In her decade of military service, Adrienne Kinne noticed a significant decline in the quality of health care provided by the Veteran Administration. Prior to the Iraq War, an end-of-service physical, for example, was routine. At the end of 2003, as she completed her duty in the army reserve, Kinne was discouraged from requesting such a physical. She finished her education and landed a job at a VA hospital where she worked with a research unit examining post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Believing that the VA system should pledge to serve the needs of all returning veterans, she was shocked to hear that plans to develop a screening mechanism for traumatic brain injuries was scuttled due to lack of "resources." Kinne believes that the system lacks a commitment to preventative health care, although, she adds, the best preventive plan is to avoid sending service men and women to fight in "illegal occupations in the first place." www.ivaw.org
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlWQv5O8gEE&hl=en
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Subarachnoid Hemorrhaging
There are many developments that can arise following head trauma that can be extremely damaging and potentially deadly. These injuries can range from blows that crush brain matter through the force of the hit to damages that develop over a short period of time, eventually catching up to the injured person. Although rare when compared to other forms of brain injury, a subarachnoid hemorrhage can be very dangerous for any individual to go through, often resulting in the sufferer's death or permanent brain damage.
To understand the danger of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, it helps to understand where and what occurs during this condition. Known as the arachnoid mater, this layer of tissue, one of three layers known collectively as the meninges, wraps around the brain and helps to keep the nervous system running smoothly. However, if an injury should occur, a tear in the web-like tissue can cause blood to erupt into the area. Although this within itself is extremely unsafe to the sufferer, other complications can develop in these injuries that may additionally endanger a person.
Known as a vasospasm, the blood vessels in the arachnoid mater may actually contract during a major hemorrhage, causing the brain to lose blood and oxygen in the process. Without proper treatment to prevent these blood vessels from shutting down the flow of oxygen to the brain, a person may die from this complication.
A hemorrhage of this kind can be the cause for additional injuries if a person survives the event itself, which is usually signaled by an agonizing headache that may begin and end within seconds or a few minutes. Cognitive skills and abilities may deteriorate due to the damages caused by the stroke, or a person may even enter into a coma.
To learn more about the legal rights of brain injury victims, contact a personal injury attorney.
If you have been injured by a negligent party and have suffered undue brain damages, contact the Charleston personal injury attorneys of the Steinberg Law Firm today.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Types of Memory Loss
The brain is a phenomenal component of human function and interaction. This massively powerful organ is vital to human thinking, movement and overall functioning. However, it is also an extremely sensitive organism, making it susceptible to injury. Because of this, traumatic head injuries can easily lead to brain damage in many forms, including memory loss. The loss of memory function is a very serious injury, and by better understanding what the symptoms of memory loss are, you are better able to take steps for the protection of your personal well-being and the well-being of those you love.
Memory Loss Symptoms
The loss of memory function can be caused through a number of means, including brain growths, suffocation, brain surgery, depression, and serious head injuries or concussions. No matter the cause, it is important to note the many symptoms that can be indicative of a diminishing memory function, which can be permanent or temporary but should always be looked over by a medical professional. These include the following:
No longer being able to remember important dates
Losing the ability to remember appointments and plans
Running errands only to forget the purpose of the trip
Having trouble staying on track or frequently getting lost
Suddenly forgetting how to complete common, routine tasks
Overall confusion with everyday things
Inability to focus or stay alert
Having difficulty making decisions
When the above symptoms occur, they may be a sign of impaired memory abilities, which should be considered a serious occurrence deserving of medical attention. If your loss of memory abilities or the memory loss of a loved one has been caused due to an injury occurring while on the job, an experienced legal professional can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
For More Information
For more information on memory loss, brain injuries, or workers' compensation, visit the website of the Pennsylvania head injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today.
David Caldwell
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Dysarthria and Speech
When an individual suffers from a degenerative disease or sustained serious head trauma, the effects can destroy major functions in the brain, leading to a drastic change in lifestyle. Although many people may not commonly associate brain damage with language loss, a speech disorder known as dysarthria can occur if the brain is injured. This specific speech disorder is characterized by a lack of articulation, as the most noticeable change due to this disorder comes in the deterioration of motor skills related to speech organs.
The causes for dysarthria include diseases and forms of trauma that can be particularly damaging to the human brain. Obviously, a strong blow to the head, whether from being hit with an object, being involved in a car accident, or slipping and falling can be a major cause for brain damage of this sort. Additionally, diseases and health concerns such as strokes, Parkinson's syndrome, ataxia, and ALS can all contribute to the development of this disorder.
As dysarthria is considered more of an umbrella term for specific nerve damage, many sufferers can cite multiple forms of dysarthria due to their injuries. This disorder can affect a number of major nerves, including the facial nerve, which is responsible for controlling many facial features as well as formulating speech.
Treatment for dysarthria can be a laborious process that requires long-term speech therapy. Considering that this speech disorder directly affects the physical strength and use of these nerves and features, many exercises used attempt to rework these areas through repetitive motions and basic motor movements. In addition to attending regular treatment sessions, sufferers may be expected to practice their speech patterns on their own in order to reinforce connections.
For more information about dysarthria and how injuries causing brain damage can have legal repercussions, contact a personal injury attorney.
For more information regarding your rights in case of an accident, contact the Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys of Salpeter Gitkin Law Firm today.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Medical Liens And Patient Payment In North Carolina
INTRODUCTION
The traumatically brain injured constitute an ever growing segment of our population. Each year, approximately 1.4 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury in the United States. The costs of a brain injury are not purely financial. Often, a brain injury starts a downward spiral in the survivor's life where the emotional and physical ramifications quickly exceed the financial ones.
Once the acute care period is over and the patient is stabilized, the resources available to the patient can substantially impact treatment and recovery. In a perfect world, every patient would have unlimited access to the best resources available to meet their needs. Ours unfortunately is not a perfect world.
The consequences of a traumatic brain injury are far reaching. Not only are there treatment costs associated with the recovery from the acute injuries, but there are the costs of long term care and supervision, the lost support to the family unit that the injured party previously contributed, the increased physical demands placed upon the caregivers and family of the survivor to meet the needs of their injured loved ones, and the family having to step into the breach of the role that the injured person previously contributed to the family.
The analysis will focus on the sources of funding for treatment and assistance to the traumatically brain injured from First Party Resources.
FIRST PARTY RESOURCES
The person who is ultimately responsible to pay for the treatment and medical care which they receive is the person receiving the care.
A. Persons who sign medical procedure authorizations are also responsible unless they specifically and carefully limit their personal responsibility in the authorizing document. North Carolina has adopted the common law Doctrine of Necessaries. Pursuant to that body of law, a spouse or parent is legally responsible to pay for the necessaries of their spouse or children. In order for the Doctrine of Necessaries to apply, the items or services provided must be required for sustenance or support.
B. Medical Liens
North Carolina allows most health care providers to assert a medical lien against the proceeds of any recovery from a third party received by their patients. The lien is creature of statute. The statute sets forth the steps and procedures which must be followed in order to maintain and perfect a medical lien. Medical liens are perfected by filing notice of the lien with the patient's attorney.
1. The Specifics. Any person who provides drugs, medical supplies, ambulance services, services rendered by any physician, dentist, nurse or hospital or services rendered in connection with an injury is entitled to a lien upon any sums recovered as damages for personal injury.
a. No lien is valid unless the medical lien claimant "furnishes, without charge to the attorney as a condition precedent to the creation of the lien, upon request, to the attorney representing the person in whose behalf the claim for personal injury is made, an itemized statement, hospital record, or medical report for the use of the attorney in the negotiation, settlement or trial of the claim..." and a "written notice to the attorney of the lien claimed." N.C.G.S. 44-49(B).
b. The general statutes further limit the lien to no more than fifty (50%) percent of the amount of damages recovered. N.C.G.S 44-50.
c. The medical lien is paid before disbursement of any funds to the injured party. N.C.G.S 44-50.
2. Pro Rata Distribution
Where the monies available from the settlement are insufficient, within the statutory limitation, to satisfy all the medical lien claimants, each lienholder shall receive a pro-rata distribution. The medical lien claimants are entitled to receive a certification from the payor attorney containing sufficient information to demonstrate that the distribution was pro rata and consistent with the statutes. This certification typically includes a statement of all of the following:
a. The amount of the settlement or judgment.
b. The total distribution to lienholders, the amount of each lien claimed, and the percentage of each lien paid.
c. The total attorney's fees. N.C.G.S. 44-50.1
CONCLUSION
Traumatic Brain Injuries are often referred to as the silent epidemic. A person's life can be substantially and dramatically affected by a brain injury. Those of you serving on the front lines want the best outcome for their patients and clients. By securing all available funding, our patients/clients can focus on their recovery.
Perry Fisher has over 20 years of experience and specializes in traumatic brain injury. P. Fisher's North Carolina law firm provides personal attention and takes the burden of the legal issues off the shoulders of their clients. Only a specialized brain injury attorney can effectively resolve his clients' problems.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Brain Injury Awareness Month: March 2010
March is Brain Injury Awareness month. Discover what's happening in your area during Brain Injury Awareness month.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTxX_Ng9Ceo&hl=en
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTxX_Ng9Ceo&hl=en
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