Now, a study has revealed evidence of a causal link between a traumatic brain injury and an increased risk for PTSD. This suggests that people who experience even a mild brain injury are at a higher risk for developing PTSD or another anxiety disorder, and should take care to avoid stressful situations in the days and weeks following their injury.
]]> The study, which was conducted on rats, involved utilizing "fear conditioning" on the test subjects two days after they received a concussive brain trauma. According to the researchers, the rats that had experienced the brain injury had more fear than control rats who did not suffer brain injuries."Something about the brain injury rendered them more susceptible to acquiring an inappropriately strong fear," said researcher Michael Fanselow. "It was as if the injury primed the brain for learning to be afraid."
Although the results of this study represent a significant breakthrough, there is still much that researchers do not know about the connection between brain injury and PTSD. For example, it is not clear whether PTSD simply results from the events that cause brain injury, such as a car accident or military service, or whether the ailments causally connected in some other way.
Source: PsychCentral.com, "Brain Injury Linked to Higher Risk for PTSD, Anxiety Disorders," Traci Pedersen, Feb. 19, 2012
]]>The case began when the woman went to her doctor for a mammogram after discovering a marble-sized lump in her breast. The doctor examined the mammogram results and concluded that there was "no evidence of malignancy" in the lump. He did not order any additional tests.
]]> When the woman returned to the doctor a year later, a mammogram revealed that the lump had grown to the size of a golf ball and that she had advanced breast cancer. She immediately underwent intense treatment including a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Her cancer went into remission for awhile, but eventually returned with a vengeance, having spread to her bones. Her current prognosis is unknown.The woman filed a lawsuit against her doctor, alleging that his failure to diagnose her breast cancer had made the disease much worse and delayed her diagnosis by more than a year, during which time she could have been fighting the disease. She must now faces near-weekly chemotherapy treatments for the rest of her life, which she says could have been avoided with an early diagnosis.
Source: NBC, "Breast Cancer Missed, Victim Wins $15M in Malpractice Suit," Greg Cercol, Feb. 10, 2012
]]>According to a new study, that may very well be happening. In the study, which surveyed nearly 2,000 physicians from a broad range of specialties, a surprising number of doctors admitted that they don't always tell the whole truth regarding a patient's diagnosis or treatment. Further, many don't disclose medical errors to patients for fear that their patient will sue them for medical malpractice.
]]> Specifically, about 11 percent of doctors surveyed admitted that they had told a patient something that was not true within the past year. More than half of respondents stated that they had "described a patient's prognosis in a more positive manner than warranted" in the same time period.In addition, about 35 percent of the survey respondents stated that they did not "completely agree" that doctors should disclose all significant medical errors to their patients. In defense of this viewpoint, some respondents argued that it is pointless and potentially more harmful to disclose errors that did not result in any lasting injury to the patient. However, other studies have shown that patients who are fully informed about medical errors are less angry and, as such, are less likely to file medical malpractice lawsuits.
What do you think? Would you rather your doctor disclose all pertinent information, even if it does not affect your long-term prognosis, or would you prefer that he keep irrelevant information to himself?
Source: MSNBC, "Many docs tell white lies, study finds," Feb. 8, 2012
]]>The study results come at a unique time for Arizona residents: soon, medical marijuana will become legal in the state, which means that the number of people driving under the influence of the drug may increase significantly. Therefore, it is important that all drivers are aware of the risks and potential consequences of drugged driving.
]]> For example, Mesa residents may remember the car accident that occurred in the city in June. The driver, who was high on cannabis, ran a stop sign and crashed his vehicle. This is just one example among many recent accidents caused by a driver who was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.In the study, researchers found that drivers who are high behind the wheel are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident as unimpaired drivers. The study did not compare drugged driving to drunk driving, but Arizona police officials say that either may result in an arrest.
According to Albert Gutier of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, however, the cause of the impairment doesn't really matter. "In driving, reaction time is critical, attention is critical," he said. "Impaired driving is impaired driving and yes, marijuana will cause impairment."
Source: My Fox Phoenix, "Study: Drivers are Twice as Likely to Crash when Stoned," Dan Spindle, Feb. 10, 2012
]]>The pedestrian accident occurred in January 2011 when a Prescott police car crashed into the 23-year-old victim as he was crossing the street in a crosswalk. A police investigation reportedly found that the officer had been temporarily blinded by the glare of the sun while making a left turn, causing him to strike the victim. The victim was initially cited for violating a pedestrian control signal, but that charge was later dropped.
]]> As a result of being struck by the police car, the victim suffered multiple fractures to his legs. During his recovery, he incurred nearly $5,000 in medical bills. In addition, he was forced to take 12 weeks off from work, which cost him another $3,000 in lost wages.In his lawsuit against the city of Prescott, the victim sought reimbursement for those costs as well as about $90,000 for pain and suffering.
According to the Prescott city manager, the city followed its standard procedure for such an incident and turned the matter over to Travelers Insurance, its third-party claims administrator. The insurance company then worked to negotiate the resolution of the lawsuit and ultimately reached a settlement with the victim.
The city council recently unanimously approved the settlement, which will pay the victim $45,000.
Source: The Daily Courier, "Prescott settles pedestrian/police car claim for $45,000," Cindy Barks, Jan. 25, 2012
]]>The motor vehicle accident took place at about 7:30 p.m. in south Phoenix and involved a car, a tow truck and a pickup truck which was towing a horse trailer with three horses inside. When the car and tow truck collided with the pickup, the trailer was knocked onto its side, trapping the horses inside.
]]> Emergency responders worked to free the animals from the trailer, but by the time they were able to do so, one of the horses was dead. The other two animals were up and walking, and did not appear to be injured.Two people involved in the accident were also taken to the hospital and treated for injuries. At last report, they were said to be in critical condition. Police have not publicly stated the cause of the Arizona crash.
This is just one example of the kind of collateral damage that can result from a motor vehicle accident. The owner of the horses likely suffered thousands of dollars' worth of property damage in the crash, taking into account the horse, the trailer and any other equipment that was damaged.
In addition, he lost his animal, which adds an emotional blow. If another person is found to be at fault for the accident, he may have a valid personal injury claim against them, even if he was not injured.
Source: Tucson Citizen, "Phoenix crash leaves two injured, one horse dead," Philip Haldiman, Feb. 4, 2012
]]>In the medical negligence lawsuit, the plaintiff is claiming that her doctor committed both negligent and intentional emotional distress by failing to notice severe deformities in her unborn baby during a routine ultrasound. Specifically, the suit claims, her doctor explicitly said that the baby was healthy and that there were no fetal abnormalities.
]]> But when the baby was born, it quickly became apparent that he had several abnormalities and deformities. He had no arms below the elbow joints and no legs below the knee joints, as well as an accessory tongue and delayed growth of the jaw.Upon seeing her son, the plaintiff suffered severe shock, and following delivery she continued to suffer from extreme emotional distress in the form of grief, rage, anxiety, hysteria, sleeplessness, and other mental anguish. She filed a malpractice suit alleging that the doctor had been negligent in failing to notice her baby's apparent abnormalities and for assuring her that he was healthy.
The court agreed, ruling that the doctor had acted negligently in failing to notice the fetal abnormalities. The court also found that it had been foreseeable that the plaintiff would suffer severe emotional distress as a result of that negligence. As such, the court said, the plaintiff could proceed with the malpractice suit.
Source: Medical Daily, "Doctors Can Be Sued for Emotional Distress Even Without Physical Negligence," Christine Hsu, Jan. 31, 2012
]]>The reason for the high cost was simply because of timing. The student's study abroad program had ended on December 9, just three days before the motorcycle accident. On that same day, his study abroad health insurance also expired. If his insurance had still been in effect, the expenses associated with medical evacuation to a home country would have been covered. But because his insurance had expired, his family had to pay out-of-pocket to get him home.
]]> Unfortunately, it was not an option for the student to remain and be treated in Nicaragua. Although the doctors in that country were able to repair his fractured femur in an emergency surgical procedure, they did not have the ability to evaluate or monitor the head injury he had suffered in the crash. Therefore, it was imperative that the student be flown back to Tucson for treatment.The student's mother first paid $36,000 to release the student from the hospital in Nicaragua, and then another $50,000 to have him flown to the University of Arizona Medical Center. The family's private insurance plan refused to fund any of the expenses associated with the transport.
Now, the student is back in Tucson, and his friends and family are setting up charity events to raise money for his transport and other medical expenses. He is reportedly making good progress on his recovery.
Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat, "Student injured in accident abroad," Eliza Molk, Jan. 16, 2012
]]>If you've been in this situation, you have hopefully always been able to catch yourself before you fell completely asleep and got into a car accident. Many people, however, are not that lucky. That's why several automakers have begun experimenting with technology aimed at preventing drowsy driving accidents.
]]> Specifically, car companies' "lane-assist technology" is meant to keep drivers in their lanes and alert them if they begin to drift. Ford's "Lane Keeping System," for example, relies on a camera mounted to the rear-view mirror. When the system is turned on and the car is driving more than 40 miles per hour, the camera will use the road's lane markings to determine whether the vehicle is drifting toward either side of the lane.If the system senses that the car is veering to either side of the lane, and if the turn signal is not on, the steering wheel will vibrate. If the driver does not correct the car's direction, the power steering will engage and steer the vehicle back toward the center of the lane.
Thus far, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has hesitated to recommend lane-assist technology to the general public. The agency says that more research needs to be done on the systems before a recommendation can be made.
What do you think? Would these systems be effective at preventing drowsy driving accidents in Arizona?
Source: New York Times, "Trying to Nudge Drowsy Drivers," Randall Stross, Jan. 21, 2012
]]>But the most dangerous factor, researchers found, was having another teenager in the car. In particular, one of the two studies found that teenagers who drive with multiple passengers generally consider themselves to be thrill-seekers, were not aware of the risks of driving, and did not feel that their parents were strictly monitoring their whereabouts or driving habits.
]]> The second study, which interviewed teenage drivers who had been involved in serious crashes, aimed to determine how the drivers had been behaving prior to the accidents. Both male and female respondents stated that they had been distracted or had otherwise been engaging in risky behavior when they had other teenagers in their vehicle. Specifically, more than 70 percent of males and 45 percent of females said that the actions of their teenage passengers had distracted them prior to the accident.The study also found a significant difference between the driving behaviors of teenage boys and girls. Males with teen passengers were more than twice as likely to drive aggressively and about six times more likely to perform an illegal maneuver than when they were driving alone. Females, on the other hand, rarely drove aggressively, regardless of whether they had a passenger.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Risky business: Teens driving with other teens," Joel Provano, Jan. 24, 2012
]]>The study was completed through a review of about 120 pedestrian accidents that took place from 2004 to 2011. All of the crashes studied involved a pedestrian who was wearing headphones when he or she was struck by a car, train, or other motor vehicle. Researchers found that the pedestrians were injured in nearly all of the accidents, and that they suffered life-ending injuries in about 70 percent of the motor vehicle accidents studied.
]]> Specifically, more than two-thirds of the pedestrians involved in both the fatal and non-fatal accidents were males under the age of 30. This is a demographic that is more likely to be listening to headphones while walking or bicycling than other age groups, researchers said. "The increased incidence of accidents over the years closely corresponds to documented rising popularity of auditory technologies with headphones," the study stated.In addition, about one-third of the motor vehicle drivers or train operators involved in the crashes studied reported that they had sounded their vehicle's horn prior to the pedestrian accidents. This reinforces researchers' belief that headphones were a major contributor to the accidents, removing pedestrians' ability to hear the oncoming vehicles and avoid the motor vehicle accidents.
Source: USA Today, "Study: More headphone-wearing walkers hit by cars," Chris Woodyard, Jan. 17, 2012
]]>According to the highway safety group's ninth annual report, Arizona has adopted fewer than five of the 15 laws that the group considers "basic to traffic safety." These laws include required use of motorcycle helmets and seat belts and stricter laws on teen and distracted driving.
]]> More than 750 people were killed on Arizona roads in 2010, with an estimated cost of nearly $3 billion, says group president Jacqueline Gillan. "It doesn't make sense when you look at the economic cost and carnage on the Arizona highways," she said, "that they are still ignoring some really effective public health interventions that could really bring down deaths and injuries and costs for the state," she said.But Arizona state officials say that the laws proposed by the safety group don't address real problems on Arizona roads. In recent years, for example, the number of traffic deaths involving motorcyclists without helmets, drivers and passengers who weren't wearing seat belts, and teen drivers all dropped. At the same time, Arizona lawmakers have cracked down on drunk drivers, resulting in a significant drop in alcohol-related fatalities.
What do you think? Should the state add additional traffic safety laws in order to reduce car accident deaths? Or would those laws be unnecessary?
Source: The Daily Courier, "State: Report says Arizona has second-worst traffic-safety laws in the nation," Stephanie Snyder, Jan. 15, 2012
]]>The kayaker headed toward shore and took the dog to a nearby veterinary office. When the vet scanned the dog's microchip and identified his owner, the sad truth was learned. It turned out that the dog had fled a fatal pedestrian accident that morning. His owner, however, had not survived the crash.
]]> According to police reports, the car accident occurred earlier that afternoon, as a 53-year-old woman was jogging with the dog, a Hungarian Vizsla named Barney. Suddenly, a car jumped the sidewalk and crashed into the pair. The woman died at the scene, and Barney fled, terrified and injured. It is not known how or when the dog made his way into the Gulf.Police say that the 22-year-old driver was drunk after spending the day at the beach. When he crashed into the woman, he was reportedly in the process of fleeing an earlier hit-and-run accident, the details of which are not known. The driver has been charged with DUI manslaughter, and is being held without bail.
Barney, on the other hand, is expected to make a full recovery from the injuries he suffered in the crash. He has been returned to members of his owner's family.
Source: The Arizona Republic, "Kayaker finds swimming dog that escaped fatal crash," Jan. 10, 2012
]]>The incident occurred east of Sierra Vista, Arizona. According to police reports, the 60-year-old victim was walking her dog, an Australian Shepherd, when she passed a house with three large dogs inside the yard. Upon seeing the passing dog, the two boxers and one pit bull broke out of the yard and began to attack the victim's dog.
]]> When the woman tried to pull the attacking animals off of her dog, they turned on her. Nearby residents heard the commotion from the attack and rushed to the woman's aid. One neighbor had to shoot two of the attacking dogs in order to stop the attack.When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they found that the victim had suffered severe injuries. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she received 45 staples to close wounds in her head. Her dog was also taken to a nearby animal hospital and treated for bite injuries. He will remain there until his owner is well enough to care for him.
The owner of the three attacking dogs received three criminal citations for Dogs at Large and two citations for Dog Bite. It is not known how the dogs managed to escape her yard. All three of the dogs were euthanized following the attacks.
Source: San Pedro Valley News-Sun, "Dogs' owner cited for attack on woman walking her dog," Derek Jordan, Dec. 20, 2011
]]>But according to a recent study, the overwhelming majority of hospitals do not comply with those requirements. In fact, only one out of seven hospitals report medical errors that affect the health of Medicare patients while they are hospitalized. Yet for some reason the hospitals that do not comply continue to receive Medicare reimbursements from the government.
]]> The study was completed by Daniel Levinson, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Levinson found that approximately 130,000 Medicare beneficiaries experienced at least one error or adverse event in a hospital per month. Common instances of medical malpractice include medication mistakes, bedsores, infections, and excessive bleeding due to improper use of blood thinners.Even when hospitals reported these incidents, very few of them took the required action of changing their practices to prevent future similar events. Levinson believes this is because hospital employees do not recognize what actually constitutes preventable patient harm, and think the result was just an isolated event.
In an effort to make it more obvious that an injury needs to be reported, Medicare officials are reportedly developing a list of "reportable events" for hospital employees. Hopefully, this will lead to more reporting of errors, greater oversight of the system as a whole and better care for hospital patients.
Source: New York Times, "Report Finds Most Errors at Hospitals Go Unreported," Robert Pear, Jan. 6, 2012
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