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July 28, 2011

Within the last half of the past century, medicine has been relatively new to society as a whole. In the first days of our country, we relied on Old World medicine. As time progressed, so did the knowledge of the new world around us, as well as the medical arts of the Native Americans that resided around our new settlements. The progression of time also gave us more knowledge as immigrants from countries all over the world brought their skill and knowledge to the United States and helped piece everything together which led to some of the modern medicine known today.

In recent times, with the advancement of technology as a whole, as well as new procedures being developed daily on the basis of diseases and illnesses, society began to look toward medicine in a new light, as a beacon of hope for many.

Recently, the Liverpool University located within the United Kingdom has been conducting research toward a cancer vaccine that could work for multiple types of cancer which inevitably would prolong the lifespan of many. The vaccine is said to use the body’s natural defenses to actually fight the cancer, as well as stop the magnification and eventually the elimination of tumors.

In light of the new treatment, it has brought hope to many affected by asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can easily be attributed to lifelong diseases and illnesses as a result of an individual’s asbestos exposure.  For many years, factory and maintenance workers, as well as builders, have all been exposed to varying forms of asbestos. The longer one is exposed, the greater the likelihood of someone contracting one of these fatal diseases.

However, mesothelioma, one of the most dangerous forms of disease associated with asbestos, lies dormant within a person for many years at a time. The symptoms of the disease can easily be unseen for many years and leaves the person shocked in the future when diagnosed. If this TelcoVac jab Vaccine continues the effectiveness of cancer treatment with its trials, people can begin to put a new faith in modern medicine. Medicine will soon be seen not as a hope, but a route to wellness for those with cancer.

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July 28, 2011

Riley Hospital was erected in September of 2010. It is the only hospital in the United States that uses up to three robotic aids to help with pediatric rehab. Anna Good, a sufferer of cerebral palsy, was one of the first patients to test out the new rehab technique at the hospital.  Anna has found this to be quite beneficial. She uses two of the three machines to help teach her brain to use replication of motions. This has resulted in more movement and higher endurance levels.

The rehab center focuses on the clinical and research parts of robotic rehabilitation. The hospital is working in partnership with the IU department of Physical Therapy and Indiana University Health and Rehabilitation Services.

They said that the hospital is directing attention to the rehabilitation of patients with cerebral palsy and those who are plagued with movement and muscle disorders. The robots they work with mainly are the one that focuses on the upper extremities that is called MIT-Manus and the one that focuses on the lower extremities called HocomaLokomat. These robots have helped Anna improve her arm muscles so that she can grip better and her legs so that her walking will improve.

The difference in a human therapist and robotic tools is the robots aid the patients in making up to1000 movements that are completely identical. This is helpful because it causes the brain to recognize the movement better.

While doing the therapy, Anna is hooked up to the lower leg robot and walks on a treadmill. Her movements are connected to a video game where she is able to see herself on the screen moving toward the cows or animals that they have programmed. The robot is connected to a part of the screen and it helps guide her cursor on the television screen.

This new type of therapy has helped Anna greatly. It is evident in the results that this program will go on to help many children as well as adults plagued with cerebral palsy as well as men and women that have musculature disorders.

Riley Hospital is reaching out and putting on summer camps focused on improving strength in children.

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July 28, 2011

After an eventful morning of water skiing, Jordan Toman, who is twenty-four years of age, was perfectly content relaxing in the hot sun after such an action-packed morning on Conneaut Lake. To some, water skiing on a lake during the heat of summer is nothing too extraordinary, but for Jordan, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy (a condition that has differing severities) often times can leave a person immobile and stunts their development. Cerebral Palsy is caused by early trauma, such as birth injuries, childhood accidents, or while still in the womb.  It was a morning he’ll remember for years to come.

Along with fifty-six other disadvantaged people, Jordan was shown how to water-ski at the twenty-first annual Learn to Ski Clinic for People with Disabilities. Jordan stated that being able to ski was very relaxing, and he was glad for the opportunity to be able to be in the water and exercise. The Learn How to Ski Clinic for People with Disabilities is a four-day program held at the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club. This program is important to the disadvantaged community, because it gives them a common bond and helps establish friendships between people who share the same conditions and disabilities. That bond is the only form of encouragement some of the disabled have, and it helps propel them to a higher sense of accomplishment and value.

The Learn How to Ski Clinic for People with Disabilities also gives the families of the disabled a chance to come together and share their common bond as well. Another participant in the clinic was Jessica Ness, a twenty-two-year-old from New York. Ness said that the information about the water clinic was given to her at her school and she knew that she wanted to go. She has suffered from Cerebral Palsy her entire life, as well as frontal lobe dysfunction, and she was able to go for two rounds of water skiing. She stated that she had the time of her life at the clinic, and was grateful to have been afforded the opportunity and said that the skills she has learned give her a purpose and meaning. Volunteers, who orchestrated the event, said that involving people in sports helps build up their confidence, their sense of independence and accomplishment.

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July 28, 2011

Five-year-old Poppy Taylor, from Bury, Whales, has had two surgeries in America to help remove complications brought on by her cerebral palsy. Marc Taylor, her father from Cefn Hengoed, is accompanying her throughout the whole process of the surgeries and the trip to America. Her surgeries occurred at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

The first surgery was done to “rewire” the nerves that lead to her feet necessary for proper leg function. The second surgery was to lengthen her hamstrings so that she could place her feet flat on the floor. They were a huge success and the recovery is going incredibly well considering how tough the process has been on Sophie. She has shown strength beyond her age.

These operations are called the selective dorsal rhizotomy treatment, and they are only available in America. The surgeries and physiotherapy cost over $64 thousand U.S. dollars. To raise enough money for the events, the family created a huge fundraising campaign in which the members of their town helped out tremendously. They have supported the Taylor family with not only money, but also encouragement and prayers.

Before the surgery, the child had to walk with the help of a walking cane and leg braces. After the surgery, Poppy was able to take small steps on her own as well as ride on an exercise bike.  Her grandmother said that she was doing exceptionally well and that she was excited she had managed to take five steps while holding her mom’s hand.

Sophie arrived home from America last week in time for her sixth birthday on July 26. Her next step is going to Oxford on August 1^st through the 19^th for rigorous physiotherapy. The family is now trying to raise money for that because it so expensive.

Sophie is so excited about how far she has come. She went into surgery without the use of her legs, and when she came out, she began to take steps and ride bikes, something she has never done before. Now Sophie’s focus is finding new shoes to fit her.  Her story of courage and perseverance is very inspiring.

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July 28, 2011

As of Thursday, July 14, 2011, court action has been taken against the HSE, Health Service Executives, for supposed medical negligence during the birth of a child. This case is being brought on behalf of Lauren Tinney. She is a twenty-three-year-old woman who has suffered from cerebral palsy since the beginning of her life on May 31, 1988. She is now restricted to a wheelchair and lacks mobility in her left hand, and because of these side effects, she needs a great deal of care from her family. This illness has taken so much from her. She has had to adapt to every situation that healthy people take for granted daily.

Lauren has faced many challenges in her life. She was not able to be like all the other children playing on the playground, or playing with their dogs in the park. Because she was confined to a wheelchair, her life was different. She wants compensation for the mistake that the hospital made so that she is taken care of.

Lauren’s mom, Eleanor Tinney, from Buncrana has been helping Lauren as she researched and created her case against HSE. After gathering evidence, she is bringing action regarding the procedure followed during her delivery at the Letterkenny General Hospital. The hospital was not monitoring her carefully enough which led to compromised blood flow to her brain. The Health Service Executives do not take responsibility for the claims against them. They do not feel that it is their fault that the complications occurred during the birth of Lauren Tinney. They also deny that the family suffered any form of distress.

Lauren says that because of the medical negligence shown by the HSE when she was born, she was affected with severe fetal distress syndrome and asphyxiation, or the restriction of airflow to the brain. She argues that it was because of this that she was affected by cerebral palsy. They said that the HSE did not correctly monitor Lauren before she was born as well as failing to provide proper supervision in days after she was born. As well as the charges above, the Tinneys are also claiming that family members have suffered emotional and mental distress.

The hearing is expected to go on go for multiple weeks.

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July 28, 2011

The week of July 31, 2011-August 6, 2011 is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week. The purpose of this week that recognizes Cerebral Palsy is to acknowledge the profound achievements of people living with the condition, and to promote understanding and acceptance of the disadvantaged suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a condition caused by early trauma in life.  Whether it occurs in the womb, at birth, or childhood, the trauma can cause a lifetime of handicaps. The condition also hinders proper development and can render a person immobile.

People with this condition have the life expectancy of the average person, but they will need much more care and support from day to day as they get older. Tunstall Healthcare, the largest leading provider of assistive technology, is now able to provide personal alarms for those with disabilities and handicaps, giving them the ability to easily make calls at any time of the day or night without bothering friends and family.

A radio trigger that the user kept on them all day every day has traditionally activated these types of alarms. But now, Tunstall Healthcare offers other devices and tools that help the disabled resident to more easily make notifications to friends and family members. This new trigger can be anything ranging from a press adaptor (which would permit the radio trigger pendant to be turned on without the necessity for a precise touch) to a device that only requires the slightest touch or tap to send signals out.

Tunstall Healthcare offers those disadvantaged with more specific needs the ability to quickly and easily be able to notify friends and family if they need assistance. Tunstall Healthcare is a great resource for the disadvantaged because it is able to provide them with some means of independence. The company has over 2.5 million global clients, and is the foremost provider of telecare and telehealth resources in the world.

Tunstall Healthcare’s solutions enable older people and those with permanent needs to live independently by providing them with equipment that can manage their health and well being without the constant provision of friends and family. Tunstall Healthcare is an expert provider of this type of equipment, and provides their knowledge and advice to millions of people all over the world.  By doing so, Tunstall Healthcare helps its clients to lead more independent and fulfilling lives

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July 28, 2011

Living with Cerebral Palsy is hard enough without facing the rejection of one’s community. To bear that kind of load would take a toll on anyone and very few would be able to handle it. This scenario is exactly what happened to twenty-two year old Joe Coyle. Joe was planning to go out to a pub with his friends to relax for the evening and wanted to buy his friends a round of drinks. To his surprise, the bartender and staff turned him down because he appeared “under age” despite the fact Coyle then proceeded to show the staff nine different forms of ID to prove his legality.

Furthermore, Coyle’s brother, Domonic, then proceeded to fetch Joe’s birth certificate and passport to prove his age from their home, yet the pub still denied him service. Coyle stated that the pub owner and staff banned him from coming back because they perceived him as mentally unstable. However, the pub in relation to the incident denied these accusations. Mr. Coyle, who is a university graduate, was made to sit outside to await his friends. Because of his Cerebral Palsy, an illness that results from birth that affects physical mobility, Joe can be seen with a limp whenever he walks.

The condition can be the cause of a birth injury or childhood trauma, and can hinder the developmental growth of the child. Coyle stated that he understood every business, not only pubs, had the right to serve potential customers or not, but he felt it was a gross injustice when he had showed them multiple forms of identification and they still refused to serve him. He stated that he was humiliated at the pub that night, and still doesn’t understand why he was refused service. Conversely, the Greene King Brewery spokesman had a different story than the similar story multiple individuals had already relayed.

He states that the manager did not think the first form of ID that Coyle presented him was valid, and like all other customers, Coyle was given the opportunity to present another form of ID which is part of the pub’s Challenge 21 policy. The spokesman then stated Coyle unfortunately became abusive toward the manager and was then asked to leave the pub.  The spokesman felt the situation was in line with the pub’s policy and did not make any derogatory comments toward Mr. Coyle or his behavior. He also stated that they have received a letter from Mr. Coyle.  They take his opinion seriously and the pub will be responding soon.

A Florida family will be allowed sidestep a state fund and sue the hospital and doctors they claim acted in negligence and caused their daughter to suffer serious birth injuries. If the Florida birth injury lawsuit is successful, it could have far reaching results concerning doctors’ liability future situations involving birth injuries in the state.

On September 26, 2001, following a car accident that forced her mother into labor, Tristan Bennett was born via cesarean section and required resuscitation and oxygen before being put in a special care nursery.  Only days later, Tristan stopped breathing and suffered a pulmonary hemorrhage as well as other kidney and liver problems.

Follow up tests determined that Tristan had suffered serious and permanent neurological damage. The Bennett family charged that the doctors performing the birth had given Tristan too much intravenous fluid and not tested for serum electrolyte derangements following the birth.

While they wanted to pursue a birth injury lawsuit against the hospital because the injury had occurred after the immediate birth period, they first had to get permission from a judge to avoid falling under the purview of a payout from the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association.

Following differing rulings from a Florida administrative law judge and the state First District Court of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court ultimately ruled on July 7 that the family could proceed with the childbirth injury lawsuit against the doctors and hospital who performed the birth.

According to the Florida Birth injury Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association’s website, the program was created in 1988 to pay medical bills for children born with “certain neurological injuries” without the need for litigation.

The fund can be used to fund “actual expenses for necessary and reasonable care, services, drugs, equipment, facilities, and travel” that do not include expenses that can be compensated by state or federal governments/private insurers, a one-time cash award of no more than $100,000 to the parents/guardians of the child, a death $10,000 death benefit for the infant, or “reasonable expenses for filing the claim, including attorney’s fees.”

The decision has led to debate among medical experts and NICA over the long-term effects of future potential lawsuits regarding birth injuries. Regardless, it is good to hear that the Bennett’s will have their day in court to hold the doctors/hospital liable for their errors.

If you or a loved one have given birth to a child with a birth injury, there may be legal action worth pursuing. Speak to an birth injury attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn more about any potential lawsuits you may be able to pursue.

Asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma usually take decades to manifest themselves that most of its victim. However, a 21-year-old Norwood, MA resident Kevin Morrison is proving to be a rare exception to the rule as he battles mesothelioma.

Morrison was the captain of Norwood High School’s football and hockey teams when he graduated in 2008. However, in February he was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, leading him to begin treatments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. More recently, he had begun alternative treatments that doctors’ hope will be more effective.

Fundraisers have already been set up to aid his family as they try to pay off the mounting medical bills for the treatments.

Morrison’s story seems to unfortunately mirror that of Austin Lacy, an 18-year-old passed away from mesothelioma complications in June who had recently graduated from Pasadena High School in California. Like Morrison, Lacy was a star of his school’s football team and had doctors confused as to how he developed the rare asbestos-related cancer so quickly.

For those receiving Massachusetts mesothelioma treatment who have previously worked in a profession where you were regularly exposed to high amounts of asbestos, there may be reason to speak with a Massachusetts mesothelioma attorney regarding a possible lawsuit. Contact us for a free consultation to see if a Massachusetts mesothelioma law firm can help to get you a monetary asbestos settlement from a former employer who may be at fault for an asbestos-related illness.

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