Brain Injury Lawyer - New York

Pediatric Skull X Ray May Be Omitted in Head Injury Assessment

Physicians can safely omit taking a  routine skull x ray in children 1 to 14 years of age who present to the emergency room with a head injury according to researchers in Scotland who have published their study in this month's Archives of Diseases in Childhood.

The study authors conclude that the mechanism of head injury, a history of drowsiness, a loss of consciousness and a reduced score on the Glasgow coma score (GCS) are the most important indicators of a serious head injury in children.  If these findings are present then their is cause for an immediate computed tomography study  (CT scan) of the brain.  The investigators say that using this protocol, children will be spared needless skull x rays.  The article also reports that 10% of all childhood hospital admissions in the United Kingdom are due to head injury.

10% of Arizona Football Players Will Suffer A Concussion According to New Study Released by Arizona Brain Injury Association

The Arizona Brain Injury Association has reported a new study claiming that 10% of Arizona high school football players will sustain a concussion this year.  Amazingly 60% of concussions will go unreported increasing the risk of post concussion syndrome and the risk of a second impact before fully recovered from the first concussion.  Read the full press release issued by the Brain Injury Association of Arizona by clicking here .

Preventing Head Injury: New Jersey Amends Helmet Law

New Jersey's helmet law for bicyclists and skateboarders is extending its reach. Helmets will be required for anyone under age 17 as of next spring.

Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey on Friday signed legislation that amends a 1992 law that required helmets for children under 14. The law also applies to roller skating.

"It is a proven fact that helmets save lives. Yet 80 percent of New Jersey's high school students do not wear a helmet when riding a bike," Codey said. "One little mistake while biking or skating can lead to a life-altering brain injury and a lifetime of tragedy."

To promote helmet safety, the New Jersey Brain Injury Association has also started another program called the Brainy Brunch Helmet Program.  Police officers are issuing a summons to children found wearing a helmet which entitles them to a free slice of pizza and a soda.  Read more about this head injury prevention program by clicking here.

Read the full story about the amended helmet law and information supplied by the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey by clicking here .

Epilepsy Research Targets New Type of Brain Cell

A frequent condition developing after a closed head injury is traumatically induced epilepsy. Now, a new study suggests that drug companies have been targeting the wrong type of brain cells to control the seizures that develop. 

Epilepsy researchers may have spent decades studying and treating the wrong population of brain cells, and consequently drug companies may have to start developing new medicines to treat the disease, according to a new study.

While most researchers have targeted neurons, the study suggests that it is the brain's abundant support cells - the astrocytes - that are the key to epilepsy, which affects about 2 million Americans.
It has long been thought that anti-epileptic drugs target the synapse - the gap between neurons that allows one cell to send messages to the next cell. Quieting the synapse, drug developers thought, prevented abnormal firing of neurons. But,  this new study also found that the anti-epileptic medicines also slow down astrocyte activity, which explains why medicines work in two of every three patients.  Click here to read more information.

North American Brain Injury Society Legal and Medical Conference

The program for the North American Brain Injury Lawyers Conference and Medical Conference has been finalized.  The 18th annual medical-legal conference is scheduled to be held at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island from September 22-September 24, 2005.  This is the third year that this brain injury lawyer conference is being hosted by the North American Brain Injury Society.  In prior years, this conference hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America.

This conference is truly unique.  In addition to a brain injury lawyers track, additional tracks have been created for other professionals interested in brain damage as well.  The conference is an ideal location for lawyers who handle brain trauma cases to gather and exchange ideas. 

I am pleased to have again been invited to speak at this conference.  This year I will be lecturing on the Ethical Considerations in Representing Persons with a Brain Injury.  My presentation will take place on September 23, 2005. The full conference agenda and registration information can be obtained on line by clicking here. 

Participate in Field Testing Brain Injury Awareness Posters

With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has an opportunity to field test a number of Brain Injury Awareness posters with a tip cards and booklets on content and design. 

WHO:   People with brain injury and their caregivers / family members.
WHAT:  $80 compensation for a telephone interview seeking input on BIAA materials.
WHERE: Your home / telephone.
WHEN:  Early to Mid September.
WHY:    So that Brain Injury Association of America  materials are the best they can be.
HOW: Interested persons should respond with their name, address and phone number to Annie Starler, BIAA Administrative Assistant, at astarler@bianusa.org

Due to the nature of this testing eligible participants CANNOT be employed by a State Affiliate, employed in a health care field, or even a volunteer board member for an affiliate. 

The focus-testing of our materials would require approximately an  hour of time by telephone.  Some individuals will be in a group discussion and some would have individual interviews.

If selected, individuals would be compensated $80 for their time.  There may not be room to accommodate everyone who is interested.  The testing is scheduled for late early to mid September, 2005.

Interested persons should respond with their name, address and phone  number to Annie Starler, BIAA Administrative Assistant, at astarler@biausa.org

More on Brain Scans

I just came across a press release describing a new ultra high resolution MRI scanner designed to detect structural changes in the brain from Philips Medical.

As a brain injury lawyer, I was excited when I heard about Tesla 3 MRI machines which doubled the power of the MRI to detect brain damage.  Now comes a Tesla 7.0 machine.  The machine apparently is being introduced at Ohio State University.  Hopefully this new technology will be able to show the structural damage to the brain which until now remained "invisible" allowing brain injury lawyers to visibly show their client's brain damage to the jury.  Remember, absence of proof is not proof of absence. For the full press release click here.

Guide to State Government Brain Injury Policies, Funding and Services

  The second edition of this Guide has now been published.  This newly revised guide delineates the extent to which States have developed and funded coordinated services and supports for individuals with TBI and their families. It is intended to assist State Agency administrators in identifying trends in service development and funding mechanisms, as well as to inform Federal policy makers about the status of brain injury service delivery nationwide. Other individuals and organizations with an interest in TBI-related State government policies and programs will find this to be a valuable resource as well.

A primary objective of this publication is to capture an accurate and current "state-of-the-States" in brain injury service delivery. This is accomplished by presenting a systematic arrangement of responses provided by the country's brain injury program administrators to a 93-question survey.

Preserving the same basic structure of the 2003 Guide, this edition includes more comprehensive descriptions of each State's service delivery system, in addition to several new narratives. Its major sections include National Data, Federal/State Funding, State Funding, Services and Supports, Prevention Programs and Policies, and the State Profiles. The Summation provides a synopsis of current activities and future trends.  Appendices supply a copy of the Survey Form used to gather data, and delineate milestones in TBI policy and legislation.

Individual sections can be downloaded from NASHIA's website at: http://www.nashia.org/pdocfiles/RC/reguide.htm

A bound copy of the complete publication can be ordered from the NASHIA
Store online at http://www.nashia.org.

Long Island Brain Injury Caregiver Roundtable

A regional round table discussion for caregivers of persons with a brain injury, head injury, concussion or coma is scheduled for September 27, 2005 from 7PM to 9 PM at the Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation (an affiliate of the North Shore University Hospital). 

The round table is sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of New York State www.bianys.org  and will be facilitated by the Director of Membership, Judith Sandman and by Dr. Deborah Benson, PhD, director of the traumatic brain injury program of Transitions of Long Island, a brain injury rehabilitation facility which is part of North Shore University Hospital.

The caregiver experience in caring for some one who has experienced a brain trauma, can be richly rewarding, but at the same time be overwhelming and physically and emotionally stressful.  As a consequence, caregivers can experience many feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration all of which are normal and common.  The round table is intended for you to join together with other caregivers for those with brain damage to learn how to take care of your needs while caring for the needs of your loved ones.  Be part of this great opportunity to share and care.

You are encouraged to RSVP by September 23, 2005 by contacting Denise Hart at 516 562 8031

Head Injury and Motorcycle Helmets

Proving again that the best cure for brain injury is prevention:

A federal study has found motorcycle fatalities in Florida increased more than 81 percent, and the number of deaths for riders younger than 21 nearly tripled, in three years after state lawmakers repealed a law requiring riders to wear a helmet.

According to researchers, head injury hospital admissions rose 80 percent and the cost for hospitals to treat head, brain or skull injuries more than doubled, from $21 million to $50 million.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study also found injuries have become more expensive to treat. The average hospital cost to treat a head injury was $45,602, more than four times the $10,000 insurance non-helmeted riders are required to carry. Read the full story by clicking here .

SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE  -- WEAR A HELMET YOURSELF WHEN ENGAGING IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES