Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
The Hidden Epidemic Affecting Student Athletes - Thursday, July 3, 2008
Mild traumatic brain injuries, commonly referred to as concussions, are being called a hidden epidemic in the medical community because they are difficult to diagnose and often go undetected. Concussions in the student athletic arena are on the rise, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are over 3 million concussions in the United States each year. Concussions have been characterized as a hidden epidemic because there are no outwardly visible signs of the injury such as swelling or bleeding.There is also a great deal of new information regarding concussions and their diagnosis. Being knocked unconscious is no longer the best indicator that an athlete has suffered a concussion. Now, the research points to memory loss as the best indicator.
Coaches and healthcare professionals are being more rigorously educated on the latest findings regarding traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the National Federation of State High School Associations has made concussions a point of emphasis in all sports rulebooks. Athletes who suffer injuries to the knee, shoulder, or ankle get excellent orthopedic care; it is imperative that the same standard of care be given to our athletes who suffer injuries to the head and brain.
Financial Exploitation of the Elderly - Tuesday, July 1, 2008
It is estimated that each year in the United States, people age 60 and older are victims of abuse and neglect; 40,000 of those victims reside in New York state. There are many forms of elder abuse including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect; however, one of the more insidious forms of elder abuse is financial exploitation. Currently, financial exploitation is the most prevalent forms of elder abuse and occurs in 46 percent of the total cases of elder abuse.Elders who are frail and not fully able to take care of themselves are vulnerable to abuse. Family members, contractors, telemarketers, financial advisers and even healthcare professionals entrusted with the elder's care are usually the ones exploiting them financially. Elder adults who have been financially exploited are often left without the resources they need to assist in their care; they also often lose their dignity and any sense of independence they may have had. Older adults made destitute have no alternative but to turn to public aid when they need care.
There are steps to take to ensure you elderly loved one is not take advantage of by swindlers. Power of attorney is a useful legal tool that allows an individual to designate another party to manage funds to transact business on his or her behalf. Also, in some states, bills have been introduced in the Senate and Assembly to help protect elders by making long overdue changes in the power of attorney law.
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