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Levels Of Traumatic Brain Injuries As Determined By The Glasgow Coma Scale
It doesn't matter whether you trip and hit your head, a heavy object strikes your skull, or an accident rattles your noggin. Any impact to the head is cause for concern as it could potentially cause a brain injury. There are varying degrees of brain injury severity and it is not always easy to immediately determine just how severe an injury is. One tool used by first responders and emergency room physicians is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The GCS is a simple, accurate assessment of consciousness in a person who has just suffered head trauma.
GCS Levels
The GCS is basically a set of tests that places eye opening, verbal, and motor responses on a scale to determine the severity of a brain injury. The assessor assigns points based on the following list of possible reactions:
Eye MovementVerbal AbilityMotor FunctionSpontaneous (+4)Oriented (+5)Obey commands (+6)React to Sound (+3)Confused (+4)Localized (+5)React to Pressure (+2)Can form words (+3)Normal flexation (+4)None (+1)Can create sound (+2)Abnormal flexation (+3)None (+1)Extension (+2)None (+1)
Risks Of Car Accidents While Pregnant: How Your Baby Could Suffer
Getting in your car and driving to wherever you need to has become second nature for many of us. Although it occurs to us to have others drive in certain situations (when we're tired or have been drinking, for example), the majority of the time if we feel healthy we don't see a need to call a cab or give our keys to someone else-we just get in and go.
Unfortunately, this state of mind isn't necessarily ideal in all situations, especially when you're in your second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Fetal Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents
The National Highway and Safety Administration estimates that mother and fetal injuries due to car accidents have been significantly increasing over the past few years, as shown in a University of Michigan study. The research estimates that between 1,500 and 5,000 fetal deaths, tens of thousands of permanent injuries, and numerous in utero complications can be contributed to serious car accidents. Even in situations where the expectant mother doesn't immediately present injuries, the likelihood of pre-term labor is still remarkably high.
When An Error Made During Surgery Causes Further Harm
Every year there are hundreds of thousands of people who need surgeries following car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, or from other circumstances such as heart disease or cancer. While the majority of surgeries help improve patients' health conditions, sometimes surgery causes patients further harm. In fact, many people have been harmed due to surgical errors that were actually preventable.
Although every patient who undergoes surgery understands there is some risk of complication, no patient ever assumes they will suffer a further injury or have their health condition made worse due to a doctor's negligence. However, some surgeons have made critical mistakes that fall below the accepted standard of care. Here are some examples of surgical errors that many patients have suffered from:
- Leaving equipment inside a patient. When a surgical sponge or instrument is left inside a patient during surgery, the patient can suffer an infection or other serious complications.
Would My Doctor Recognize A Heart Attack?
It doesn't seem possible that something as serious and life altering as a heart attack could go untreated. Yet every day in emergency rooms, patients presenting heart attack symptoms in DC are sent home with a bill and a prescription for heartburn medication.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
What you may not know is that not all heart attack sufferers experience intense chest pain. Some lesser-known symptoms of heart attacks include:
- Feeling dizzy, tired, or weak
- Shortness of breath
- Backaches
- Chills
- Indigestion symptoms, such as reflux
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Pain in the sides, stomach, neck or jaw
- Nausea or vomiting
- Paleness
- Sweating
When a heart attack happens, the patient experiences a lack of blood flow to the heart. If the patient receives treatment in time, the doctor may be able to save his life-but every minute the heart goes without blood, the heart tissue suffers. The muscle will become weakened, and if the patient survives he will likely experience a drastic decrease in quality of life: tiring easily, inability to do strenuous exercise, even permanent difficulty breathing.
Taking A Stand Against Hospitals Who Share Your Medical Information
You hear about doctor/patient confidentiality all the time on TV medical and legal dramas. You may have even heard it straight from your doctor's mouth. Nevertheless, you probably take it for granted that your medical history falls under that confidentiality agreement. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, as at least one Inova patient has learned.
One specific incident where confidential Inova medical reports were shared without the patient's consent was illustrated in the case of Inova Health Systems v Patricia Curtis. In this situation, an appeal was made to the Virginia Supreme Court in order to address the fact that Inova willfully shared the claimant's medical records with several parties without her consent. Unfortunately, due to filing errors, the claimant's case was dismissed and Inova didn't have to take responsibility for their disregard of a patient's privacy.
So, if the case wasn't dismissed on a technicality, would Inova have been guilty of malpractice for sharing confidential medical records?
Is Leaving Surgical Items Inside Patients A Problem In Virginia Hospitals?
Unfortunately, yes. Hospitals don't like to reveal how often patients suffer from retained surgical objects in Virginia, but a recent study estimated that 1 in every 8,000 patients will be wheeled out of surgery with a foreign object left inside them.
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A few objects that are commonly left in patient's bodies after surgery in Virginia:
- Cloth items. Gauze, sponges and towels are used to soak up excess blood for better access and clearer vision during surgery. Unfortunately, they are easy to lose, since they take on the same color and texture as the patient's wounds.
- Needles and tubing. If the affected area requires stitches, a needle, sutures or even plastic tubing may be left behind during wound closing.
- Surgical instruments. It may seem impossible that surgeons and nurses could leave instruments in a patient, but extensive procedures require multiple clamps, which are easy to overlook or miscount.
Why We May Be Failing In The Fight To Prevent Texting And Driving Accidents
As drivers, we know that texting and driving is distracting and can cause devastating accidents. Federal, state and local governments, along with national advocacy groups, have been publicizing the dangers of texting and driving for the past few years. We have all heard the message that texting and driving is extremely dangerous and can result in tragic consequences for the driver and other innocent victims.
Why it May Not Be That Simple
In November, 2014, AT&T released the results of a new survey that may shed light on why it is difficult for many people to stop texting and driving. According to the survey:
- 98% of motorists who have cellphones and text regularly are aware of the dangers of texting and driving
- 75% of motorists admit to texting and driving
So why do they do it?
- 43% of motorists say they want to stay connected to family, friends, and work
Reality of Compartment Syndrome After a Serious Injury
Auto accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other serious personal injury accidents often result in fractures. When a person suffers from a fracture to the lower leg, typically associated with a tibial fracture, it is possible to also suffer from acute compartment syndrome. Although acute compartment syndrome is most often associated with trauma to the lower leg, it can also affect those with trauma to other areas of the leg, feet, arms, and hands.
What Is Compartment Syndrome?
Compartment syndrome develops when a person sustains an injury to the body (e.g., a fracture or crush injury) that involves bleeding or swelling. When this occurs, excessive pressure can build up in an enclosed space (known as a compartment) due to blood or other fluids collecting in the compartment.
Compartments are groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves that are surrounded by tough connective tissues called fascia. Because fascia do not expand easily, the excessive pressure continues to rise due to the blood or fluid accumulating in the compartment. As a result, blood flow to tissues, nerves, and muscle cells is impeded. Consequently, tissue damage can occur and may even result in permanent muscle damage and loss of body function.
What Are The Financial Effects Of A Life-Altering Injury?
In the case of a disabling injury, a person isn't just left with physical wounds and limitations, but may be devastated financially. Unfortunately, a serious physical injury resulting from medical malpractice can be costly for the following reasons:
- Mounting medical bills. From tests and lengthy hospital stays to surgeries and medical devices such as wheelchairs, a disabling injury can cost an exorbitant amount of money. Even the follow-up physical therapy sessions and doctor's appointments can add up.
- Lost income. If a person suffered a serious injury that caused brain damage or paralysis, the person may no longer be able to perform his or her normal job duties. In fact, any type of disabling injury can cause long-term impairment that can lead to job loss and a lack of income.
- Ongoing care. This can include money for ongoing physical therapy sessions, co-pays for doctor's appointments, money for additional surgeries or new therapies, and even the cost associated with in-home care. A serious injury doesn't just financially affect a person or a person's family for the short-term, but can have a long-term impact.
When The Wrong Dose Of Medication Causes Harm
When a patient is given too much medication by a healthcare professional, the outcome can be devastating. While minor reactions include drowsiness or nausea and vomiting, serious effects such as coma, seizures, brain damage, and even death could be the result of a drug overdose.
What Qualifies as an Overdose?
An overdose occurs when someone is given more of a drug than what is medically recommended for that person. When too much medication is administered, the substance can become toxic. This toxicity could cause serious complications and even death in the patient.
Causes of Errors in Overmedicating
Unfortunately, overdose caused by medical professionals is all too common. In fact, an article published in American Nurse Today estimates that every year 1.5 million Americans are either overmedicated or given medication in error. While there are a variety of issues that can lead to the overmedicating of a patient by medical staff, the following types of errors on the part of medical personnel are often to blame:
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From our office in Fairfax, Shevlin Smith, P.C. serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Dale City, Fair Oaks, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, and Woodbridge, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County.
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