Who says there’s no more creativity in American business?

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. (He forgot about it shortly thereafter.  Kidding!)  Alzheimer’s is a progressive and fatal brain disease. As many as 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells, causing memory [...]]]> Source:  AARP Bulletin, July 2010

Who says there’s no more creativity in American business?

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. (He forgot about it shortly thereafter.  Kidding!)  Alzheimer’s is a progressive and fatal brain disease. As many as 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life.  It is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States.

The most common form of the disease is dementia (general memory loss) which interferes with daily life.  The disease is currently without a cure.

A small company in Philadelphia (of all places), Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, has offered information on a radioactive dye which may be used in connection with currently existing PET scan technology.  The dye “sticks” to the plaques (a protein known as beta-amyloid) on the brain which are associated with Alzheimer’s and appear whiter on the scan.  Reportedly, the dye finds and highlights plaques in 97% of the PET scans.

The test, if approved for marketing by the US Food & Drug Administration, could help diagnose the disease in its early stages to allow for medical intervention.  For those suffering along with a family member who has Alzheimer’s the value of added time can not be denied.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

A stroke is the interruption of blood to the brain.  It is most commonly caused by vascular interruption from a blood clot or cholesterol blockage or cholesterol embolus.  Rarely, it may also be caused by fungal endocarditis and fungal emboli following mitral valve replacement surgery.

Strokes have been classified as “brain attacks.”  [...]]]> Source:  BBC Health; The Lancet

A stroke is the interruption of blood to the brain.  It is most commonly caused by vascular interruption from a blood clot or cholesterol blockage or cholesterol embolus.  Rarely, it may also be caused by fungal endocarditis and fungal emboli following mitral valve replacement surgery.

Strokes have been classified as “brain attacks.”  Like heart attacks, strokes can damage and kill tissue and result in temporary or permanent brain, injury, nerve injury (palsy), paralysis, loss of coordination and balance,neurological impairment, loss of speech and death.  Predicting them and treating them before they occur can be critically important.

Researchers are calling for new guidelines for GP’s (General Practitioners or Primary Care Providers here in the US) to ensure that blood pressure remains at a steady level.  While lower is preferential, it appears to be the fluctuation (change up or down) of blood pressure that determines the risk of stroke.   Current guidelines call for a re-check of a high blood pressure only.  If that second pressure is normal there is rarely treatment in the form of medication.  And medication alone might not be the answer.  Studies published in The Lancet have suggested that beta blockers (a common class of heart medication) may increase variation in blood pressure.

Like the fable the tortoise and the hare, it appears that slow and steady really does win the race when it comes to blood pressure and decreasing the risk of stroke or at the very least predicting those patients at risk for stroke.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

United States Federal Prosecutors have been directed to stop marijuana-related prosecutions in the current States (14 of them) in which the medical use of marijuana has been “legalized.”

The Federal Government has wisely (legally speaking anyway) decided that it is antithetical and a waste of funding to interfere with State [...]]]> Source:  US Department of Justice Press Release

United States Federal Prosecutors have been directed to stop marijuana-related prosecutions in the current States (14 of them) in which the medical use of marijuana has been “legalized.”

The Federal Government has wisely (legally speaking anyway) decided that it is antithetical and a waste of funding to interfere with State Legislation on the issue.  Since most of you are dying to know, the States which currently permit medical usage of marijuana are: Alaska; California; Colorado; Hawaii; Maine; Michigan; Montana; Nevada; New Mexico; Oregon; Rhode Island; Vermont; and Washington.

Yes that’s 13. The 14th, Maryland, merely permits reduced possession penalties for those using the drug for a medical purpose.  In the words of Bob Marley, “Legalize it. No, don’t criticize it.”  And in the words of former President Bill Clinton, “Don’t inhale.”

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire.

_ You or a loved one were significantly injured from a surgical error or complication of surgery

_ You or a loved one were significantly injured from improper medical care or treatment

_ You or a loved one were diagnosed with breast, ovarian, prostate or other cancer after a year [...]]]> You MAY have a medical malpractice case if:

_ You or a loved one were significantly injured from a surgical error or complication of surgery

_ You or a loved one were significantly injured from improper medical care or treatment

_ You or a loved one were diagnosed with breast, ovarian, prostate or other cancer after a year or more of having symptoms

_ You or a loved one experienced stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolism after being discharged from a hospital ER

_ You or a loved one contracted a serious infection while in a hospital

_ You or a loved one have bed sores or broken bones from a fall during a nursing home stay

_ You or a loved one experienced significant injury while being treated at a Veterans’ Hospital

_ You or a loved one were prescribed the wrong medication or too much medication

_ Your baby experienced hypoxia, birth asphyxia or brain injury following delivery due to a delay in delivery

_ Your baby experienced shoulder dystocia or nerve injury to the shoulder, arm and hand following delivery

_ You or a loved one are having a hard time getting answers from your doctor or hospital

_You or a loved one are having problems getting your medical records from your doctor or hospital

_ The records from your doctor or hospital do not accurately reflect the care you received

If you have checked Yes to any of these questions and (IN PA and NJ) the medical treatment at issue occurred within the past 2 years, you MAY have a medical malpractice case.  The Lewis Law Firm, PC will provide you with a free initial consultation to determine whether you have a medical malpractice case.

Complications, including significant injury or death, following medical treatment create confusion in addition to pain and loss.  You may have “a gut feeling” that something went wrong.  You may be too uncertain or even embarrassed about questioning medical care to consult with a lawyer.

The above is a quick check list of “red flags” which might indicate that your “gut feeling” is correct.  Obviously one can never determine from a checklist whether you actually have a medical malpractice case.  But these are certainly some good questions to start with.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire