Variation in Privacy and Confidentiality Concept

Question: Talk about the variety in security and privacy idea. Answer: Presentation In social insurance regions, morals are viewed as the most significant piece of the patients care. The acts of the different paramedical staff mirror the estimation of morals, just as, moral parameters that are being esteemed during the arrangement of merciful consideration to the patient. Right now the idea and thought of secrecy are under high discussion in the social insurance settings. The idea of secrecy contemplates that whether the private data of the patient ought to be kept classified or can be shared among different clinical, just as, paramedical staff for better medicinal services arrangement, improved quality, just as, for review or research purposes. Moral wellbeing research, just as, security assurances both can give important points of interest to the general public. Research regarding wellbeing is indispensable to the improvement of the human wellbeing, just as, the medicinal services. Besides, ensuring patients that are associated with the procedure of research from hurt, just as, safeguarding their privileges is essential to moral research (Maliapen, 2009). The chief defense in the assurance of the individual security is identified with the insurance of the interests of concerned people. While in opposite, the essential avocation identified with the assortment of the individual recognizable wellbeing data utilized in the wellbeing research is advantageous to the general public. Be that as it may, it is exceptionally important that no data about the patient or individual ought to be utilized in any movement without his/her earlier assent and we should regard the security and privacy of each individual independent of standing, shading, statement of faith, just as, social or financial status (Magnusson, 2010). Variety in security and secrecy idea At first, utilizing names, taking examples, just as, utilizing them for future research without the assent of the individual was not viewed as the piece of the penetrating any privacy. These parameters were utilized and were viewed as that they didn't abuse any sort of legitimate principles identified with the human services settings. Be that as it may, there are changes in the standards and they all have changed from that point forward, just as, they all are as yet evolving (Willison, 2000). According to the National Institutes of Health, there are late alterations in the necessities for assent that ought to be remembered preceding utilization of tissues, just as, all the related clinical information, individual data to be utilized in the exploration. In the current occasions, one of the significant key standards utilized in crafted by clinical research and care is regard for people. Protection and classification, these days, are viewed as the most significant part in the medicinal services setting (Serour, 2006). Previously, there were no such reception of guidelines, just as, the moral rules that were utilized and followed for biomedical research. Be that as it may, today, in the current occasions, there is commonly the necessities which the scientists need to acquire which incorporates the deliberate, just as, educated assent from the concerned people before doing or utilizing any sort of close to home data in the biomedical analyses and research (Laurie, 2001). There has been noteworthy advancement of the moral, just as, lawful administration comparable to the ones protection and classification in the current occasions. Any sort of penetrate in these laws is an offense and vital advances are attempted all things considered. For example, there is an advancement of the Nuremburg Code that advocates for educated, intentional investment, just as, assent of the person in the clinical research. In addition, the entry of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and its government g uidelines was provoked to guarantee security, just as, assurance of all the individual information and records in a situation of keeping up the electronic clinical records, just as, outsider protection bodies (Murray, Calhoun, Philipsen, 2011). Tolerant classification, these days, is viewed as the significant piece of the human services framework and it implies that all the individual, just as, the clinical data gave to the medicinal services professional and other concerned staff individuals won't be spilled or unveiled to others without the earlier assent and explicit authorization that is given by the individual such discharge. As the revelation of any sort of close to home data may cause individual or expert issues, patients totally depend on their doctors to keep the entirety of their clinical information and data private. In any case, it is uncommon for keeping all the clinical records totally fixed (Patient Privacy and Mental Health Care in the Rural Setting, 2011). The most widely recognized and kindhearted penetrate identified with the protection and secrecy happens when clinicians used to share the clinical data of the people as contextual investigations. The information shared by the doctors is when distributed i n various expert diaries it is ensured that the personality of the concerned individual is never unveiled, and besides, all the distinguishing information and components is either changed or disposed of. In the event that this secrecy and protection are penetrated regarding any parameters, the people reserve the option to sue. Thus, if this case could have happened in present occasions, the individual and her family reserve the privilege to document the body of evidence against the analysts for utilizing her name without her earlier authorization or assent. Around then, assent or authorization was neither significant and required nor was looked for usually. In any case, at present occasions, the utilization of recognizable components, for example, the name, address of the individual are considered to penetrate the classification and protection of the individual and is a culpable offense (Loebel, 2003). Despite the fact that in the past occasions, the assent and authorization was not required and didn't abuse any sort of legitimate guidelines, these sort of acts in the current occasions is viewed as a penetrate. The new worldwide standard of publication strategy makes it important to have a composed educated assent given by the subject associated with each case report. New government approaches identified with the protection and secrecy of the patients have been forced that gives the privilege to the patient over their security and privacy. In the event that this case could have occurred in the current occasions, the common or criminal punishments could be forced on the concerned creators for utilizing the name and thus making the protection infringement. These standards and guidelines got enforceable in the year 2003 and any such sort of infringement or breaks is at risk to the punishment that can incorporate the fine or the detainment or both relying upon the criticality of the in fringement. The ongoing inconvenience of these guidelines and guidelines identified with the patients classification is planned for keeping up the protection of the individual and to stay away from any sort of breaks. Henceforth, direct approval must be picked up from the person earlier the arrival of the data that has been utilized. Any penetrate that influences the protection of the patient is a culpable offense under the new arrangements of rules and guidelines (Francis, 2014). Like for this situation, as there is penetrate in regards to individual data, the concerned individual or relatives can experience the disciplinary procedures with the GMC, criminal procedures, or the common procedures. Consequently, in the current occasions, penetrating classification and protection neglect to regard the self-rule of the patient. Also, the infringement of privacy of the patient is the type of selling out. Along these lines, patients reserve the privilege to protection, just as, privacy that has as of late been changed and every now and again been exhibited in the particular territories according to the precedent-based law, just as, illustrated in the resolution law. This sort of penetrates was not viewed as infringement of any legitimate laws and thus, were not at risk to any punishment or disciplines. In any case, changes in the government laws and guidelines have given the privilege to the patient, which thus advances the upkeep of the security and privacy of the individual (Foster, 2014). End Protection, just as, privacy, is essential privileges of the people in our general public. The shielding of those rights, with respect to the people individual information and wellbeing data, is the moral, just as, the lawful commitment that ought to be trailed by the social insurance suppliers. These days, there happens an across the board understanding identified with the interests of members in regards to the assurance of their protection, just as, the comparing obligations of the considerable number of scientists fulfill these guidelines and to treat the subjects individual data and information in a private manner. In reality, the secrecy and regard for the protection of the person in the exploration is a moral norm and standard, which is globally perceived (Martin, 2001). Inability to consent to these principles and guidelines identified with the defending of the ones security and classification can bring about common, just as, criminal punishments. Despite the fact that these s ort of data was not considered to get the assent of the concerned individual before, however in the current occasions it is considered as the significant part to get the earlier assent of the subject engaged with the contextual analyses or articles. Any sort of infringement and breaks identified with these are at risk to the punishments relying on the nature, just as, the degree of the penetrate or infringement (Confidentiality of patient consideration records and a patient's privileges to clinical security, 2006). References Secrecy of patient consideration records and a patient's privileges to clinical protection. (2006).Mdecine Droit,2006, 25-27. Encourage, S. (2014). Secrecy and Patients Rights.IJMHCL, (7), 229. Francis, J. Francis, L. (2014). Protection, Confidentiality, and Justice.J Soc Philos,45(3),

Employee Motivation free essay sample

A Quantitative Study on Global Banks P? nar Gungor Okan University, Istanbul, 34722 Turkey Abstract The essential objective of this examination is to inquire about the connection between the prize administration framework applications and worker execution of bank representatives on worldwide banks in Istanbul. It likewise centers around the job of inspiration as a mediating factor. As indicated by the writing audit on the past examinations it is demonstrated that associations use reward frameworks and methodologies to spur their representatives and to expand their exhibition. This examination will have loads of commitments to the business world. Associations may improve or change their prize frameworks to get by in today’s condition with the assistance of this investigation. They may reestablish their prize frameworks and put increasingly proficient and compelling ones. In this examination, representative execution adequacy is resolved on remuneration frameworks. Toward the start of the examination, there is a writing survey and there are theories concerning the impacts of remuneration the board framework and inspiration on worker execution. We will compose a custom exposition test on Representative Motivation or then again any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Furthermore, hypothetical structure is talked about through the impacts of remuneration the board framework applications and inspiration on worker execution. At last theories are tried utilizing information from 116 bank workers in 12 worldwide banks and research results or discoveries are broke down. Watchwords: Reward Management System, Employee Performance, Motivation, Global Bank  © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Choice and additionally peer-survey under duty of seventh International Strategic  © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Choice or potentially peer-survey under duty seventh International Management Conference Strategic Management Conference ? Comparing creator. Tel. + 90-216-677-1630 fax. +90-216-677-1647 Email address: pinar. [emailprotected] edu. tr 1. Presentation Globalization is an idea that incorporates change and rivalry. The discoveries of the examination is reliable with the past examinations which, Herpen, Praag, Cools, (2005), have explored experimentally the impacts of pay on execution. They referenced that a few speculations foresee that the act of a remuneration framework influences the inspiration of representatives. The aftereffects of their examination draw out a positive connection between the apparent highlights of the prize framework and extraneous inspiration. As indicated by their discoveries comparable with the consequences of this investigation, Intrinsic inspiration isn't influenced by the structure of fiscal remuneration, yet by advancement openings. The confinement of the investigation is the reaction pace of the bank workers who are required to be 250 suitable with the quantity of the things. For additional examinations, the inadequacy of the non-budgetary compensations on representative execution ought to be explored to discover the shortcoming of the non-monetary piece of the prize framework.

Sick Role Essay Sample free essay sample

1. IntroductionThe patient and attendant meet as two outsiders. The patent/family have an interest for help thus proficient guide is required and the medical attendant in this stage needs to support the patient and family in patching what’s go oning with or to the patient. It’s of import that the attendant cooperates with the patient in dissecting the condition of affairss so that the can clear up and recognize the status. 2. Body2. 1 The undefined stageThe tolerant responds or reacts specifically to individuals who can run into their requests so every patient reacts in any case to the evil capacity. The patient may effectively require the medical attendant out or hold up until the medical caretaker proficient looks for him/her out so the patient reaction is three collapsed so she may participate with and be autonomous with the attendants ( two ) be free and autonomous from the medical attendant ( three ) be idle and reliant on the medical caretaker. We will compose a custom article test on Wiped out Role Essay Sample or on the other hand any comparative subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page All through the assignment stage. both the patient and attendant should clear up each other’s perceptual encounters and viewpoints. station encounters of both the patient and medical caretaker will hold a course on what their viewpoints will be during this relational strategy. The underlying mentality of the patient and medical attendant are of import in building a working relationship for putting the activity and make up ones disapproving on the suitable guide. ( PEPLAUI’S PHASES IN Nursing ) 2. 2 Expressive capacity of a medical attendant During the disease work. the patients may accomplish a larger number of requests than when they were sincerely sick. They apply minor petitions as other going to looking for strategies relying upon their single requests. These activities become hard if non inconceivable for the medical caretaker to entirely comprehend. The medical attendant must cover with the oblivious powers doing the patient’s activities. The standard of addressing strategies should so be utilized so as to look into. comprehend and enough spread with the subordinate occupations. It is extremely of import that the medical attendant investigates the potential foundations for the patient’s conduct. A healing relationship must be kept up by rehearsing a mentality of assurance. concern and trust. ( HENDERSON V ) The attendant ought to elevate the patient to recognize and explore emotions. thoughts. feelings and practices by providing a non-judgemental atmosphere and a remedial passionate clime. The expressive capacity is progressively worried about the constitution and care of any all-encompassing and useful therapeudic condition and helping the patient to go responsive to corrective mediation. As a medical attendant. you ought to acknowledge the person as though he/she is with full affirmation of his/her independence. fears. expectations and recuperation strength. Supporting him/her through essential nursing consideration shows the worry of the medical attendant for the patient ( GOLDSMITH J A ; JOHNSON E ) . 2. 3 The instrumental capacity This capacity is progressively worried about reasonable commitment of the medical attendant to the patient. her discernment and achievements. the rating of such comprehension and the utilization of this cognizance. It includes perception. diagnosing. remedial arranging and intervention and the decision on logical confirmations. The capacity of the medical attendant is predominantly expressive and to a lesser degree instrumental with the exception of where she works in the capacity of the doctor or pharmacist n the nonappearance of one or both. ( CHARLOTE SEARLE ) The instrumental capacity includes the readiness of understudy nursing experts ; delegation of managerial features of patient consideration other than screen the patient comprehensively and be engaged with exigency activities. ( DU TOIT A ; VAN STADEN ) Some patients may take a functioning contribution in and go engaged with self-care. Such patients will go increasingly self-getting the job done and will show debut by set up ing proper conduct for end accomplishment. The medical caretaker may take the endeavor of reminding the patient planned practicing effectively. ( JULIA B. GEORGE ) There are numerous difficulties when taking consideration of the patient. Patients might be trying to claim ignorance of his/her status and become crushed. biting the dust and prompts the stage whereby a patient denies intercession and prompts decelerate recuperation and a medical attendant hers to play a parental capacity to nature the patient’s feelings and sentiments before him/her rendering her administrations. 2. 4 Conflict in sick capacity Because of ailment a man may see himself/herself as non being beneficial bounty to his/her family due to being sick and powers him/herself to execute obligations as o accommodate the family despite the fact that he/she irritates the status if non hospitalized. An evil capacity that the individual is up to speed in cause a battle inside him/her and the patient becomes astounded whether to process the mediation or quit to obligations included. A medical caretaker might be included by doing the patient acknowledge the evil capacity despite the fact that hard for the attendant however must be powerful for the enthusiasm of the individual’s health each piece great as their prosperity. ( MELLISH ) Role battle might be brought about by disablement or hurt of the patient which makes people to be dependant on the nursing staff during hospitalization and the individual can non restart his/her side interests. work and disappointed whether the status may be enduring and which will be all the more troubling. Disease is an emergency in the life of everybody because of the way that one can non help through one’s ordinary capacity and duties may do concerns and keep reaction to mediation and recuperation. ( MELLISH. JM ) 3. DecisionThe medical caretaker ought to comprehend the distinction between the expressive and instrumental capacity despite the fact that on occasion or a large portion of the reasonable occasions they consolidate consequently in light of the fact that the attendant needs to take consideration of the patient comprehensively which is head. natural structure and mind of the patient as to hold an upbeat sound/well patient at the terminal of the excursion. 4. Reference 1. Goldsmith. J A ; Johnson. E. Wellbeing impacts of network American Journal of Public health. vol 63. No 9 1973 2. Moral thought processes of Nursing PracticePera A ; Van TonderJuta A ; Co. Cape Town1996 3. Proficient PracticeCharlotte SearleSouth African Nursing PerspectiveButterworth. Durban1957 4. Nursing SociologyDA du Toit. SJ new wave StadenThird EditionVan Schaik Publishers 5. Nursing TheoriesThe Base for Professional Nursing PracticeSecond Edition

Is television a boon or a bane Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is TV a help or a bane - Essay Example The subject of the article rotates around the change our general public, perspectives and needs have experienced alongside the permeation of TV, web and media in our lives. Joshua feels that our current space is turning out to be progressively virtual than genuine like it was in the previous days. We are no more extended with ourselves, our friends and family and our environmental factors rather, we are increasingly engaged and made a fuss over worldwide issues, legislative issues, diversion , regular disasters in far off landmasses, etc . Despite the fact that it is exemplary to know about what's going on our planet, it doesn't make our local issues or our friends and family's distresses any less significant. Joshua relevantly summarizes the situation in a solitary explanation the more we depend on our video window, the less connection there is between where we are and what we know and experience, the less there's a connection between where we are and what our identity is. TV has separated all boundaries among people, grown-up and youngsters, ethnic gatherings and countries. Today, on the off chance that one needs more cash to head out to fascinating spots, the choice of tapping the remote and changing to a movement program is consistently there. Offspring of any age are presented to things that their prior day's partners had not in any case known about.

Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered by Current SIPA Students! COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered by Current SIPA Students! COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Hello! The Admissions team would like to say congratulations to all Admitted Students! We have been receiving a lot of questions on a variety of topics, from housing options to SIPA’s quantitative coursework. We decided to compile our answers to some of your most frequently asked questions. Feel free to drop other questions in the comment! What is SIPA’s quantitative coursework like? Will I be able to pass macro/micro economics? Samantha: The quantitative coursework for the core courses at SIPA consist of three courses: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Quantitative Analysis (statistics). Usually students take Micro in the fall semester, and Macro in the spring semester. However, Quant can be taken in any of the four semesters, but most students complete it in either of their first two. The workload is going to be a bit heavy, as you have homework, recitation, lecture and exams for all of these quantitative courses, but it’s all doable. You don’t need to be an expert in either of the three areas in order to do well in them, but getting in some practice before hand can’t hurt. In order to prepare yourself for the coursework I recommend completing the summer math tutorial SIPA provides, as well as attending the Math Boot-camp during orientation. However, If you’re still panicked about the fact that you’re going to see numbers and have instantaneously forgotten all the math(s) you’ve ever learned, remember you are going to be ok and I guarantee you will pass. Julia: I would also say that the weekly homework are done in groups so some of the stress is shared. Many students don’t have an economics or statistics background (like me!) so you won’t be alone! The professors are also very approachable and helpful if you are struggling. What is the SIPA community like as a whole? Or for a specific concentration? Dylan: The SIPA community is generally very open and welcoming. Before arriving at SIPA, I assumed that most people would be very competitive and serious. While everyone here cares about their academics and career, I have found the opposite to be true; in general, people are very supportive and friendly. I think one of the other benefits of having such huge incoming classes is that you are always meeting new students. So on top of it being a friendly, collaborative environment, I’ve never really felt like I lacked opportunities to meet new people. I’d say most people end up befriending people within their concentration. Makes sense right? You take a lot of classes with them, you probably end up at the same events, and you naturally share a lot of similar interests. As a USP concentrator, I met most of my USP friends my first semester and we’ve remained close since then. What is the recruitment/job-hunt like at SIPA? Does the Office of Career Services, or SIPA in general, support students? Julia: SIPA students have very diverse interests, so there isn’t a standard way students go through the internship or job search. When I was looking for my summer internship last year, I used the Office of Career Services internship database, which is a detailed account of all the internships previous students have done, to give me an idea what I could be interested in doing. I then applied for internships through the job/internship portal on SIPAlink. I would also say the info sessions that OCS organize are helpful as well. I just went to an ACLU panel discussion last week that was inspiring and exactly I needed to motivate me in my current job search! What is something you wish you knew about SIPA before attending? Dylan: I wish I knew more about cross-registration and dual-degree options at SIPA. That was more me not doing my due diligence on researching SIPA’s program offerings before attending, but it is something all students can do if they prepare in advance. What has been the best/worst part of your time at SIPA? Dylan: The best part has been developing my interest in anti-corruption policy and journalism. I came from a very theory focused Political Science background, and SIPA was the first place where I was able to really dive into policy. Worst time has definitely been the quantitative coursework. I appreciate it and I begrudgingly recognize its importance. But it can be an enormous pain! That being said, everyone who comes to SIPA will pass the core quantitative classes. Do not fear!! Julia: My best time was traveling with other Seeples on student trips. Last summer I went to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and this winter break I went to Israel. It’s a great way to learn more about the politics and history of the region, but also spend quality time with your fellow Seeples. What are the housing options like in the Columbia area? How much can I expect to pay and where should I generally look? Samantha: I would say that most students who do not get Columbia student housing generally live near or north of campus. Most of us live in shared apartments in Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Washington Heights. Living with roommates helps keep the cost down, and living near or north of campus is 1. Convenient and 2. More affordable. While rents vary, I say students usually pay anywhere from $900-$1500 a month in rent. The farther north you go from campus the less expensive apartments become, so if you’re looking to cut costs I recommend looking uptown. The benefit of living near campus is that it is close enough for you to walk to, so you wouldn’t have to pay for transit expenses to get to school like you might need to if you live further north. How do you manage time between classes and internships/work? Dylan: This is a hard question to answer because it really depends on the classes I’m taking and the way assignments are structured for each class. Some weeks, I’ll have no assignments due besides reading for class. During those weeks, I obviously attend classes, work around 15 hours at SIPA Admissions as a program assistant, and do my readings either in the afternoon after classes or in between classes while I’m still on campus. Other weeks, it’ll feel like my professors conspired to absolutely slam me with assignments. In those cases, I’ll usually plan on working 11am 5/6pm-ish on weekends (at least) and then work in the afternoons after classes are finished and in between classes. If I’m particularly stressed with my program assistantship work, I may ask to take a few hours off and make them up at a later date. Most SIPA jobs are understanding and flexible with students.

Marx, Engels, Veblen Explain Incarceration in Society - 825 Words

How Would Marx and Engels and Veblen Explain our Reliance on Incarceration in Society? (Essay Sample) Content: NameLecturerCourseDateHow would Marx and Engels and Veblen Explain our Reliance on Incarceration in Society?Indeed, the ideologies expressed by Karl Marx in his Marxist Criminology theory can explain why the contemporary society really depends on incarceration. According to this theory, Marx held the view that the society is divided into two main classes: the bourgeoisies (capital owners) and the proletariat (labor providers). As capital owners, the bourgeoisies are the rich people in the society who are more privileged to control the means of production (Marx and Engels 23). On the other hand, the proletariats are the poor people who basically own nothing rather than their labor. Marx believed that the existence of these social classes naturally cause conflicts because each class accuses the other of attempting to subdue them.The theory can help in explaining that the modern society cannot do without incarceration because it has become an important tool for the bou rgeoisies. There has been an increase in the number of in mates in the recent past because of the high rate of criminal activities in the country. Marxs ideas can be used to explain why many people are resorting to crime. As explained in his theory, Marx says that the underprivileged in the society have to engage in social revolution to advocate for their rights (Cullen and Jonson 19). Since there is no mechanism, the disillusioned proletariats have to participate in unorganized crime. This justifies why it is the poor and less educated blacks and Hispanics who commit more criminal offenses than their privileged white counterparts.Marxism also presents a candid explanation on the reasons why laws exist. Karl Marx says that laws must exist because they are used by the bourgeoisies as an important tool for asserting their dominance and control over the less privileged proletariats. The ruling class believes that f they put in place strong laws, they can manage to maintain their status . The ideology applies to the contemporary society in which the judicial system is put in place to create order in the society (Veblen 64). However, as Marx found out, the current judicial system is not uniform, but skewed towards serving the interest f the rich classes. This is the reason why the underprivileged classes account for as large percentage of the incarcerated individuals, not because they are prone to crime, but because of the application of classism in the countrys legal system.The ideas of Fredrich Engels can also be relied upon to shed more light on the current status of incarceration in the society. In his view, Egels was convinced that classism is a reality in the society. Just like Marx, Engels believed that the society is divided into social strata with the advantaged occupying the topmost stratum. So, instead of showing concern and care for the less privileged, the rich use their position to oppress them in the pursuit for more wealth. This in turn infuriates the poor class who then rebel (Marx and Engels 23).Marxs ideas can be used to explain why many people are resorting to crime. As explained in his theory, Marx says that the underprivileged in the society have to engage in social revolution to advocate for their rights. Since there is no mechanism, the disillusioned proletariats have to participate in unorganized crime because it is the only platform through which their plights can be expressed. However, instead of heeding to their demands, the rich class uses laws to frustrate the proletariat (Travis and Western 37). Since the laws are made to protect the interest of the rich, it can be manipulated against the underprivileged classes. This justifies why it is the poor and less educated blacks and Hispanics who are mostly incarcerated. The judicial system is quite discriminative and looks down upon the vulnerable proletariat who can be unfairly jailed even if they do not engage in serious criminal activities.Thorstein Veblems theory of leisure class can be an invaluable resource in explaining the current state of incarceration in the society. Just like Marx and Angels, Veblem believed in the idea of classism. He knew so well that the society is segmented into different strata based on wealth and privilege (Mills 54). Even though everyone wants to be at the top, it might not be possible to do so because there must be the poor and the rich.The love for the topmost stratum that is associated with comfort and leisure can compel individuals to enga...

Profile of Panama for Spanish Students

Introduction: Panama historically has had closer ties with the United States than any country in Latin America other than Mexico. The country is known best, of course, for the Panama Canal, which the United States built for both military and trade purposes at the start of the 20th century. The United States maintained sovereignty over parts of Panama until 1999. Vital Statistics: Panama covers an area of 78,200 square kilometers. It had a population of 3 million at the end of 2003 and a growth rate of 1.36 percent (July 2003 estimate). The life expectancy at birth is 72 years. The literacy rate is about 93 percent. The countrys gross domestic product is about $6,000 per person, and a little more than a third of the people live in poverty. The unemployment rate was 16 percent in 2002. Main industries are the Panama Canal and international banking. Linguistic Highlights: Spanish is the official language. About 14 percent speak a creole form of English, and many residents are bilingual in Spanish and English. About 7 percent speak indigenous languages, the largest of them being Ngà ¤berre. There are also pockets of Arabic and Chinese speakers. Studying Spanish in Panama: Panama has several small language schools, most of them in Panama City. Most of the schools offer home stays, and costs tend to be low. Tourist Attractions: The Panama Canal is on most visitors must-see list, but those coming for extended stays can find a wide variety of destinations. They include beaches on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Darien National Park and cosmopolitan Panama City. Trivia: Panama was the first Latin American country to adopt the U.S. currency as its own. Technically, the balboa is the official currency, but U.S. bills are used for paper money. Panamanian coins are used, however. History: Before the Spanish arrived, what is now Panama was populated by 500,000 or more people from dozens of groups. The largest group was the Cuna, whose earliest origins are unknown. Other major groups included the Guaymà ­ and the Chocà ³. The first Spaniard in the area was Rodrigo de Bastidas, who explored the Atlantic coast in 1501. Christopher Columbus visited in 1502. Both conquest and disease reduced the indigenous population. In 1821 the area was a province of Colombia when Colombia declared its independence from Spain. Building a canal across Panama had been considered as early as the mid 16th century, and in 1880 the French tried — but the attempt ended in the death of some 22,000 workers from yellow fever and malaria. Panamanian revolutionaries secured Panamas independence from Colombia in 1903 with military support from the United States, which quickly negotiated the rights to build a canal and exercise sovereignty over land on both sides. The U.S. started construction of the canal in 1904 and finished the greatest engineering achievement of its time  in 10 years. Relations between the U.S. and Panama in coming decades were strained, largely due to popular Panamanian bitterness over the prominent role of the U.S. In 1977, despite controversies and political snags in both the U.S. and Panama, the countries negotiated an agreement turning over the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century. In 1989, U.S. President George H.W. Bush sent U.S. troops to Panama to oust and capture Panamanian President Manuel Noriega. He was forcefully brought to the United States, put on trial for drug trafficking and other crimes, and imprisoned.   The treaty turning over the canal was not fully accepted by many political conservatives in the United States. When a ceremony was held in Panama in 1999 to formally turn over the canal, no senior U.S. officials attended.