Posted On: August 31, 2009

Arthritis Pain Can Be Eased By Certain Foods Found in Mediterranean Diet According to Several Studies

Arthritis is becoming more and more of a common problem with research showing that as many as one in four Illinois residents suffering from some form of arthritis. Oftentimes there is no cure for arthritis so scientists are constantly searching for methods of alleviating arthritis pain.

Elderly%20Hands%202.jpgA recent diet analysis involving various types of arthritis examined data from more than 800 patients taken from 15 studies. The analysis focused on several diets that were popular among arthritis patients.

A Mediterranean-style diet was found to be the most effective and emphasized eating fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, and olive oil while also limiting red meat consumption. Over a 12 weeks those on this diet reported about a 15% reduction in joint pain, but showed no improvement in morning stiffness or physical function.

The study showed that similar results could be achieved through a vegetarian diet that included eggs and dairy. Other research has suggested that consuming daily capsules of fish oil along with antirheumatic medications yielded greater benefits for tender and swollen joints than when the medications were taken on their own. These results are suspected to be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of oils.

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Posted On: August 28, 2009

Illinois Commuter Train Derailment Results in New Speed Limits

While speeding in any vehicle is never a good idea, for trains it can have disastrous consequences. Train speed limits are posted for a reason and can vary based on weather, track condition, or the length of the train. When these speed limits are ignored it can result in deadly train accidents.

Train%20doors%202.jpgThe Northeast Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, a.k.a. Metra, recently reached a settlement with a Chicago resident who was injured in a 2003 train crash. The Metra conductor had been faulted for driving at increased speeds and was apparently distracted when he was going 68 mph in a 10 mph crossover. Following this Illinois train accident the speed limit in the area has been reduced by up to 40 mph.

The injured man was a passenger when the Metra commuter train derailed near 47th Street in Chicago and sustained a fractured arm, broken ribs, and spinal damage. During the case's discovery period Metra had admitted liability for the train accident. The case was settled for $2 million.

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Posted On: August 26, 2009

Illinois Wrongful Death Case Results from Chicago Hospital's Negligence

In many Illinois medical malpractice cases time is of the essence and can make the difference between a positive or a negative outcome. A recent Chicago wrongful death case typifies this point. The case was brought against a suburban Chicago hospital for the death of a 22 year-old woman who developed sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Hospital%20Gurney%202.jpgThe Chicago lawsuit claimed that the hospital's nursing staff discharged the patient despite her continued symptoms of nausea, severe abdominal pain, and faintness following surgery to treat her endometriosis. The woman returned to the hospital within less than 24 hours after her discharge, this time with complaints of extreme pain. She was prescribed an antibiotic, but it was not actually administered to her until 8 hours after it was ordered. Furthermore, the cause of her severe pain was not discovered for over 18 hours after she returned to the emergency room, depleting even more crucial hours in this woman's care.

During exploratory surgery it was discovered that she had suffered a perforation in her small bowel, presumably during her recent surgery to treat her endometriosis. Even though surgeons were able to repair the perforated bowel, by this time it was too late. The patient's condition worsened and she was dead by the following day.

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Posted On: August 24, 2009

Emergency Room Misdiagnosis of Brain Aneurysms Is All Too Common

Recent studies have shown that the Emergency Room errors in diagnosing brain aneurysms could result in over 50% of cases going undiagnosed. Each year more than 30,000 Americans suffer from a ruptured brain aneurysm, a condition that carries the serious risks of developing a subarachnoid hemorrhage, i.e. bleeding around the brain.

ER%20a%201.jpgIn the case of brain aneurysms any delay in diagnosis can bring dire consequences and is often the difference between life and death. Therefore it is imperative that Chicago and Illinois Emergency Rooms errors in diagnosing brain aneurysms are minimized.

An aneurysm is similar to a ballooned pocket along the arteries and is thought to be caused by weak artery walls. Because most brain aneurysms appear among the large arteries at the brain's base, when they rupture the blood leaks into the brain's subarachnoid space, i.e. the area between the arachnoid membrane covering the brain and the pia mater surrounding the brain. From here the blood spreads to the cerebral spinal fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord.

The sudden bleed results in a sudden increase in intracranial pressure that can present itself as an explosive headache. Almost 20% of patients reporting "the worst headache of my life", or similar symptoms, are found to have ruptured aneurysms associated with physical exertion. However, too many of these patients are discharged from the Emergency Room with the wrong diagnosis and without necessary medical treatment, which can be a form of medical negligence.

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Posted On: August 21, 2009

Illinois Asbestos Case Resulting From Second-Hand Exposure Denied Recovery By Illinois Appellate Court

We all know about the dangers of second-hand smoke, but lesser known is the danger of second-hand exposure to asbestos. A recent Chicago case hinged on this very issue and the trial court found that when an employee's family is exposed to asbestos fibers by way of the employee's clothes that the employer is not liable. Nelson v. Aurora Equipment Co., No. 2-08-0186 (May 29, 2009).

Clothes%20Pile%201.jpgUpon appeal the Illinois Appellate Court for the Second District found that in cases where employees who are exposed to asbestos fibers at work then bring the deadly mineral home on their work clothes and thereby expose family members that it does not result in liability to the employer. The Appellate Court concluded that Aurora Equipment Company owed no duty to the wife of an employee under premises liability law because the wife was not on Aurora's land.

The case had been brought by the wife's husband after she died from mesothelioma and colon cancer in 2004. The mesothelioma was allegedly from second-hand exposure to asbestos from both her husband and son's clothes. The plaintiffs alleged that since the father and son were exposed to asbestos fibers and dust while working at Aurora Equipment and that the wife and mother was exposed to the same asbestos fibers found on their work clothes, that the estate would be entitled to recovery for her death.

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Posted On: August 19, 2009

Chicago Birth Injury Case Settled For $11 Million

A recent Cook County medical malpractice case illustrates the importance of a timely delivery. The Illinois birth injury case involved the late delivery of a child after the mother presented to the hospital with warning signs of an uterine rupture.

Baby%204.jpgThe child is now four and has sustained permanent injuries, including cognitive visual impairment and cerebral palsy. A Cook County Circuit Court judge dismissed the case after the family reached a settlement with Loyola University Medical Center.

In this case the mother had arrived at Chicago's Loyola University Medical Center with weak contractions and after being evaluated was assessed as not being in labor. In order to induce labor the attending physician and resident decided to administer Pitocin, a drug designed to accelerate contractions and labor.

As the staff continued to wait for the labor to progress the baby's heart rate began to weaken, which is yet another sign of uterine rupture. Yet the physicians continued to focus on a vaginal delivery and wait. It wasn't until the fetal heart rate had slowed to dangerously low levels that the Cesarean section was even ordered. But unfortunately by this time it was too late and the child was delivered with lifelong impairments.

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Posted On: August 17, 2009

Asperger’s Syndrome Draws Attention As Subject of Three New Movies

Over 20 years have passed since we were introduced to Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of an autistic man in "Rainman". Since then there has been little or no film portraits of Asperger’s syndrome, a complex and mysterious neurological disorder linked to autism, but that will all change this year as three upcoming films offer a broader view of autism disorder.

movie-reel%201.jpgThe first of these films, "Adam", has already been released and has garnished significant attention, including receipt of the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for outstanding feature films focusing on science and technology. The film centers on the life of an adult male with Asperger's syndrome and a passion for astronomy and his romance with a neighbor.

Adam is portrayed as a young man with Asperger’s who is left to defend for himself after his father dies. Adam is about life, not his disability. It uses Asperger’s as the lens that views his life. The movie is about relationships, love and family. It is now playing at the Evanston Theater on Maple Street in Evanston, Illinois.

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Posted On: August 14, 2009

Illinois Motorcycle Accident Results in Factory Worker's Death

In 2007, an Illinois factory worker was driving a motorcycle when an SUV turned in front of him, killing him instantly in the collision that followed. The decedent's family brought an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit against the college student who was driving the SUV and received a settlement of $3 million.

MotorcycleA%201.jpgMany drivers forget that automobiles and motorcycles function very differently and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. While a motorcycle is quick and easy to maneuver through traffic, it is also difficult to see. Whereas while it is hard to avoid seeing an SUV, it does have the disadvantage of being difficult to maneuver.

Prior to the settlement in this Illinois motorcycle accident case, the defense attorneys argued that the motorcyclist was at fault for not keeping a proper lookout of the SUV's activity. But the obvious retort to this is that the SUV did not keep a proper lookout when he entered the motorcyclist's lane. When driving it is important to remember to pay attention not only to your own vehicle, but to all of those vehicles around you.

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Posted On: August 12, 2009

Chemotherapy Patients Acknowledge Memory Loss

Two years ago The New York Times published an article dealing with chemo brain, a type of mental fog experienced by cancer patients. Recent research has indicated that this phenomenon might be more widespread than previously believed.

Stethoscope%202.jpgWhile memory and concentration problems are common among chemotherapy patients, for most these effects are short-term and their cognitive function returns to normal. However, for about 15 percent of these patients the memory impairment is prolonged. It is these patients who are suffering from chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment, or "chemo brain".

Many studies are being done to try and pin down the cause of chemo brain. Some researchers are exploring whether there is a connection between hormonal changes from chemotherapy and chemo brain, while others are examining which drugs have the strongest links to chemo brain. Yet there are some therapists who argue that chemo brain is the result of the psychological strain of cancer and can be attributed to anxiety, depression, stress, fatigue and fear rather than direct effects of chemotherapy on the brain.

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Posted On: August 10, 2009

Chicago Metra Train Death Results in $5 Million Illinois Jury Verdict

A recent Cook County jury verdict is a reminder of the dangers of railroad crossings and of Illinois train accidents. $5 million was awarded to the surviving family members of a 60 year-old man who was killed when his car was struck by a Metra train at a Chicago railroad crossing.

No%20RT%20turn%201.pngAs a Chicago commuter at least once a year I hear about a train accident at a Chicago crossing, oftentimes due to an impatient vehicle trying to beat the fast moving train. However, in this man's case a traffic signal was responsible for his death.

The 60 year-old male was driving southbound towards the crossing located near the intersection of Marshfield Street and 111th on Chicago's southside as the train was approaching. The City's traffic control system signaled east and westbound traffic to receive red lights at the crossing, but southbound traffic was given a green light. There was no indication to the driver that he should not turn right at the railroad tracks. The driver made his turn onto the tracks just as the train was approaching at 60 mph.

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Posted On: August 7, 2009

Child Birth Injuries And Maternal Deaths On The Rise In Poor Countries

A recent New York Times editorial caught my eye about a woman in Pakistan who lost her baby after a long, difficult labor and delivery. Her experience was used to demonstrate the lack of emphasis placed on medical practices that we in America take for granted, such as giving birth to your child at a hospital, and the effect that this has on maternal and child birth injuries in impoverished countries.

Pregnant%20Woman%201.jpgRecent research suggests that worldwide perhaps as many as one woman dies every minute from complications of pregnancy or childbirth, which is about 20 times greater than the number who have suffered childbirth injuries. As a firm we have taken on several Illinois birth injury cases and there are no words you can offer the family for their loss and pain. What is so striking about The New York Times article is that it suggests that these startling statistics could improve if more emphasis was placed on maternal well being.

For example, while Sri Lanka is an impoverished country it has succeeded in saving more mothers because it simply has tried to do so. And while this sounds like an oversimple solution in our country where a great deal of emphasis is placed on prenatal care and delivery, in impoverished countries this is not the case. The girl portrayed in the article was not taken to a hospital until after she had already been in labor for over 24 hours. By the time a c-section was performed her baby was already too weak to survive. If she had been taken to the hospital and followed by medical professionals from the start of her labor then the outcome might have been different. Yet this is not the standard in her native Pakistan, where one in 74 woman die from pregnancy complications.

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Posted On: August 5, 2009

FDA Warns Consumers on Body-Building Products Sold As Nutritional Supplements

Increased reports of medical problems associated with certain nutritional supplements has prompted The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a public health advisory on body building supplements. These supplements may contain steroids or steroid-like substances and may be associated with kidney failure and liver failure in men.

Pills%20C%201.bmpWhile the FDA has not specified exactly how many products fall into this category, it advised that consumers not to purchase and use products labeled with words such as “anabolic” or “tren” or phrases like “blocks estrogen” and “minimizes gyno”. In addition, the FDA cautions consumers to be wary of body-building products claiming to enhance or diminish the effects of hormones like testosterone, estrogen or progestin.

Of those products that the FDA did specifically name, those included MASS Xtreme, TREN-Xtreme, ESTRO Xtreme, HMG Xtreme, AH-89-Xtreme, MMA-3 Xtreme, TT-40-Xtreme, and VNS-9 Xtreme, all of which contained hidden and potentially dangerous steroids. The FDA has taken action in the form of sending a warning letter to these drugs' manufacturer, Americell-Labs, stating that the company should produce products that are in compliance with federal regulations.

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Posted On: August 3, 2009

Civil Justice Attorney, Robert Kreisman, Attends American Association for Justice (AAJ) Meeting at San Francisco

bobtimsmall.jpgChicago attorney Bob Kreisman attended the American Association of Justice (AAJ) annual meeting in San Francisco, July 25 through July 29, 2009. The meetings presented a variety of educational forums including those concentrating on medical negligence, birth trauma litigation, product defects and trial practice. The subset of the educational programs was nursing home litigation, truck and auto/vehicle collisions, and other areas of trial practice including pharmaceutical defect litigation.

In addition, the meetings included seminars on trial practice. One of the most popular is called the Advocacy Track which had speakers from morning until well into the late afternoon of each conference day. Most valuable is the time spent with other lawyers from around the country sharing their different experiences in jury trial techniques. The meetings represent a kind of re-charging that allows lawyers, judges and paralegals to apply new ideas to our cases.

Justia.com CEO Tim Stanley and staff were exhibiting at the convention center. The event, as always, was very well attended.

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