In cycling, the first line of defense against brain injury is the helmet. A properly fitted, regulation helmet can save your life in the event of a crash. But if the integrity of the helmet is compromised–if cracked or crushed in an accident–it loses its ability to protect your head. Unfortunately, a dangerous crack isn’t …
For a lot of folks, of all ages, a good nap is a guilty pleasure. But as people get older, they also become afraid that napping will make them seem “old,” and that they could be branded as “lazy.” And because many people develop sleep disorders as they age, they also worry that napping might …
This is a story everyone remembers. On September 11, 2009, Dr. Raymond Cook went drinking…then drank some more…then got behind the wheel and caused the wreck that killed Elena Bright Shapiro, a promising ballerina with the Carolina Ballet. According to an article on WRAL.com, Cook’s trial begins today. Raleigh police said Cook, of 10516 Beckridge …
Trial Begins for Doctor Charged in Ballerina's Death Read More »
I just read a fantastic editorial about head injury and concussion in youth sports, written by someone who knows and cares: Neurologist Richard C. Senelick, M.D., Medical Director of the Rehabilitation Institute of San Antonio. He is also a father and a grandfather, so this topic is more than just an abstract medical exercise to …
This is National Childhood Injury Prevention Week, running from September 1-7, 2010. (That includes this Labor Day weekend, so take extra holiday safety precautions!) According to the Washington Hospital Healthcare System, accidental injuries are the number one cause of child deaths…and, about 90% of all childhood injuries can be prevented. What can you do to …
Imagine that you have been in a car wreck and are unable to work because of your injuries… or that you have ongoing hospital bills due to medical malpractice. You’ve done everything right. You took your case to court and won a settlement for your losses. How long do you think it might take to …
Support for New Bill to Streamline Medicare Reimbursements Read More »
Most of us have fond memories of those “Hey, watch me dive” days from our childhood. I remember one summer when my cousin slipped while running around the edge of the pool and split his lip on the concrete… and another year when my teenage friend nearly drowned after body surfing in the dark. In hindsight, it is obvious that we were all pretty lucky that our injuries weren’t worse than that. Those memories just as easily could have been tragic.
Imagine a hospital operating room wired for phone use. How would you feel if the surgeon removing your appendix talked on the phone — hands free, of course — while operating? That’s the question posed in this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine by Dr. Amy N. Ship, assistant professor of medicine at …
Today, General Motors Company announced the recall of 1.5 million vehicles because the heated windshield washer fluid systems posed a fire hazard. There was a similar recall in 2008, but a second hazard was discovered in June 2009. That raises the question of why it took a year for the recall to be initiated. Letters …
Infusion pumps are used in hospitals and nursing homes to deliver nutrients or medications to people in hospitals or nursing homes. One brand, the Colleague infusion pumps made by Baxter International, has been recalled after the company failed to fix problems with battery failures and software errors. According to an article in the New York …