Not Much of a Poem

Why does every poet have a poem

called “poem,” and why do empty bottles

seem more poetic than anything

I ever called a “poem”? 

Metaphorical drowning a joy

like a first drink on a Friday night,

but also the sort of death that feels as if it should rhyme.

On my best mornings, I’m a puddle

in love with its own evaporation,

while the sun writes a ‘Dear John’ letter

all over my closed eyes.

SAD

Winter nights the colour of whisky

because it’s better than darkness

telling the same story about shortening days and snow

clean as a funeral shroud.

Happiness an empty glass,

while blacked out laughter

better than another evening

remembering there’s less and less light

and how my bed is inviting like a grave.

Background Noise

Better than silence,

and even if it doesn’t know

my name and can never learn it,

it welcomes me and this poem home,

along with so many others

who believe they’re louder

than they are.  

The Importance of Bank Loans and Investment Activities in the Development of Regional Economies

Chöliyev Nurbek Rözimbek o‘g‘li

Karshi State Technical University

1st-year student, Faculty of Economics        

Annotation: The article highlights the role of bank lending and investment activities in the development of regional economies. It analyzes the support of small and medium-sized businesses through bank loans, as well as the provision of housing and social needs for the population via mortgage and consumer loans. Furthermore, the significance of investment activities in modernizing regional infrastructure, creating new production capacities, attracting foreign investments, and generating new jobs is revealed. As practical examples, projects implemented by commercial banks of Uzbekistan, including “Mikrokreditbank,” “Agrobank,” “Ipoteka Bank,” and other financial institutions, are presented. In conclusion, findings and practical recommendations for improving credit and investment policies are provided.      

Keywords: Regional economy, commercial banks, credit policy, microcredits, mortgage, investment activity, infrastructure, small business, foreign investments, economic stability.      

Introduction       

Today, the role of the banking system is invaluable in modernizing the economy and ensuring sustainable development. In particular, bank loans provided by commercial banks and ongoing investment activities play a crucial role in the process of regional economic development. In the Republic of Uzbekistan, the comprehensive development of regions, improvement of living standards, and support for small businesses and private entrepreneurship are among the priority areas of state policy. In this context, the activities of banks, which serve as the main source of financial resources, occupy a special place.       

In regional development, bank lending serves as a key instrument for financing small and medium-sized enterprises and for expanding the agricultural, manufacturing, and service sectors. At the same time, investment activities facilitate the implementation of infrastructure projects, the creation of new production capacities, and the realization of innovative ideas.The relevance of this topic lies in the necessity of ensuring the stable functioning of the banking system in order to accelerate economic growth and reduce disparities between regions. By improving credit policy and further enhancing the investment climate, new jobs can be created in the regions, household incomes can increase, and poverty levels can be reduced.

Therefore, this article analyzes the role of bank loans and investment activities in the development of regional economies, as well as examines existing challenges and possible ways to address them.       

The Role of Bank Loans in Regional Economic Development        

Bank loans are considered one of the main financial sources in the development of regional economies. Loans provided through banks play an important role in expanding production, establishing new enterprises, modernizing existing capacities, and developing the service sector. In recent years, large-scale reforms have been implemented in the Republic of Uzbekistan to liberalize credit policy and create favorable conditions for business entities.       

In particular, in accordance with presidential decrees, the provision of preferential loans by commercial banks has been introduced, yielding significant results in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship in the regions. According to statistical data from the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the total volume of loans allocated to the economy by commercial banks in 2023 exceeded 480 trillion Uzbek soums, which is nearly 20 percent higher compared to the previous year. A substantial portion of these loans was directed toward financing small business entities and regional development projects.For example, loans provided by Mikrokreditbank and Agrobank for the development of agriculture and family entrepreneurship have contributed to the creation of thousands of new jobs. In addition, mortgage loans issued by Ipoteka Bank aimed at improving housing conditions have also played a significant role in raising living standards in the regions.

Taking Fergana region as an example, in 2023 commercial banks allocated loans totaling nearly 14 trillion Uzbek soums, of which 60 percent were directed to small businesses and private entrepreneurship entities. This indicator clearly demonstrates the crucial importance of bank lending in regional economic development. Thus, bank loans contribute to regional economic development by:supporting small and medium-sized enterprises;creating new jobs; increasing household incomes;strengthening the industrial potential of regions;modernizing infrastructure.

The Impact of Investment Activities on Regional Development

Another important factor in regional economic development is investment activity. Investments serve not only as a source for expanding production, but also for introducing new technologies, developing modern infrastructure, and establishing the production of competitive goods. In recent years, the investment policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan has undergone significant reforms. Favorable conditions have been created for foreign investors, free economic zones have been established, and numerous investment projects have been financed through domestic banks.

According to statistical data, the total volume of investments attracted to the economy of Uzbekistan in 2023 exceeded 350 trillion Uzbek soums, of which nearly 30 percent were financed through bank loans. In particular, Asaka Bank actively participated in financing large investment projects in the automotive, chemical, and metallurgical industries; National Bank of Uzbekistan supported projects in the energy, tourism, and infrastructure sectors; and Qishloq Qurilish Bank implemented numerous investment programs in the housing and construction sector.Significant results have also been observed at the regional level.

For example, in Fergana region, investment projects totaling more than 2 trillion Uzbek soums were financed through banks in 2023. As a result, new manufacturing enterprises were launched, and more than 7,000 new jobs were created in the region.Investment activity influences regional development in the following ways:modernizing infrastructure (roads, electricity supply, water networks);increasing industrial capacity and creating new production facilities;expanding employment opportunities and increasing household incomes;enhancing the investment attractiveness of regions and attracting new foreign investments.Thus, cooperation between investment activity and the banking system plays a decisive role in ensuring regional economic stability.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The analyses presented above demonstrate that bank lending and investment activities play a decisive role in regional economic development. Loans provided by commercial banks contribute to the growth of small businesses and private entrepreneurship, increase agricultural efficiency, improve housing provision for the population, create new production capacities, and expand the service sector.Investment activity, in turn, serves as a key factor in establishing modern infrastructure in regions, introducing advanced technologies into production, creating new jobs, and enhancing the overall economic potential of regions.

Cooperation between banks and international financial institutions strengthens the inflow of foreign investments and facilitates the integration of regions into the global economy.

Based on these findings, the following conclusions and recommendations can be proposed:

1. Diversification of bank lending is necessary. Increasing the volume of financing for various sectors, including tourism, services, and innovative projects, will enhance the effectiveness of credit policy in the regions.

2. Expansion of microfinance services is required. In particular, increasing microloans to support family entrepreneurship, women’s businesses, and youth entrepreneurship will have a positive impact on regional economic development.

3. Further improvement of the investment climate is essential. Creating favorable conditions for attracting domestic and foreign investments through banks, along with strengthening tax incentives and guarantee mechanisms, is highly advisable.

4. Strengthening the financing of regional infrastructure projects. Expanding bank lending and investment programs for transport, energy, housing, and social infrastructure development will ensure regional economic stability.

5. Acceleration of the digitalization of the banking system. Simplifying lending processes and monitoring investment projects through digital technologies will improve the efficiency of financial services in the regions.In conclusion, the importance of bank lending and investment activities in regional economic development cannot be overstated. Credit policies and investment projects implemented by banks are creating new economic opportunities in the regions, improving living standards, and contributing to the overall economic stability of the country.    

References

1. Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “The New Uzbekistan Development Strategy for 2022–2026.” Collection of Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Tashkent, 2022.2. Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “Statistical Data on the Banking and Financial Sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan (End of 2023).” Official website: www.cbu.uz3. Karimov, A. Banking and Financial Markets. Tashkent: Economics Publishing House, 2021.4. Abdurahmonov, Q. Theory and Practice of Investments. Tashkent: Science and Technology Publishing House, 2020.5. Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Collection of Regional Development Indicators, 2023. Tashkent.6. Mikrokreditbank Official Website. “Microfinance Practices and Projects.”

www.mikrokreditbank.uz

This month, we consider the peace, love, and joy honored during the world’s many December holiday celebrations. This issue also encourages us to take stock of where we are as human beings, physically, intellectually, and morally, and to take whatever steps are possible to rise to the next level.

Sometimes that’s going outside and getting some exercise. Brian Barbeito walks by a lake and considers the joy of simple living and natural beauty.

Mrinal Kanti Ghosh recollects a dreamy summer night. Olga Levadnaya captures the solemn stillness of midday heat. Christina Chin renders up the cold silence and calm of winter.

Aura Echeverri Uribe evokes the monumental destruction of an avalanche. Jack Galmitz speaks to how we manage and control wildness, in our neighborhoods and our bodies, and how it can reassert itself. Carrie Farrar speaks to the joy and wonder of visiting France to see the Mer de Glace glacier. Mahbub Alam speaks to a solid connection between humanity and nature, like a tree standing firm in the changing winds.

Tasneem Hossain draws on the owl as an extended metaphor for wisdom and protection. Roodly Laurore reflects on the tender and colorful beauty and diversity of nature in a piece which he intends to bring comfort in a violent and turbulent world. Maja Milojkovic encourages us to imagine a new world of gentleness and peace towards our earth and each other.

Elizabetta Bonaparte’s poetry takes a short, but strong and cogent, stand against war. Valentina Yordanova, in poetry translated by Yoana Konstantinova, laments the mindless destruction war brings to ordinary lives. Eva Petropoulou Lianou calls for genuine humanity in a world at war.

Samar Aldeek tenderly celebrates peace in her bilingual poetry. Dr. Perwaiz Shaharyar draws on the style of courtly romance to honor the legacy of Mexican poet, peace activist, and literary cultural worker Dr. Jeannette Tiburcio. Fernando Jose Martinez Alderete joins in the tribute to Dr. Tiburcio and also speaks of the need for peace and mutual respect.

Paul Durand warns us of dangerous currents, both in the ocean and in American politics. Bill Tope’s poem criticizes human rights abuses committed in the name of immigration enforcement. Duane Herrmann speaks to the spiritual unity of all the world’s people under Ba’hai teachings and how that serves as an antidote to racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Travel gives us firsthand experience with different cultures and helps us understand each other. Türkan Ergör illustrates the dislocation of travel through clever and poetic alteration of word and line breaks. Lakshmi Kant Mukul captures the exhilaration and elevated beauty of plane flight. Abdumuminova Risolabonu Nizamovna discusses how travel helps people learn practical skills, including pragmatic communication in multiple languages.

Learning foreign languages, and mastering one’s native language, helps us understand each other, whether we travel in person or through imagination and books. Shakhnoza Pulatova Makhmudjanovna offers strategies for mastering the Arabic language. Muhammadjonova O’giloy Bunyodbekov qizi offers up suggestions for learning Turkish that would be helpful for any foreign language. Abduhalilova Sevdora Xayrulla qizi highlights grammar rules surrounding modal verbs in the Uzbek language. Allaberdiyeva Farangiz outlines ways for students learning English as a foreign language to gain writing proficiency.

Xudoyberdiyeva Jasmina analyzes the linguistic phenomenon of “chatspeak” and ‘text-speak” on the Uzbek language in a piece that’s more intrigued than negative. Dinora Sodiqova discusses the importance of professional communication for aspiring young Uzbek leaders.

People can also travel through time by reading older works and studying history. Petros Kyriakou Veloudas reflects on the joy and the weight of being part of a creative heritage, even when one does not know the names of each and every ancestor. Poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews poet Muhammad Shamsul Huq Babu about his literary legacy and dream of building a large book museum.

Dunia Pulungeanu highlights the lifetime intellectual and literary accomplishments of Dr. Edwin Antonio Gaona Salinas. Choriyeva Go’zal Gayratjon qizi explores the resurgence of academic and cultural interest in foundational works of Uzbek literature. Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso reflects on the historical significance of the Mud Battle, an early military defeat for Central Asian medieval historical figure Amir Temur.

Farzona Hoshimova celebrates the pride and beauty of the Uzbek culture. Matnazarova Munisa encourages young and old Uzbeks to remember and preserve their traditional culture. Bobonova Zulfiya sings of the pride, freedom, and beauty of her native Uzbekistan. David Woodward evokes a quest for truth through reading Krishnamurti, ultimately reconnecting himself with his family. Rahmonkulova Gulsevar Samidovna considers the cultural values implicit within Uzbek folk legends.

Muhammadjonova Ogiloy Bunyodbekovna reviews Abdulloh Abdulmutiy Huda Said Bahul’s book Qu’logim senda, qizim, which provides Islamic faith-based guidance for young girls, narrated by a loving father. Ruzimbayeva Quvonchoy also urges Uzbeks to hold onto their traditional values, including love, bravery, and respect for women.

Maja Milojkovic translates Eva Petropoulou Lianou’s tribute to hard-working women around the world from English into Serbian. Mashhura Ochilova highlights the historical respect for women in Uzbek culture and what modern Uzbek women have achieved. Jaloldinova Gulzirahon Otabek Kizi highlights women’s increasing participation in Uzbekistan’s public life.

Orifjonova Nozima Azizbek considers the prospects for preserving the Uzbek language in a time of economic and cultural globalization. Rahmonqulova Gulsevar Samid qizi analyzes the crucial father-son relationship at the heart of the Uzbek folk epic tale “Alpomish” and its centrality to Uzbek family-oriented culture. Rahimberdiyev Ozodbek outlines key elements of Uzbekistan’s heroic tales.

Rashidova Shoshanam explores the long shadows Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex has cast over human literature and psychology. Christopher Bernard reviews Cal Performances’ recent dramatization of Chicago’s Manual Cinema’s The Fourth Witch, about the after-effects of Macbeth’s violence on his victims. Paul Murgatroyd draws on Greek tragedy to poke morbid fun at humans: inwardly messy and selfish, even when outwardly clean. J.J. Campbell provides his signature dark view of human nature, full of sardonic, blunt, emotionally transparent blue-collar surrealism. John Grey picks apart human emotions in his vignettes, attempting to understand why we act as we do.

Dr. Jernail Singh describes how Dr. K.B. Razdan diagnoses some emotional and psychological ills of modern life in his book Gather Ye Rosebuds. Sean Meggeson’s visual poetry speaks to what we gain and lose as modern society progresses. J.K. Durick waxes poetic about times when it seemed that matters were more easily understood and categorized.

Abdulhafiz Iduoze’s epic poem, layered with traditional and modern references from Benin’s culture, serves as a ritual chant and prophetic warning about colonialism and corrupt power structures. It situates recent dynamics within epic time, reminding readers that current matters are not destined to last forever.

Shikdar Mohammed Kibriah affirms the reality of his personal experience amidst the complex claims of philosophical schools. Aisha Al-Maharabi speaks with the voice of one who asserts his claim to existence, writ large on the natural and human worlds. Strider Marcus Jones speaks to reclaiming and holding onto our interior life, emotions, and connection to nature in a world of mass media and technological disruption and deception.

Many other creators explore our internal lives, what we can learn from ourselves and each other and how we can grow as human beings. Allison Grayhurst speaks to her creative and personal journey: learning to function and create through loss, to integrate pain and struggle into her process. Alan Catlin’s fanciful “anxiety dreams” play with our modern insecurities about navigating daily life. Also experiencing anxiety, Mirta Liliana Ramirez’ poetic speaker takes a bit more time before she’s ready to venture out in the world.

Alimardonova Gulsevar Sirojiddinovna explores the balance between personal dreams and duty to society in Somerset Maugham and Abdulla Qodiriy’s writing.

Rus Khomutoff’s latest poetry collection Kaos Karma, reviewed by Cristina Deptula, flows through various words and ideas, pulling us along on the wings of a slow dream. Stykes Wildee’s latest poem seems at once dreamlike and ordinary and conversational, casual thoughts within the subconscious. Mesfakus Salahin’s poetry is ghostlike, contemplative, detached as he contemplates love and death. John Doyle’s poetry harks from a variety of inspirations: everything from insects to gas stations to trains and the countryside. Arjun Razdan’s quick fictional sketch compares young women he sees to elegant fine wine.

Abdulsamad Idris also explores tragedy and loss through a frank and visceral voice. Graciela Noemi Villaverde finds herself lashed by the storms of loneliness and sorrow. Hanaan Abdelkader Ashour approaches loss with tenderness, offering a kind and reverent note of remembrance for departed loved ones. Marianne Jo Alves Zullas speaks openly of her mourning for her departed mother, everywhere and nowhere at once. Mykyta Ryzhykh’s poem captures the emotional emptiness of a relationship where one person loves intensely, and the other remains distant, consumed by their own habits. Marjona Eshmatova outlines various types of family system dysfunction and how to address them psychologically. Taylor Dibbert points to the ways even well-meaning people can misunderstand each other. Dilobar Maxmarejabova warns us how a person’s heart can become colder and more jaded over time.

Mohamed Rahal speaks of striving for authenticity in one’s faith and in love. Narzulloyeva Munisa Bakhromovna encourages people not to compare themselves negatively with others’ projected lives on social media. Raximberdiyeva Moxinabonu outlines the pressing mental health concern of smartphone addiction and the need to balance our phones with the real world. Moldiyeva Bahodirovna speaks to the way digital technologies have permeated our lives and how to have the Metaverse complement, rather than replace, our world. Choriyeva Xurmo urges balance in the use of digital media in preschool education. Orozboyeva Shodiyeva highlights educational social media applications and encourages her peers to use those rather than focusing just on entertainment.

Jacques Fleury reviews Boston’s Huntington Theater’s production of Alison Bechdel’s tale Fun Home, highlighting themes of intergenerational understanding, how children gradually came to make sense of their parents’ worlds. Young poet Avazova Diyora Alisher qizi offers her good wishes to her teacher in a tender poem. Fayzullayeva Shabbona Sirojiddinova shares her appreciation for her wise and caring father.

Priyanka Neogi playfully celebrates innocent, childlike love. Milana Momcilovic evokes an eternal, spiritual love. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Gupta captures an elegant romantic kiss under moonlight. Vorhees describes erotic and tender love with gentle whimsy and echoes of history. Kemal Berk contributes a graceful love poem about the merging of egos and personalities within a relationship.

Ana Elisa Medina describes a love that encourages her to become a better person. Mohan Maharana celebrates the value of small acts of kindness. Abdusaidova Jasmina shares the importance of kindness through a children’s tale involving a mouse. Balachandra Nair highlights the value of virtue by presenting positive character traits as valuable jewels on display.

Sayani Mukherjee pleads for deep, enduring joy that can withstand the world’s problems.

One way many people find joy is through engaging in various forms of creativity and knowledge gathering. Farida Tijjani draws on a wide variety of technical and natural inspirations to explore gender, creativity, and society.

Various contributors speak of advances in different fields. Uzoqova Gulzoda encourages innovative approaches to elementary school education. Nazulloyeva Feruzabonu highlights the value of science and innovation in inspiring society as well as providing material advancements.

Abdujabborova Rayhona points out ways medical and psychological professionals can reduce unhealthy stresses for pregnant people. Durdona Sharifovna Roziboyeva highlights the success of a recent orthodontic treatment for upper airway issues.

Dinora Sodiqova outlines basic principles of modern consumer advertising. Mamarajabova Shahnoza discusses how digital technologies are transforming the field of accounting. Dianne Reeves Angel celebrates the physical and mental artistry of comedian and actor Buster Keaton.

Several pieces remind us that as we advance in our knowledge and our technical skills, we must bring our humanity along with us. Kandy Fontaine raises questions about ethics and oversight concerning how people are treated in American hospitals. Avazbekova Rayyonaxon reminds medical professionals to display professional behavior as well as knowledge.

Finally, Dr. Jernail S. Anand reminds us to occasionally step back from the clatter of daily human interaction to connect with the universe on a deeper level. We wish all of you inspiration and a chance to think, feel, and connect with the world beyond yourselves this holiday season.

From Within

From within I see

That the sea caresses the rocks

That it kisses the foot of the cave

The soft breeze stirs my hair

Yet, I don’t feel safe

Going out into the sun toward freedom

I’m not ready

My heart isn’t sure

About leaving behind the pain, the darkness

And the comfort of the familiar…

Perhaps I’ll wait a little longer

Before leaving the cave

And going out into life again…

Mirta Liliana Ramírez has been a poet and writer since she was 12 years old. She has been a Cultural Manager for more than 35 years. Creator and Director of the Groups of Writers and Artists: Together for the Letters, Artescritores, MultiArt, JPL world youth, Together for the letters Uzbekistan 1 and 2. She firmly defends that culture is the key to unite all the countries of the world. She works only with his own, free and integrating projects at a world cultural level. She has created the Cultural Movement with Rastrillaje Cultural and Forming the New Cultural Belts at the local level and also from Argentina to the world.

It was Said

We talked about floating on a pink ship.

I will be imprisoned in the envelope of love,

I will love you with everything

My peace of mind is at home.

Jambe parv mountains will be in evidence.

Ujala is all around the heart.

The path will provide the ointment coating,

In green words green everything is positive,

Cover the words with a smile.

On the day of great impact,

I will walk and run with flowers of love.

You will be a shield in the marathon of life.

I will be the shadow companion with utmost care.

Today only words remain,

When you go away, you leave me alone.

Short biography: Amb. Dr. Priyanka Neogi from Coochbehar. She is an administrative Controller of United Nations PAF, librarian, CEO of Lio Messi International Property & Land Consultancy, international literacy worker, sports & peace promoter, dancer, singer, reciter, live telecaster, writer, editor, researcher, literary journalist, host, beauty queen, international coordinator of the Vijay Mission of Community Welfare Foundation of India.

When The Times Become Death

‎

‎When the times become death and hang

‎I hang from the branches of a dead tree

‎The tree is very tall and ancient

‎I can hang freely

‎Age is in favor of time

‎Standing time is like death

‎I hang with a red ribbon on my head

‎The valley of change does not attack me.

‎

‎I know the long history of death

‎The soul does not deny history

‎I know the scent of death

‎This scent is permanent in my bones

‎I live in every moment of time

‎I love every moment

‎This love of mine is exclusively my own

‎Don’t blame me

‎The love of a hypocrite has many colors

‎My love is colorless like death, eternal and breathless

‎Your complaint is to time

‎To each his own time, to his own love

‎As life is close to time

‎Death is also close to love

‎Life without love is lifeless

‎However, love cannot bind death.

‎

By Kandy Fontaine (Alex S. Johnson)

In 2019, I underwent a four-hour neuropsychological evaluation with Dr. Kimberly Lanni at Kaiser Permanente. She was never authorized to treat me as a therapist, yet the consequences of that single session have followed me for years. Not because of the evaluation itself, but because of what came after: a fabricated designation in my patient chart labeling me as a safety threat, a misdiagnosis that contradicts multiple other evaluations, and a pattern of conduct that raises serious ethical concerns—including her published autism research at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

I am a transfemme author, editor, and founder of Nocturnicorn Books, a literary imprint that has published 40 books and platformed icons like David J. Haskins, Jarboe, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Ron Whitehead, and Poppy Z. Brite. My editorial persona, Kandy Fontaine, is a glam voltage source for transgressive, queer, and mythic literature. I’ve built an archive that centers the haunted, the silenced, and the divine. And yet, despite this legacy, I am still forced to fear for my safety every time I walk into a Kaiser facility.

The Origin: One Evaluation, Lifelong Fallout

Dr. Lanni’s role was strictly limited to conducting a neuropsychological test—not therapy, not ongoing care, and certainly not long-term behavioral profiling. Yet she issued a clinical judgment that I had Dependent Personality Disorder and Severe Somatic Symptoms Disorder—labels that have since been contradicted by other licensed professionals who found no evidence of either condition.

Worse, she appears to have fabricated documentation that resulted in my chart being flagged with a safety threat notice. This designation is not visible to me—but it is visible to Kaiser security personnel, who are automatically alerted whenever I arrive for care. I’ve never made threats. I’ve never acted violently. I’ve never endangered staff or patients. Yet my presence triggers a silent alarm.

The Surreal Reality of Being Flagged Without Cause

The safety threat label has turned routine medical visits into psychological minefields. I’ve been:

• Silently profiled at check-in
• Monitored by security without explanation or justification
• Forced to relive the trauma of being falsely labeled—again and again

There was no incident. No confrontation. No behavioral justification. Just one evaluation—and years of fallout.

I recently filed a fresh grievance with Kaiser, demanding that the safety threat designation be removed. It continues to cause emotional distress, disrupt my access to care, and undermine my safety as a patient.

Allegations of Professional Misconduct

My experience with Dr. Lanni raises serious concerns about her professional conduct:

• Misdiagnosis: Her conclusions were not supported by the evaluation or by subsequent assessments from other professionals
• Fabrication: The safety threat label appears to be based on false or exaggerated documentation
• Retaliation: I believe this label was applied in response to my questioning of her diagnosis and filing of grievances
• Defamation: The label has damaged my reputation within Kaiser’s system and may have influenced other providers’ perceptions of me

Autism Research and Documented Use of Restraint

Dr. Lanni’s published work includes contributions to autism studies at the UC Davis MIND Institute, including the Autism Phenome Project (APP) and GAIN (Girls with Autism – Imaging of Neurodevelopment). These studies involved:

• Simulated MRI environments to acclimate children to scanning procedures
• Use of mock MRI machines that replicate the noise and physical setup of real scans
• Participants as young as 2–6 years old, many with autism or intellectual disabilities

In her own publications, Dr. Lanni and her co-authors explicitly describe the use of restraint to keep children still during these procedures. The term “restrained” appears in the context of preparing children for imaging sessions, often in combination with exposure to loud, repetitive MRI-like noise.

While these methods may have been approved by institutional review boards, their ethical implications are profound—especially when applied to nonverbal, sensory-sensitive, or developmentally disabled children. The use of restraint, even in a research setting, demands rigorous trauma-informed safeguards, transparent consent protocols, and ongoing ethical scrutiny.

In my published critique, Spit Takes, I analyze the language and framing of these studies. The research often pathologizes neurodivergent traits and risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes. The documented use of restraint—on children who may not have had the capacity to consent—raises urgent questions about power, consent, and the ethics of data collection in autism research.

The Emotional Toll

This isn’t just a bureaucratic error. It’s a form of psychological violence. It undermines my ability to access care, damages my reputation within the system, and retraumatizes me every time I seek help.

I’ve documented my experience publicly, including on Reddit, where my posts have received thousands of views. I’ve spoken out not just for myself, but for others who may have been similarly harmed.

Call for Investigation and Justice

I am not a threat. I am a patient. I am a survivor. And I deserve care without fear.

I call on Kaiser Permanente to launch a full investigation into the safety threat designation placed on my chart, and to remove it immediately. I call on UC Davis to reexamine the ethics of its autism research protocols, especially those involving restraint and sensory exposure in vulnerable children.

I call for justice—for myself, and for anyone else who has been harmed by institutional misconduct disguised as care.