to toxic chemicals), genetic, anatomic, endocrine, immunological, thrombophilic and infectious diseases (such as toxoplasmosis, rubella). However, genetic factors are mainly attributed to abortions of the first trimester of pregnancy. Chromosomal abnormalities, MTHFR 677C>T, factor V Leiden 1691G>A and prothrombin 20210G>A mutations have been associated with obstetric problems, including recurrent miscarriage. The objective of this research was to investigate associations between mutations in three genes commonly associated to thrombophilic events, chromosomal abnormalities and the occurrence of recurrent miscarriage. As well evaluate possible interactions between these mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. The sample was comprised of 151 women with history of recurrent miscarriages, 94 partners and 100 control (women with no history of abortion). The investigation of the mutations was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)/ Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Chromosomal aberrations were investigated by karyotyping with G-banda. The frequency of chromosomal abnormalities was 7.3% in women with recurrent miscarriage and 1% in controls (p = 0.022), and 2.1% in the partners. However, the frequency of allele MTHR677C> T (23% versus 22.5%), FVL1691G> A (1.5% vs. 1%) and PRT20210G> A (1.45% vs. 0%) was similar for cases and controls, respectively. In the investigated group was found association between recurrent miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities, but no association was found with the genetic polymorphisms investigated.

Ce mémoire propose une conception narrative du système de justice criminel. Pour ce faire, l’auteure mobilise la théorie narrative suivant laquelle le procès contradictoire est appréhendé comme un concours entre différentes histoires. Le caractère général de cette théorie confère à l’auteure l’espace nécessaire pour analyser et expliquer différents aspects du traitement judiciaire des faits, que ce soit la preuve judiciaire, le processus de détermination judiciaire des faits, l’intervention judiciaire en appel ou encore le droit qui encadre chacun de ces aspects. La notion d’« histoire » favorise l’adoption d’une perspective qui sort du cadre restreint du procès dans lequel la notion de « preuve » est enfermée. La théorie narrative permet ainsi à l’auteure d’expliquer et d’organiser en un tout unifié divers aspects du processus judiciaire comme l’enquête, le dépôt des accusations, la théorie de la cause, le contre-interrogatoire ou encore la façon dont les faits sont d’abord choisis et assemblés par les parties avant d’être administrés et traités au procès sous forme de « preuve ». Appliquée au procès, cette théorie implique une approche holistique de la preuve suivant laquelle la détermination judiciaire des faits est une évaluation de la vraisemblance relative des histoires en compétition. Cela remet en question la vision traditionnelle (ou rationaliste) atomiste de la preuve où les faits sont déterminés suite à une décision sur la véracité ou la fausseté de chacun des éléments de preuve. Le nouvel éclairage qu’apporte cette vision narrative du procès et ses diverses implications mènent l’auteure à remettre en question le bien-fondé de la vision traditionnelle voulant que le procès mène à une détermination judiciaire des faits qui soit exacte. Au terme de son illustration de la valeur heuristique de la théorie narrative, l’auteure revisite sous la perspective narrative les récentes études en matière d’erreurs judiciaires. Elle en conclut que le droit commande au juge d’atteindre une vérité hybride sur les faits, à michemin entre, d’une part, ce qui est survenu dans la réalité et, d’autre part, ce qui permet de conférer un maximum de cohérence aux éléments de preuves effectivement présentés au procès. / This master’s thesis proposes a narrative conceptualization of the criminal justice system. The author employs the narrative theory framework that conceives the adversarial trial as a contest between different stories. This comprehensive theory offers a lens through which the author analyzes and explains multiple aspects of the judicial processing of facts including evidence at trial, fact-finding, appellate review and the law governing these aspects. The concept of “story” allows a broader perspective than the concept of “evidence” which is limited to the trial. This umbrella theory is therefore used to explain, organize and provide a united understanding of various aspects of the judicial system, such as the investigatory process, the laying of charges, the theory of a case, the cross-examinations, as well as how facts are chosen and organized before being presented and processed at trial as “evidence”. At trial, the global perspective of the narrative theory challenges the traditional (or rationalist) atomist approach to evidence, which explains fact-finding as a decision based on the truthfulness or the falseness of each individual piece of evidence adduced at trial. The narrative perspective, rather, suggests a holistic approach – fact-finding is a decision regarding the relative plausibility between two competing stories. Thus, these insights from the narrative theory call into question the traditional assumption that trials lead to accurate findings of fact. After her demonstration of the heuristic value of the narrative theory, the author applies the narrative framework to recent studies on miscarriages of justice. She concludes that the law enables triers of fact to reach only a hybrid truth, halfway between what happened in reality and an assessment of the consistency between the evidence adduced at trial.