Three simple ways to help a loved one cope with a brain injury
Because the brain is such a complex organ, every traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unique. The long-term effects of a TBI can vary based on the part of the brain that was injured, the severity of the injury, the type of injury, how quickly medical treatment was administered and other factors. With so many different […]
Drowsy driving, a growing epidemic
Many Iowa residents fail to sleep the minimum of seven hours that the CDC recommends for each night. As a result, more and more people are driving drowsy. A 2018 AAA study observed camera footage of drivers just before they were involved in collisions, and researchers concluded that 9.5% of all accidents are caused by […]
New sepsis guidelines may not be helpful
According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, treatment should begin within an hour after symptoms of the condition are spotted. The 60-minute window begins after an individual arrives in triage. These guidelines were implemented in 2018, and they were designed to help identify and treat sepsis in emergency rooms faster. In the past, treatment could be […]
VA pays $950,000 after Iowa surgeon operates in South Carolina
Early this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs agreed to settle a medical lawsuit involving a Des Moines surgeon with an Iowa medical license. According to the suit, the surgeon was operating in the veterans’ hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, when his work caused injuries to a Navy veteran. Des Moines surgeon operated in Columbia, […]
Ways to stay safe while riding a motorcycle
The open road. The feeling of wandering. The freedom you feel when you get up and ride as the wind blows through your hair. These feelings while riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating but doing so is also hazardous. You’ll want to follow these four ideas to stay safe while cruising down that highway or […]
NHTSA: roadway fatalities dip in 2018, but concerns remain
Iowa residents should know that, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2018 is the second year in a row to see a decline in roadway fatalities. In 2017, 37,133 people died in motor vehicle crashes, a 2% drop from the previous year. In 2018, the number was 36,750: about a 1% […]
Malpractice claims and the challenge of proving causation
Iowa residents are probably aware that filing a medical malpractice claim is not easy. There are requirements to be met, and there is almost always strong opposition from the other side. Before a case even gets to that stage, plaintiffs may find trouble proving causation. A valid malpractice claim must establish two things to begin […]
Maternity telemedicine in Iowa raises malpractice questions
As of New Year’s Day, Iowa joined many other U.S. states in enacting a parity law for telemedicine. Your private health insurer must now cover telehealth (services delivered via the internet) to the same extent as in-person care. The change has been widely welcomed as good news for rural Iowans. And the law might be […]
How Iowa residents may be able to prove driver negligence
Iowa residents who have been injured as a result of another driver’s negligence should consider the legal definition of negligence before deciding whether they want to pursue the incident in court. Negligence has one meaning in casual conversation and an entirely different legal meaning. For example, in conversation, negligence might simply mean that the driver […]
New car monitoring system could keep impaired drivers off roads
Drunk driving can quickly have a big impact on anyone in Iowa who happens to be sharing the roadway with an impaired driver. This is one of the reasons why an auto manufacturer based in Sweden has announced plans to install in-car cameras and sensors on its vehicles starting in the early 2020s. The system […]