InjuryBoard National News Desk

Burn Advocates Network Returns From Mission In Haiti

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:19:29 GMT

Photo Credit: Sam Davis

Samuel L. Davis, founder and president of the Burn Advocates Network (BAN), returned from BAN's third mission to Haiti this week with new insight on many of the hidden problems inherent in what can loosely be referred to as Haiti's "health care system."

During his stay in Cap Haitien and Port-au-Prince, Sam met with Dr. Alex Larsen and Dr. Ariel Henry, Haiti's Minister of Health and Chief of Cabinet, respectively. They confirmed that there are currently twenty to thirty amputees in Cap Haitien who need prosthetic devices, with no one there who knows when they can receive it. "They've been needing the prosthetics since January, when the earthquake first devastated the country," says Sam, "We need to do something about the lack of a systemized medical care network, because there are facilities out there—including one in Milot, which is only half an hour away from Cap Haitien—that can very easily produce and fit the patients for the much-needed devices."

Photo Credit: Sam Davis

Sam Davis will continue to work with volunteers, medical staff, and cabinet members to fix the underlying issue. He tells us, "There are medical facilities that could be seeing up to 150 patients per week out there, but are only seeing thirty-five because they have no way of locating or contacting the patients who need the help and care." BAN brought some suggestions about creating charts for patients, which were well-received and have been implemented. The charting now helps doctors and nurses to track the progress of every patient, and allows them to contact the patients who may need surgeries or physical therapy as the resources become available.

Also during their stay, the Burn Advocates Network's volunteers—which include Thomas Bojko, M.D., MS., J.D., Joel Kopelman, M.D., F.A.C.S, and Josef Tuazon, DPT—spent the week in surgery and physical therapy sessions with patients and also with the local medical staff, for the purpose of training the area's medical personnel. "Together, we can improve the current quality of medical care and work on building a larger network of healthcare professionals. Then, we will be able to move forward on creating a database and communication system for the medical facilities already existing in Haiti. We'll do it one solid step at a time."

This article was co-authored by Lauren D. Shinn, a senior at Montclair State University double majoring in Classics and Latin, with a minor in Creative Writing. She aspires to be a lawyer and was recently appointed the campaign manager of Burn Advocates Network. She also interns at Davis, Saperstein, & Salomon, P.C. and strives to incorporate her diverse talents and interests—which include her strong writing skills and her knowledge of multiple languages—in her work for both organizations. Follow Lauren on Twitter or connect with her on Facebook.

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Chrissie Cole

Update: Burn Advocates Network In Haiti

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:56:50 GMT

We warn you that these pictures are disturbing to look at but it’s the reality of why Burn Advocates is in Haiti right now… To help youth live meaningful lives after sustaining serious burn injuries.

Photo sent by Ross Kopelman, Surgical Support Volunteer

“We spent 4 hrs doing a surgery yesterday for a 6-year-old boy who lost his right eye when he fell into a fire during the month of January, right after the earthquake. Alana Davis and I acted as my dad's assistants again to help place a prosthetic in the eye socket...we made graphs from tissue in the child's mouth and used them in the socket...will provide more info and pictures later.”

Photo sent by Sam Davis, founder Burn Advocates Network.

"Yvonde Alsiana, Justinien Hospital burn survivor we are helping. 3 months after burn from oil heater."

Text messages and emails can be a little slow going while in Haiti, but we will be updating when possible. Follow along on Twitter as well. Also make sure to read our post from yesterday, "Burn Advocates Network In Haiti."

This article was co-authored by Lauren D. Shinn, campaign manager of Burn Advocates Network.

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Chrissie Cole

Burn Advocates Network In Haiti

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:11:31 GMT

* Photo credit: Ross Kopelman, Surgical Support Volunteer.

"As a youth burn survivor myself I can appreciate the proactive role that Sam and the Burn Advocates Network are taking to help youth live meaningful lives after burn accidents," writes Kéto Hodges on his blog.

At the age of 4, Kéto sustained 2^nd-and-3^rd degree burns in his home country of Haiti due to a cooking accident. Caring medical missionaries including his future adoptive mother, Dr. Guy Theodore, founder of L'Hospital Bienfaisance de Pignon, and Shriners Hospitals for Children, saved him from death and relocated him to the US, where he underwent 14 reconstructive plastic surgeries from 1985-1995.

Samuel Davis, a partner at Davis, Saperstein, & Salomon, P.C., is also the founder of Burn Advocates Network, which exists to support burn survivors of any age—youth, military combat veterans, and senior citizens through the post-accident recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

Kéto and Sam are currently thousands of miles away from home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, along with the other Burn Advocates Network volunteers who have accompanied him on his trip.

In a rushed text message, Ross Kopelman—a volunteer and son of the Haiti mission's Chief Surgeon, Joel Kopelman, MD, F.A.C.S.—tells us, "Both my father and I have had direct interaction with patients. I've been acting as his surgical assistant, though in America I wouldn't be qualified beyond EMT to assist him."

In February 2010, Burn Advocates Network donated and personally delivered 60,000 pounds of medical supplies, 200 mattresses, food, clothing, and water to Haiti. In April, they delivered another 40,000 pounds and built North Haiti's first Physical and Occupational Therapy Center. August marks their third mission.

Although Burn Advocates Network's mission statement declares that their objective is to support burn survivors, Sam and his volunteers are in Haiti to do much more than that. He tells us that there are plans to build Haiti's first Burn Care and Rehabilitation Center, but we can see from his actions that he is not ignoring the other daily crises appearing before the team, burn cases or not.

Ross's text message continues, "A man fell from a two-story building and severely ruptured and tore his hand. We both took care of him yesterday. One patient had a collapsed lung that needed to be fixed. We found patients with benign tumors who will have to be sent back to the US. We witnessed spinal taps of patients with severe fevers, a lot of tuberculosis. They're missing supplies and you have to be careful not to use too much of what they have—it has to be rationed carefully."

Please follow along as we share Sam and Kéto's journey. We will be posting photos and updates as we get them. Stay tuned!

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Chrissie Cole

Ron Motley Receives AAJ 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:36:25 GMT

Ronald Motley, of Motley Rice, one of the nation’s largest plaintiffs’ litigation firms, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2010 at the AAJ annual convention in Vancouver, Canada today.

Motley was named the 2010 recipient in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the legal profession and demonstrated commitment to the pursuit of justice.

Motley (also an IB Member ) is a 1971 graduate of the University Of South Carolina School Of Law. His more than 30 years practicing law have been highlighted by asbestos litigation taking on insulation maker Johns Manville. Motley Rice asbestos lawyers continue to fight for justice and compensation for those affected by asbestos exposure.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor awarded by the AAJ and is given annually to an individual who has continually demonstrated courage and excellence in trial advocacy, not only contributing to the legal profession but also to his or her community and society as a whole.

Learn more about Ron Motley and discover some lesser known facts about him. Including, the Mark Elliott Motley Foundation, Inc., set up in memory of his late son.

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Chrissie Cole

Congratulations To Gibson Vance New AAJ President

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:33:51 GMT

Injury Board would like to Congratulate Gibson Vance for his recent appointment as President of the American Association for Justice. Vance will be one of six officers representing AAJ’s 60,000 members nationwide. He has served on several key committees in AAJ including the National Finance Committee, Public Affairs Committee, Budget Committee and Membership Oversight Committee.

Vance (an IB Member), is a specialist in the Consumer Fraud division of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC, concentrating in actions against those who negligently or intentionally harm others. He has participated in dozens of jury trials in his legal career, many of which have resulted in large verdicts for his client.

AAJ, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, was established in 1946 to promote justice and address the challenges inherent in trial advocacy.

Read more about Gibson Vance. And please join us in congratulating him!

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Chrissie Cole

Big Pharma in Academia

Jane Akre — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:40:04 GMT

LEARN MORE

PharmedOut.org
“Prescription for Conflict”
IB News- Million Dollar Conflict of interest by Emory Psychiatrist- October 2008
IB News- Harvard Psychiatrist on the Hot Seat for conflict of Interest – November 2008

Image Source: Wiki Careers Web site / medical class

Mother Jones, and specifically James Ridgeway, reports on the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. and its ubiquitous push into the hearts and minds of the medical profession.

Besides pens and lunch, spa retreats and big screen televisions, Big Pharma has a role in educating doctors, specifically, continuing-education programs.

With about $2 billion spent on these programs a year, half coming from the pharmaceutical industry, Ridgeway reports the "education" becomes an opportunity to push new drugs.

Georgetown University discussed the issue at its “Prescription for Conflict” conference last week.

Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman has long been a critic of the relationship and helped found PharmedOut.org with Ridgeway. It educates the public on the potential conflict-of-interest when doctors are educated by drug makers.

FDA deputy commissioner, Joshua Sharfstein, attended the conference as did Julie Taitsman of the HHS, who presented a list of laws that protect the public.

An investigator with Sen. Charles Grassley’s office told the doctors to come to grips with the conflicts of interest that exist that hurt patient care.

A statement from an anonymous “pharmaceutical executive,” said that continuing medical education “has the potential for inappropriate promotional messaging and influence.”

This anonymous person said that the sales and marketing departments of pharmaceutical companies are making the decision to fund continuing medical education. “Friendly institutions” are most likely to receive grant money.

Ridgeway talks more about this on his blog, Unsilent Generation.

IB News has reported on millions given to doctors at Emory University and Harvard University and the conflicts that presented in patient care. #

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Jane Akre

Kellogg's: 'Substance' Led To Recall of 28 Million Boxes of Cereal

Jane Akre — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:37:15 GMT

Kellogg's Co., of Battle Creek, Michigan, wants the public to know that some consumers are particularly sensitive to a "substance" commonly used in packaging materials, the source of the off-odors and flavors found in some of the popular kid cereals.

On June 25, the company announced a recall of about 28 million boxes of Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, and Honey Smacks because of an off-smell.

Consumers with the particular reactions can expect nausea and diarrhea within 15 minutes of eating the cereals. Many consumers have written to IB News saying they experienced gastrointestinal distress which kept them out of work.

"It was not caused by any material in the food" the company says in a news release.

What is the material?

The news release does not name it only to say it is present at "very low levels" in the waxy resins used to make packaging materials approved by the FDA." This is the sort of wax found on shiny apples and cucumbers.

Johnson & Johnson recently had to recall millions of bottles of Tylenol because of an "off" smell and musty odor which eventually was sourced to a chemical used on the wooden pallets used to transport packing materials at a manufcturing facility in Puerto Rico.

IB News has received not a single returned phone call to repeated requests for updated information, which is a departure from the normal corporate communications response. Our original story was published June 25.

Here is the news release:

June 27, 2010
2:25 p.m.
Experts Agree Issues Caused by Off-Odors and Flavors:

"Some Consumers Particularly Sensitive to Substances Commonly Used in Packaging Materials
Kellogg Company has identified a substance in the package liners of several cereals that can produce an uncharacteristic waxy-like off-taste and smell. We completed a thorough health-risk assessment with external experts in medicine, toxicology, public health, chemistry, and food safety. The results show that this is a reaction to the odor and flavor in the food; it was not caused by any harmful material in the food.

"The external experts agree that some consumers are particularly sensitive to these uncharacteristic off-tastes and smells which can have temporary effects, including nausea and diarrhea. People who are particularly sensitive to these off-tastes and smells react from 0 - 15 minutes after eating the product.

"The off-tastes and smells are caused by a slightly elevated level of a substance commonly present at very low levels in the waxy resins used to make packaging materials that are approved by the FDA. They are also commonly used to coat foods such as cheese, raw fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers. We did not find any substances that are not commonly used in packaging materials.

"We understand that these short-term symptoms are unpleasant and we are very sorry for any discomfort or concern you have experienced. According to the external experts, these effects should be temporary and your symptoms should subside shortly.

"We are working with our supplier of the liner to ensure that this problem does not happen again. We sincerely apologize to our loyal consumers for this situation."
###

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Jane Akre

InjuryBoard News Headlines forThursday July 1

Jane Akre — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:12:50 GMT

BP Cleanup Hampered by Now Tropical Storm Alex
Hurricane Alex is slowing cleanup efforts in the Gulf slowing the amount of oil siphoned off by BP. Meanwhile the world’s largest oil skimmer arrived in the Gulf awaiting approval to begin. Alex is forecast to hit Mexico in a day or two. Latest news this morning, it’s been downgraded to a tropical storm.

More Cadmium Jewelry Recall
Cadmium has been found in trinkets for children distributed from doctor and dentist offices over the past five years. The CPSC is recalling nearly 70,000 charm bracelets and rings.

Texting While Driving Bans Enacted in Six States
Georgia is one of six states with new laws to ban texting while driving. Nearly 6,000 died in 2008 from distracted driving from texting and 500,000 others were injured. Now just a dozen states have no laws including Florida.

Millions of Vaccine Doses to be Burned
AP reports that a quarter of the swine flu vaccine overproduced for a wary public has expired and 40 million doses worth about $260 million will be destroyed.

Toyotas New Troubles
About 270,000 Toyota vehicles have potentially faulty engines, just the latest in the massive recalls for troubled Toyota.

Image Source: Telegraph UK Web site

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Jane Akre

FAA May Finally Address Dangerous Cockpit Fires

Jane Akre — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:07:23 GMT

Forced Emergency Landings

LEARN MORE

FAA Web site
NTSB Web site
Boeing Web site

IMAGE SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons Web site/ Boeing 757 Iberia Airlines windshield

For years, pilots and cockpit crews have watch as window heaters catch fire.

Windshields have shattered into spidery cracks and flight attendants held hands and prayed as the crew used fire extinguishers put out the flames. Pilots have made dozens of emergency landings.

So far none of the incidents has been deadly, but why have they been allowed to continue?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has known about the problem for years aboard some Boeing aircraft. The problem has been in some cases traced to a loose screw, reports the Associated Press.

The National Transportation Safety Board has urged the FAA to order the problem fixed in major airlines, but the FAA has yet to do so as it promised back in 2004.

Things almost changed in March 2008.

That’s when heavy smoke filled a cockpit of an American Airlines flight from Puerto Rico to Philadelphia. Terrified passengers were told they might face a rough landing in the water as the plane was diverted to Palm Beach, Florida.

After that emergency landing, the FAA proposed a safety fix, but the proposal has not been finalized and ordered. And as recently as May, a United Airlines 757 made an emergency landing at Washington Dulles after a cockpit fire. Pilots used two fire extinguishers after the initial fire was squelched then reignited.

Boeing admits there have been at least 29 incidents around the world involving problems with cockpit window heaters in the 747, 757, 767, and 777 aircraft since 2002. Fourteen emergency landing are attributed to the faulty window heaters in 757 and 777 models, and eleven emergency landings in 737s have occurred since 2002.

And these are only the incidents where flames were seen, not cracked windows or electrical arcing.

For their part, the major airlines say they are always replacing windows and conducting inspections. The FAA’s delay in ordering a fix may be due to objections from the airline industry because disassembling a windshield is complex.

Finally, the FAA plans to issue a final order in July. Airlines will have to replace damaged windows and check and replace the loose screw. #

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Jane Akre

Injuryboard News Headlines for Wednesday, June 30

Jane Akre — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:48:42 GMT

Some stories from around the world related to injury, health, and justice for Wednesday.

Enjoy!

BP is floating a financial lifeline to gas station owners.
The British oil giant is helping distributors and station owners stay competitive against a consumer boycott by offering cheaper gas in hopes of luring customers back who are taking their anger out on the BP name and image over the gusher in the Gulf.

Obesity Off the Charts
Obesity rates have jumped in 28 states with rates pushing above 25 percent in two-thirds of states, a dramatic change in a relatively short period of time. Just nine years ago, not a single state had an obesity rate over 20 percent.

Cancer survivors are being encouraged to exercise to fight off the physical decline that can occur during and after therapy.

1,800 Vets Exposed to HIV, Hepatitis?
A Veterans Affairs hospital in Missouri may have exposed more than 1,800 veterans to life-threatening diseases from improperly cleaned dental tools.

Taser Death Prompts lawsuit
A 45-year-old psychiatric patient died after being shocked with a Taser while he was in the hospital being restrained. The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against University Hospital in Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati police for shocking the paranoid schizophrenic, bi-polar disorder patient to death after he had already been sedated in the hospital.

Top Drug Makers to Access the Poor
Glaxo, Merck and Novartis rank among the top companies for outreach to the world’s poor with lower priced or donated drugs.

Image Source: Lighthouse in Crimea/ author: dormidon/ Wikimedia Commons

Originally posted at The Injury Board by Jane Akre