Liability of Hospitality Firms for Deaths On Premises: Recent Court Cases and Methods for Prevention
Proprietors and employees need to be prepared when deaths occur in hospital ity establishments. Lawsuits involving deaths-both homicides and accidents—are frequent. Innkeepers and restaurateurs are held to a standard of ordinary care, with innkeepers having around-the-clock responsibilities and restaurateurs having re sponsibility for much shorter periods of time. Water, fire, food, alcoholic beverages, and vehicles are among the most common causes of accidental deaths. The outcomes of some cases hinge upon what constitutes proximate cause of death. Wrongful death and survival claims are the bases for remedies in death cases. Practical measures for reducing the likelihood of deaths and ensuing legal problems pertain to security, accident prevention, policy adoption and implementation, record keeping, employee training, and insurance coverage.
Exculpatory Clauses: Legal Environment and Implications for the Hospitality Industry
Offering recreational amenities for guests is one way in which hotel operators compete for guests and increased revenues. Unfortunately, accidents and injuries to guests sometimes result from engaging in such activities. While certain risks may be curtailed through prudent operation and maintenance of equipment, operators may be able to insulate themselves from liability in certain instances through the use of exculpatory clauses. This article reviews the legal environment of exculpatory clauses as it relates to recreational activities and considers the implications for the lodging industry. It addresses, as well, limitation of liability for injuries resulting from the use of recreational equipment and services which are offered apart from the limited services traditionally associated with room rentals. In many instances, exculpatory clauses remain a legitimate method to reduce the risk of liability associated with many types of amusement and recreational activities offered by the hospitality industry.
Predictors of health-promoting behaviors among freshman dental students at Istanbul University.
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the predictors of health-promoting behaviors among freshman dental students at Istanbul University. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 111 students using questionnaires including a sociodemographic section, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, the Health Value Scale, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. The overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among these students were at a moderate level, indicating that they engaged in health-promoting behaviors sometimes to often. They scored highest on the spiritual growth but lower on the health responsibility subscales. Females reported having engaged more in health responsibility behaviors and lower in physical activity than did males. Students from high-income families reported more physical activity. Significant correlations were found between overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, self-efficacy, health value, stress, and social support. Among all the related factors, self-efficacy was the most strongly predictive factor: it explained 61 percent of the variance in overall health-promoting behaviors. Thus, self-efficacy as a cognitive-perceptual factor should be considered by dental educators when planning educational interventions to promote students' healthy lifestyle.