Medical Malpractice

If there are alternative medicines and natural treatments that really work, why don't we hear more about them? I don't think there are many true conspiracies around, but this is one of those areas that makes me wonder. The movement between government posts and positions in the pharmaceutical corporations is well documented. This easy movement between the boardrooms and the FDA and other agencies certainly leaves room for abuse and "back door agreements."

More often than not, though, there is just a conspiracy-of-common-interest that prevents safe alternative medicines from coming to market, or from becoming widely known. For example, drug companies don't want the competition of safe alternatives to their drugs. Meanwhile, it is politically safer for the FDA to not allow a product, because if they approve something and it causes any problems, they get the blame. This is a convenient coinciding of interests.

Also, natural products, like silymarin (Milk Thistle Extract), which is used all over Europe to treat poisonings and to protect the liver, are legal here, but not well known. This is because, as a natural product, there is no way to patent it. Without being able to exclude others from selling it, no company can afford to spend the millions it would take to get it approved as a medicine here.

A natural product also can't be marketed heavily. Imagine if a large company spent millions to promote a medicinal herb. As soon as they got the public's attention, all the smaller companies could undercut them on the price, since they spent nothing on marketing, and a plant product is usually the same no matter what the name on the label. No company wants to spend big money on a product they don't have an exclusive right too.

When a plant isn't approved as a natural treatment, there are no pharmaceutical reps out there educating doctors about it (Didn't you know that's how doctors keep educated?). In addition, even if a doctor has read about a useful plant, he is more likely to face a malpractice suit for an allergic reaction to an alternative medicine than from killing someone with a "standard and accepted" treatment. Which do you think he'll recommend?

Companies face the same issues of liability. In addition, the companies are limited in what they can say about these natural products. This is why you can look all over the box that some plant medicines come in, and never once see a mention of what it is for. It is tough to learn about these natural treatments, isn't it?

In other words, if you want to know about alternative medicines and medical treatment, you have to look outside the mainstream for your information. You have to read the magazines that cover these alternatives, and sometimes, when it is safe, you have to even experiment a little on yourself.

As for my own approach, I like to see that there is actually some real research that demonstrates a benefit. Anecdotal evidence doesn't mean much. People get better all the time, and credit whatever they happened to be using at the time. On the other hand, if it is inexpensive and safe, like eating blueberries to improve vision, I'll try almost anything once.

Do natural treatments work? Sometimes. I have twice removed skin growths from my face that may have even been precancerous. They were there for many years, yet it took just weeks to make them disappear using a simple and cheap natural product. I have also witnessed the fastest healing of a cut (on my foot) that I've ever seen, after applying a common plant to it. Some alternative medicines really do work.

In March 2013, Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced the S. 616, the Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act, which enhances the State 30 (J-1 Waiver) program and makes it permanent. The American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the National Rural Health Association, and many other organizations have voiced support for this bill. And with good reason... With the growing shortage of doctors nationwide and the aging population, many patients suffer long wait times to see a doctor or may not see one at all.

Nearly 27 percent of residents and fellows and 25 percent of all practicing physicians in the United States are foreign-born. This new bill can help reduce the physician shortage, particularly for medically underserved communities, by improving current immigration rules for foreign-born physicians. Some of the key provisions of the bill affecting the J-1 waiver program include:

• Makes the Conrad 30 J-1 Waiver Program permanent. Currently, the program is scheduled to end in 2015.


• Allows physicians to change employers before completing the required three-year medical service of the J-1 waiver. Under current law, a J-1 waiver physician may change employment midstream only if they can prove "extenuating circumstances" beyond his or her control. The new bill would allow the physician to change employment without this proof; however, an additional year of service in an underserved area would be required if the physician changes jobs.


• Protects immigration status of physicians whose contracts are terminated unexpectedly. Doctors whose employment is terminated would have 120 days to begin new employment in an underserved area before being considered out of status.


• Imposes specific contract requirements for J-1 waivers. The employment contracts must specify the number of on-call hours, indicate whether malpractice insurance is provides, and list the addresses of each work location. In addition, non-compete clauses would be prohibited, regardless of the State's rules.


• Increases the number of J-1 waivers based upon a formula. All states would receive an additional 5 waivers each time 90% of the nationwide waivers are used in a year (this calculation excludes States that receive fewer than 5 waivers in a year). Any such increases in the number would be indefinite until there is a 5% decrease nationwide compared to the last year in which there was an increase in the cap. However, once the cap reaches 45 waivers, no further increases can be made unless 95% of nationwide slots filled (any state that received at least 1 waiver would count in this calculation). The bill also creates an additional three (3) waivers per state that can only be used by academic medical centers, if the work performed by the doctor is in the public interest and regardless of whether the location is designated as a shortage area.


• Permits doctors to do their J-1 waiver service in any authorized work visa or work status. Current law requires physician to hold H-1B status during the J-1 waiver service period.


• Eliminate the two-year home country return requirement for spouses and children of J-1 physicians, allowing them to obtain other visas, including work visas.

Of course, it is unknown if and when the bill will become law. If you support the proposed changes in the bill, call, write, or email your congressional representative to urge approval of the bill. Visit www.senate.gov and www.house.gov for contact information.

Cook County nursing home lawsuits get filed at the Daley Center which is at 50 W. Washington St. in Chicago across from City Hall. So what is nursing home abuse?

Nursing home abuse occurs when a staff member or another resident causes physical, mental, or sexual injury or exploits a resident's financial resources. Examples of nursing home abuse include unexplained physical injuries like bruises, cuts, burns, broken bones or sprains.

Negligence occurs when a staff member or another resident fails to provide or withholds the necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter or health care. Examples of neglect include bedsores, frozen joints, malnutrition, dehydration, hypothermia, heat stroke, or improper medications resulting in illness.

Illinois law defines a resident of a nursing home as a person 60 or older who is either a current, prospective, or former resident. Residents have the right to proper care, proper treatment, and to compensation if abuse or neglect occurs.

The Elder Abuse and Neglect Program responds to reports of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of persons 60 and older. The Elder Abuse Program has 45 locations throughout the state that conduct investigations, work to resolve abusive situations, and provide services to victims.

Specifically for elder abuse and neglect allegations, Illinois has a program called the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to assist residents and family members. An ombudsman is an appointed official who investigates complaints of elder abuse or neglect. They inform residents and families of their rights, resolve complaints, and advocate for proper care.

In Cook County, The Chicago Department of Senior Services assists with claims of abuse and neglect against the elderly. It is located at 30 N. LaSalle, Suite 2320, Chicago, Illinois 60602-2586.

Malpractice lawsuits provide compensation for victims and act as a safeguard to ensure that proper standards are followed in the industry. If you or a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect, you should contact an experienced attorney to assist with your claim. All claims handled by abuse attorneys are investigated and pursued without any upfront cost to the client. Claims are pursued on a contingency basis which means that there is no fee unless the client wins. If the client wins, the attorney will recover a portion of the awarded damages. Through contingency fees, everyone can receive the best representation, regardless of his/her economic status.

The career of nursing is one of technical medical knowledge as well as compassionate people skills. The mix of the two skill sets give nurses a rare and highly valued combination of career qualifications. Altogether the area of patient care in a health facility or location such as a hospital or long term care facility is one more thing aspect of nursing that can be a highly in demand and lucrative profession known as certified legal nurse consultant. These professionals are highly sought after by lawyers who need their expertise in the deciphering of health records and evaluation of these records and how they might relate to the facts of a case under debate.

What are the requirements to be a legal registered nurse specialist? Of course the education of a registered nurse and the complete licensure and accreditation of the authorities in your locale are needed, the same as any nursing program. Additionally to that background there are a lot of classes that deal with the law and the legal system that are needed to get the profession change on track. If you wonder what kind of programs are at one's disposal, you can easily find them by checking online in a search.

There many classes that give the courses wanted to make the break from patient care to the court room and all of the research and preparation that will be required to testify as a knowledgeable witness when called to do so.

Some procedures that are done by a certified legal registered nurse authority's are research and preparation of legal papers that can be used in a proceeding or trial to support the client's responsibility regarding medical claims or health related issues. There are an array of case forms that may require the advice of the registered nurse and those types of cases can include, worker's compensation, health malpractice, product liability, or injury claims.

Recognized Legal Nurse specialist assignments can be well salaried and the salary is taking in to account the hours the professional has spent training and prepping to give their evidence to the judge. This is a job that offers a mixture of health and legal knowledge, and its a fascinating part of the nursing business.

Most seniors want to live out their lives at home. Finding home care for mom or dad can be difficult. One way to obtain access to quality in home care services is over through the Internet by searching keywords like in home care and the local city your aging relative lives.

Home care organizations include home health agencies; hospice; homemaker and home care aides; staffing and private-duty agencies; companies specializing in medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, and drug infusion therapy. Several types of home care organizations may merge to provide a wide variety of services through an integrated system. You can locate local home care organizations by visiting local registries and independent providers. Whichever way you choose to find help for an aging relative to help them stay in their homes longer, you must remember to complete a thorough back ground search on the agency before allowing them into your relative's home.

Some very important factors to consider when searching for Home Care In home services are: the quality of care, availability of needed services, personnel training and their expertise, and how the services will be paid. Before starting a search, it is important to determine which types of services you need. You definitely want the buy-in from your aging relative that they believe it's needed. You may consult with the relative's physician, a hospital discharge planner, or a social service organization, such as an Area Agency Office on Aging, for assistance in evaluating your needs. It's also a good idea to have an assessment completed in order to identify the type of home care provider most appropriate for the relative.

What to look for when choosing a Home Care Agency! Here are a few good tips on choosing one:

1. How long have they been in business in the community?

2. Does the home care agency have literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources? Another good resource that gives helpful information about the Senior Provider is to ask for their annual report, if they have one.

3. Find out how the home care agency select and train its employees and caretakers? Does it protect its workers with written personnel policies, benefits packages, and malpractice insurance?

4. Are nurses or therapists required to do an assessment to evaluate your aging relative's home care needs? If so, find out what the assessment includes? Do they consult the patients physicians and include you, the family member?

5. How do they handle emergencies? What procedures are put in place for and emergency? Are their caretakers available to the aging relative 24/7?

6. Do they insure patients privacy? If so, how?

7. Get references and CALL them - such as doctors, hospital discharge planners, patients or their family members who has contracted for the services and check with community leaders who are familiar with the provider's quality of service.

These tips are very helpful when searching for in home care. We used these for my parents, since we lived at a distance and they required daily help. Don't be afraid to ask questions and do as much research on them as you possibly can.

I hope this helps.

Carol Marak

http://www.WorkingCaregiver.com

Caregiver Resources - Find Local Senior Services for Families & Seniors in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio

Definition of Liability Insurance: The simplest definition of 'liability insurance' is the Insurance coverage to protect against claims alleging that one's negligence or inappropriate action resulted in bodily injury or property damage.

People & organizations can and do mistakes for which they become liable if and when these acts ruled to be the cause for damaging the bodies or the properties of others. This is when insurance policies come to provide the protection. Liability coverage pays when the insured is legally liable for the negligent act. In some situations, the coverage provides protection if the insured becomes 'morally obligated' to a party that is damaged by the non-negligent acts of the insured.

People/ organizations vary widely in their social and business conduct, and so does the coverage that is needed to protect them. For each category of people/ organizations there are different coverages that provide the protections. Different people/ organizations  need different types/ amounts of liability coverage.

Classification of Liability

Personal vs Commercial Liability: Personal liability insurance provides coverage for individuals while commercial liability provides coverage for a business entity. A 4-door sedan car needs personal auto liability policy. If the same vehicle is used for delivery, then it may require a commercial auto policy.

Personal Liability Protection normally comes in personal policies such as Personal Auto Policies (PAPs), Homeowners Insurance Policies, boat policies, and  Personal Umbrellas. These coverages pay for damages that the Insured causes to the bodily injuries, personal injuries, property damages, legal defense in connection with claims brought against the Insured.

Business/ Commercial Liability Protection: Comes to cover businesses and/or individuals in connection with their business conducts.

Premises Liability applies when someone other than the insured or insured's employees sues the business for damages due to an injury sustained in business premises. This means that the injured party must first suffer an injury on your premises, and then must make a claim for the damages they suffered.

Product Liability includes liability protection for business completed products or services. Similar coverage is provided under the term 'completed operations' such as operations of many contractors in the event that they cause damages to others in the course of their service rendering. Professional service businesses such as physicians, lawyers, real estate brokers, and insurance agents have special professional liability coverages.

Professional Liability. Provides protection for many classes of individuals and businesses for any bodily injury damages their service/ advice may cause to others. Examples include malpractice insurance for doctors and medical staff, errors & omissions for insurance & real estate agents, etc.

Employer's Liability provides coverage for employees during their employment. The employer has to be at fault or negligent for the coverage to kick in. In the case of Workers Compensation, fault and negligence do not have to be proved for employee to collect for any work related injury.

Director's and Officers insurance provides protection against any lawsuits against the officers of the business by its owners. Garage Liability applies in situations where a business deals with vehicles owned by others. The coverage provides protection from the risks of being sued because of using vehicles owned by the business and vehicles that are owned by others (clients.) In the event that a business/ individual works with or takes possession of other people's vehicles, a special coverage called "Garage Keeper Liability" is needed. Garage Keeper Liability provides comprehensive and collision coverage on vehicles NOT owned by the business while the vehicles are in possession of the business. Auto service stations, valet parking businesses, towing services, and car washes are examples of businesses that need garage liability and garage keeper liability protection. Garage keeper liability can be written on Direct Basis or Excess. In the even of Direct Basis, the policy will pay for damages of vehicles of the clients of the Insured regardless of who is at fault. In the case of Excess, the policy will pay for damages of vehicles of the clients of the Insured only if the Insured is negligent.

Liquor Liability provides protection for establishments that sell liquor (Packaged liquor, taverns, manufacturers of liquor) against loss or damages claimed as a result of a patron of the business becoming intoxicated and injuring themselves or others.

Inland Marine/ Cargo Liability provides protection for business involved in hauling merchandise and properties of others. It pays for damages of the properties hauled in the event the Insured is liable for the damages.

Time Factors of Liability Insurance Polices

Some commercial liability insurance policies are written on Claim Made Basis. This means that the policy in force at the time a claim against the insured will pay for losses, regardless of when they occurred in the past. Most professional liability policies are written on Claim Made basis. Most commercial liability policies are written on Occurrence Basis, where even though the policy may have expired, provided the policy was in force at the time that the bodily injury or property damage occurred, a claim can still be made against it.

Liability Limits

CSL or Combined Single Limit policies allow insurance companies to combine both bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance under a single limit. The insurance company would pay up to the stated limit on a third party claim regardless of whether the claim was for bodily or property damage. In Split Limit policies, the policy would break down limits to, for example, bodily injury limit per person and bodily injury limit per accident and property damage per accident.

Example, an auto policy with CSL $300,000 will pay up to that limit for any and all claims whether they are bodily injury for one person, many people, or property damage that was caused by the Insured. If the policy limits come separated (100/300/50) it means that the insurer will pay the maximum of $100,000 for bodily injury of 1 person, $300,000 for bodily injuries of all other people hurt, and a maximum of %50,000 for property damage caused by the insured negligent act.

Edward Sneneh, MBA, CLU, ChFC
http://www.InsuranceNavy.com

Surgery negligence is a common malpractice at many hospitals where patients either suffer or succumb to death due to surgeon's poor performances. The negligence is due to inadequate treatment by doctors or surgical flaws caused at the table. The detriments are severe leading to patient's grave injuries or death.

A surgical error cannot be forgiven or forgotten. It has to be compensated with due charges. Any person or family of the concerned who has suffered for a surgeon's negligence is entitled to surgery negligence claims.

Surgical negligence and Claims

A surgery undergoes a lot of stress and therefore a surgeon has to be alert and cautious about every single step that concerns a patient's life. But under such stressful conditions, things can go awry which cannot be forgiven on grounds of stress or exhaustion. Any error is met by negligence claims on behalf of the patient in question or his family.

Both mental and physical injury caused by surgical negligence is entitled to adequate claim. As laid down by the rules, a person who has been inflicted with such harassment due to surgical negligence can put up for his claim within three years of surgical error.

Sometimes, the loss or damage is learned at a very later stage after the surgery was done and in that case the person concerned can claim for compensation and the three year tenure initiates from the day the concerned has come to know about the surgical error.

The kind of claims depends upon the gravity of error that has been caused. In case of death or paralysis of the concerned, the claim is quite big, but in case of minor injuries the impact of claim is low. The claims actually warn surgeons or doctors to be aware of their job and make them cautious about the value of one's life. The basic objective of allowing such claims is to help the concerned overcome distressing conditions and lead comfortable lives.

Survey holds the records of high mortality due to surgical or medical negligence. In case of medical negligence a doctor is held responsible and there are varied claims that the concerned is entitled to for such medical errors.

Sometimes, a doctor's negligence and insufficient knowledge on medical details result in patient's agony. Though, claims or compensations cannot bring the dead back, but it helps the family of the concerned to a great extent. There are certain surgical and medical flaws which give rise to negligence claims.

Reasons triggering negligence

Surgeons sometimes tend to perform poorly under stressful conditions, which lead to errors. Due to inadequate attention, surgical items are left inside the body leading to distressful situation in future for patients. Besides, organs are mistakenly perforated leading to patient's death, which is accounted as a major surgical flaw. Infections triggered from unclean surgical equipment also lead to patient's death.

Hence, the above situations are observed as major negligence on part of doctors and surgeons and are therefore accountable to negligence claims.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, machines are used extensively in the medical community to produce in-depth, three-dimensional images of the body. Because they offer marked contrast between various forms of soft tissue than other imaging techniques, such as the computed tomography (CT) scan, MRI scans are often used to make scans of the brain, muscles, skeleton, and cardiovascular system.

MRI uses a very strong magnetic field to align the hydrogen atoms in the body. Radio frequency fields are then used to produce a rotating magnetic field which can be imaged by the scanner. It is a very useful, reliable way of getting an in-depth look at the body of a patient, and millions of MRI scans are issued every year.

The Projectile Effect

The intense, powerful magnetic field created by the MRI machines have been known to cause serious injuries and even death. The machine generates a field that can be 60,000 times stronger than the earth's own magnetic field. These incidents are said to be caused by the "projectile effect," in which magnetic items are attracted to the field generated by the machine and come flying towards it.

To prevent the possibility of injury in this fashion, medical tools in the room containing the MRI machine are non-magnetic, and the patient is usually made to change into scrubs or a gown to prevent the possibility of bringing magnetic items into the room. These rooms are often equipped with new magnetic detectors which will determine the presence of any magnetized items, helping prevent the dangers of the projectile effect.

Implants

Certain implanted electronic devices, such as pacemakers, have been known to be affected by the magnetic field of the MRI machine. Patients with pacemakers in particular are precluded from having MRI scans, as the magnetic fields generated by the machines have been known to cause severe heart arrhythmia and even death. If you have a pacemaker, it's important to make your doctor aware of this if he or she is not already prior to going into an MRI machine.

Other implants that may be barred from MRI imaging include vagus nerve stimulators, cardioverter-defibrillators, insulin pumps, and cochlear implants, as well as many others. If you have any implant, you should make sure that your doctors and the MRI technicians know about them before you agree to an MRI scan.

If you're interested in learning more about MRI safety and how to prevent potential dangers, visit the Pennsylvania malpractice lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C.

You may be someone that has a child who has symptoms of injuries they received when they were being born. This child may have cerebral palsy, broken bones, different types of infections, or damage to the brain. This problem has caused pain and suffering to your loved one. Parents need to be able to pay for the medical care and facilities that are required to care for these problems.

The necessary thing for you, at this moment, is to find yourself a lawyer that deals with this sort of injury. It is so important for the lawyer to start gathering information necessary for your particular case. You should be aware that hospitals and physicians dispose of records of the birth of the child within months of the delivery being final. Nurses, who are helping with the delivery, may move from facility to facility frequently. Some parts of the hospital may hide the facts showing guilt of negligence by their employees. The hospital may hold a meeting between the staff involved and the facilities lawyers to get together on the story that works best for them. This makes it easier for them to wipe away the wrong.

It is imperative for you to move quickly in this case. The quicker amount of time that you use to be able to find a lawyer that deals with injuries at birth, the quicker you can have the patient's information and contact with anyone involved who were witnesses. This is the key to giving you a better chance of winning.
You cannot be weak when it comes to the fight for personal rights. It should not be that doctors and other medical personnel allow wrong doings or mistakes.

You may believe that the money you will receive from being successful in court will not be able to fix the wrong. Are you all right with paying all that money yourself? How are you going to pay for those bills if you have to stop working to take care of your child? You have had the best of your dreams shattered and the money that you have worked so diligently for your child because of a mistake made by an incompetent professionals. The money you are trying to get is not for you but for the care of the child. Life is hard and any money you get will be for the benefit of your child and the care they so desperately need.

Be sure to get yourself a reputable lawyer that has dealt with injuries at birth. Many lawyers specialize in cases dealing with birth injury with employees to help win your case. The rights of you and your child are important. Negligent behavior and malpractice should not continue without consequences and those who are caring for patients should be trusted. Your birth injury lawyer will be able to give your precious child the best life they can have under the circumstances.

1. Choose someone that has been a therapist for at least five years. Longer is even better, because you do not want to be the guinea pig for anyone. See if you can ask as many questions to the therapist as they no doubt will ask you. That way you are not the only one sharing your whole life story.
2. Choose a therapist for more than just their name. I once went to a therapist because her name was Dr. Friend. I figured she would be very understanding and helpful, but I was wrong. Do a little investigating about a therapist to see if they have had much success with individuals such as yourself.
3. Choose someone who you will feel comfortable with. If you are interested in getting relief for a chemical imbalance, you may not want to choose a therapist that will make you delve into your shady past and bring up all the skeletons in your closets. If you like sharing all your secrets more than taking medications, find out the ways in which a therapist treats patients.
4. Choose a therapist that you can trust 100 per cent. You will probably only get worse if you end up having to lie to your therapist to save face. They are supposed to keep your confidences confidential. That way you can really share what is bothering you without feeling threatened. You are, after all, there for help, not to be judged. The more honest you are about how you feel, the better you can start to get better.
5. Choose a therapist that is licensed in your state. If they have a M after their name, they probably have at least a Masters degree. Clinical social workers and Counselors can give therapy also, but do not have as much formal training as Psychiatrists (M.D. - medical degree specializing in Psychiatry) or as Psychologists (Ph.D.- Doctorate of Philosophy or Psy.D - Doctorate of Psychology). Do not be afraid to shop around and get as much information as you can before you decide on a therapist.
6. Choose the most skilled professional that you can afford. Remember that therapy is an investment in yourself. If you do have insurance, it should pay for several therapy sessions a year, at least partially, and you may also fork out a co-pay (at least that is for now - who knows with the new Obama health care program?). If you are worried about the money part, it will be hard to keep up with your therapy sessions. Do you need a Psychologist (similar to a General Practitioner) or a Psychiatrist (more like a mental health specialist - these are the ones who can prescribe psychotropic medication if they feel you need it).
7. It is good to be aware of the therapists previous employment. I was seen by a person who I later found had been fired from his last place of employment for inappropriate behavior with a patient. Another was sued for fraud. You can also check online if they have had any complaints filed against them. Also, find out if they carry malpractice insurance.
8. You probably will not feel relief from your emotional turmoil after the first or second therapy session, but If after a few sessions, you still do not feel like you are being helped, you may want to reconsider your choice. There is nothing wrong with changing from one therapist to another as long as you are not just therapist jumping for the fun of it. You may just not be compatible with a certain personality type. Also, if your religious beliefs or ethics conflict with what the therapist is telling you, you may want to consider someone with similar beliefs and ethics.
9. One of the most frustrating things for me seeing a therapist was just getting into a very emotional place in my life and then having the doctor tell me my time is up. Kill me now! You need to feel that the therapist is interested and concerned enough not to leave you like that. Even if a therapist has all the degrees and experience, if they do not show compassion in your hour of need, say goodbye. Look for someone who is warm and respectful of your feelings. You should feel hopeful when you leave a session, not more depressed. Before starting, it is good to know how much time your session is scheduled for.
10. Take recommendations from people that you trust. Your primary physician may have suggestions or even your ecclesiastical leader. You should also check with your insurance as they tend to cover only very qualified therapists.

Medical negligence injury: Medical negligence never really seems to be out of the news these days: the NHS pays a staggering amount in compensation claims for all varieties of injury.

The premise is simple: health practitioners are responsible for the well-being of patients in their care. They are highly trained and in the vast majority of cases they give their utmost attention and the best possible care to people who need it. But they are only human and sometimes mistakes happen.

Unfortunately, when doctors make mistakes, their actions, or lack thereof, can have rather more resounding consequences than when somebody in a different profession does the same.

If a person has been affected by the malpractice of a medical practitioner, whether they are a GP, a surgeon, a midwife or a nurse, then they could be eligible to seek compensation.

Medical negligence can have far reaching consequences: many cases revolve round the tragic circumstances of a baby suffering injury during birth, for example suffering brain damage due to oxygen starvation.

In this scenario, the doctors should arguably have realised the foetus was in danger and taken swift steps to ensure no further harm was caused ie performed an emergency Caesarian, such as in the case of Georgina Archer, who was left brain damaged for the above reasons and was left with cerebral palsy and communication problems.

Xavier Cutillo, who was born in December 2009, suffered injury when doctors allegedly used excessive force during his delivery and damaged his eye and skull with forceps.

On the other hand, there are cases of misdiagnosis, such as the man who was compensated after doctors incorrectly told him he was dying of cancer, or Neal Allen, whose doctors failed to heed repeated warnings from paramedics who told them of a pre-existing medical condition that meant Mr Allen was susceptible to suffering strokes. Unfortunately, that is what happened, and Mr Allen claimed GBP2million to cover the cost of the care he will now need for the rest of his life.

Public liability injury: This is more commonly referred to as 'slip, trip or fall' and covers scenarios where a member of the public has an accident through a failing of a public body that is responsible for ensuring maximum public safety at all times.
Someone who trips on an uneven paving stone or falls in a pothole could claim from the local authority charged with the upkeep of the road or pathway.

Someone walking down a set of outdoor steps that falls when the banister gives way and they overbalance, or someone who bangs their head and hurts themselves on a low branch, could all make a claim.
These rules apply to businesses as well. They have separate responsibility for their employees, as we covered earlier in the week, but they also owe a duty of care to anyone on their premises.

Therefore if you slip on an unmarked spillage in your local supermarket, or trip on a piece of uncleared debris and suffer injury, you may have a claim where you thought you didn't.

Learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation are some of the health risks that babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy have a greater risk of facing. People who smoke are already at increased risk for lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. Women who are pregnant and smoke are putting themselves and their unborn child at risks for birth complications and defects. At least 10% of pregnant women in the United States smoke while with child.

The Numbers

At least 18% of women of the population in the U.S. and other industrialized countries smoke. Smaller, less industrialized countries report much smaller proportions of 8% of women in the population smoking. The U.S. Public Health Service released a report citing projected statistics in the event that all pregnant women refrained from smoking. The numbers would look something like this:

· 11% reduction in stillbirths

· 5% reduction in newborn deaths

The Risks

There are over 2,500 chemicals released in tobacco and cigarette smoke, many of the same chemicals found in everyday household cleaners, like ammonia. There has not been enough scientific research done to determine all of the chemicals found in tobacco that are harmful to a developing baby, however fetal exposure to both nicotine and carbon monoxide can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Smoking during pregnancy nearly doubles a woman's chances of giving birth to a low birth weight baby by slowing fetal growth. It also increases the probability of a preterm delivery. Babies born preterm or at a low birth weight face serious medical issues throughout development and growth such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and learning disabilities.

Pregnancy Complications

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to severe and even deadly complications during the pregnancy. A woman's risk of developing placenta problems is nearly doubled if she smokes cigarettes. The problems include placenta previa, in which a low-lying placenta covers part of all of the opening to the uterus, and placental abruption, in which the placenta becomes detached partially or completely from the uterine wall before delivery. Both of these can result in heavy bleeding during delivery, endangering both mother and newborn.

For more information on the effects of smoking during pregnancy, or about your rights if your child suffers a birth defect or injury due to negligence or malpractice by a care provider, contact the Texas birth injury lawyers of Williams Kherkher at www.birth-injurylawyers.com

A massage therapy career is perhaps just what you've been looking for, if alternative therapy interests you.

Life is a lot more demanding and stressful, and getting more so day by day. This leads to alarming situations like hypertension, migraine headaches, muscle tension, chemical dependency, depression and anxiety.

While conventional medicine can help with stress-induced conditions, alternative therapy is rapidly becoming the preferred way to relieve physical pain and emotional distress.
The origins of massage therapy can be traced to ancient China, Greece, Rome, India and the Egyptian era. Its basis of healing lies in touching the patient in therapeutic ways to relieve pain and promote general well-being.

These days an increasing number of people are turning to the holistic and natural healing arts. A massage therapy career will give you the opportunity to ease pain and suffering without pills, needles, surgery and machines.

How to get started on a career in massage therapy

A massage therapy career is exciting and lucrative. First, you have to undergo intense, full-time specialized training at a recognized school of massage therapy. You should have a high-school education to be eligible for admission to an accredited school. Massage therapists are medical professionals who require a license to practice. If you practice without a license you are committing a fraud and are liable for prosecution.

If you wish to pursue a career in massage therapy, you may like to avail of financial aid for tuition, which costs about $9 per credit hour. Also, your school must be fully accredited, for you to obtain state and national credentials in this art.

To receive your license to practice and pursue your career in massage therapy, you must pass the National Certification Exam. Some cities also have their own regulations and if you live in such a city, you must have both state and local licenses. All the information you need on schools and licensing is available on many different web sites. You will also need to insure yourself against malpractice.

You must seek re-certification every four years if you are nationally certified, by logging in the mandatory hours of continuing education programs, which include two hours of ethics training.

Your career in massage therapy can start today -get in touch with the licensing board in your state to find accredited schools - and you'll be on your way!

Mental depression has many causes that can reasonably be related to their circumstances, or to traumatic events, or loss of a job amongst other things. On the personal issues, it is broken relationships, broken marriages and bereavements that cause people emotional pain that can lead to them taking their own lives. Many cases can be traced to results of the 'economic downturn.'

Mental depression and the condition diagnosed as clinical depression are on the general increase to such an extent that antidepressant medication is reported as the greatest percentage of prescriptions written by general practitioners in Australia. Even more shocking is the fact that a percentage of these prescriptions are psychiatric drugs for children.

We have a serious situation here. It is possibly no better in any other of the western countries that prides itself on being a 'developed' society. However if we are to retrieve our reputation as intelligent communities we are in dire need of addressing this issue of medical drug abuse and professional malpractice that are implied. Many psychiatrists are expressing concern. But many general practitioners continue to prescribe according to the directions of the pharmaceutical suppliers.

Women are emotional and sensitive by nature and are frequently in need of help to cope with their stress and nervous tension and grow to rely upon antidepressants. Very seldom, according to trials, would it seem that these medications cure their depressed and unhappy states of mind or feeling. In fact, there is evidence enough that their condition intensifies to the point of their despair. When medication is sustained for a period it is easy to become addicted. When you wish to cease taking antidepressants there are likely to be unpleasant side effects. It is a no-win situation.

However, in the small print we should have read, and probably didn't, the need to be careful and that there are risks. But how many of us think to question a doctor's prescription?

We should realize that all drugs have side effects and psychiatric drugs (a term that calls a spade a spade) should be considered for what they do in affecting the chemistry of our brains. They are particularly dangerous.

It should be that we immediately seek more information and study the 4,730,000 Google posts for "Dangers of Antidepressant Drugs" to be better able to make decisions on the issue.

At the same time we should search for other avenues to cure ourselves - far more pleasant, natural ones.

When a doctor has to leave his practice for any reason whether for personal reasons or just going on a holiday, they need to find good help for the time they will be away. However, doing it is easier said than actually doing it. Therefore, these doctors will want to know how to hire locum tenen physicians. Considering all the factors is a necessary thing to do.

If you want the best solution, find a family physician like yourself looking for Locum Tenens Jobs. The problem is that they are not that easy to find and the price will not be cheap. In some states, doctors will be sent out by the state into these areas to provide assistance in this area. In this area of medical coverage, the family practice can be of great value.

If you can do so closing a part of your medical practice, is a good option and will save you some money. Keep in mind that you are held liable for the cover on malpractice for the locum tenen. Closing some department such as x-rays or the obstetrics, rules out the liability factor.

Make a point in doing background checks. This is crucial taking into consideration the importance of your job. In addition, knowing all you can about the person you hire to replace you is a good idea. The local law offices should have this type of information so enquiring from them is an option. Drawing up a contract with a clause that makes it possible for you to get him out of the practice if the required medical care is not up to the required standard is of utmost importance.

Determine the dates that need cover in an early stage, the ninety day mark should leave you with enough time to get a replacement. This gives you the time to go through the schedule and introduce him to the staff and patients so they have the time to trust and know him. This makes it easier for your staff to help run things smoothly until your return.

The local hospital might be willing provide a free room and meals to your replacement. Giving up your house for him or her during your absence is an alternative. This means that your pets will be taken care of and the replacement doctor has a free place to stay.

Paying the replacement doctor to come a few days before you plan to leave is a good idea. Doing this will help him or her to become more familiar with the practice, staff and patients.

Provide a list of each patients condition and the severity thereof. Categorize all the patients according to their conditions, such as obstetric patients, drug rehab and patients released from or admitted to hospital.

Informing the replacement on stuff like how the billing practices work and how follow ups should be done, is important. Take time to show him or her all the medical technology available in your practice, including things like a palm device and the billing technology and the electronic medical records.

In the event that something happens while the practice owner is away, the replacement will have to anticipate and deal with these problems. These are just a few suggestions on how to hire locum tenen physicians for the time you are not available.

Lawsuits can help victims receive compensation for pain and suffering caused by negligent acts. But cases can drag on for years, making it difficult for plaintiffs to survive financially until they receive their settlement. That's where lawsuit loans can help.

Lawsuit loans are a unique brand of financing that can be a lifesaver to plaintiffs who are struggling to maintain their finances. They provide a cash advance on expected future court settlements, which can help them meet their immediate financial needs. Most lawsuit loans are used to pay for medical expenses of those who don't have health insurance. But the funds can be spent on anything, including mortgage payments, car notes and daily living expenses.

Interestingly, there's no lending actually involved with lawsuit loans. That's because they're technically a form of "non-recourse" payment. Repayment on lawsuit loans isn't due until after your case has been settled. In fact, many attorneys add the cost of this funding into the basic reimbursable costs of the suit when determining damages.

If you don' win your case, you don't have to repay the advanced funds. Neither does your attorney or anyone else. So, essentially, companies providing lawsuit loans assume all the risk-not you.

Qualifying for Lawsuit Loans

While personal injury cases are the most common litigation used with lawsuit loans, many kinds of cases qualify for this type of financing. They include medical and legal malpractice, wrongful death, wrongful termination, breach of contract, sexual harassment, employment discrimination and product liability.

In terms of personal qualifications for lawsuit loans, there are none. Because no actual lending takes place, the standard items for loan approval-such as a credit check and employment verification-aren't required. Instead, companies that provide lawsuit loans base their selection on the merits of the cases they choose. Their goal is to support strong cases with the most likelihood of winning.

For these companies, lawsuit loans are purely an investment tool. If you lose your case, they'll walk away with nothing. But if you win, they'll have a legal right to share your settlement. This right is based on the lien that gets placed on your case to secure your lawsuit loan. The lien gives the financing company a legal claim to be repaid when your case is settled.

Given the high risk involved, the companies financing lawsuit loans charge a significantly high fee for the services they provide. Their fee can amount to up to 15 percent of the settlement amount. This may seem like a hefty percentage. But if your case wins, you'll probably walk away with more money than you would have if you settled early-even after repaying your lawsuit loan.

Exactly how much money can be provided for lawsuit loans? The actual amount depends on the underwriting requirements of the financing company. However, most companies funding lawsuit loans will pay up to $500,000.

Why Lawsuit Loans?

Lawsuit loans can be a viable option for plaintiffs who are straining to make ends meet until their case settles. Many of them lack access to outside funding and are desperately trying to survive. Their family many not be able or willing to lend them cash to tide them over. They could get money from their home equity loan or line, but this could jeopardize their house. And they may not qualify for traditional bank financing because they lost their jobs due to their injury or other circumstances.

However, lawsuit loans can make a world of difference in their case and lives. Here's how: People pursuing personal injury and other cases are often at a disadvantage in the legal system. Companies with deep pockets can afford to extend cases in an effort to "wait out" plaintiffs who are in dire need of funds to meet their living expenses.

As a result, litigants often give into the pressure of their financial hardships and opt to settle early for much less than they deserve. Lawsuit loans help to fill the gap. They provide the financial wherewithal for plaintiffs to survive as they wait to receive their settlement.

Could a lawsuit loan benefit you? It could if you are out of work , struggling to meet your living needs, can't qualify for a traditional loan or are considering filing bankruptcy.

Lawsuit Loan Companies

Most providers of lawsuit loans are relatively easy and straightforward to work with. Normally, there are no
up-front or out-of-pocket fees to apply for lawsuit loans. Here's how the process works: You consult with a company that provides lawsuit loans regarding your case and requirements. Then the company will contact your lawyer, evaluate the details of your case and let you know if you qualify for financing. And once all the paperwork has been completed and a lien is placed on your case, the funds will be sent to you directly by check.

Companies that provide lawsuit loans maintain a hands-off policy concerning the legal strategy of your case. They don't attempt to offer any legal advice, as their main focus relates to funding issues. Therefore, your attorneys will retain complete control over your case and any relevant legal matters.

Lawsuit loans can be a lifeline for litigants struggling to keep their finances afloat while their case settles.

What do you think of when you think of death and dying? Are you like most people who just immediately think that you have to be old to be dead or dying? If so, you had better re-evaluate your ideas after you hear what I have to say. Death and dying is no more related to old people, or seniors than it is related to young people or cheese sandwiches. In other words, you cannot say that someone is dying or near death simply because they are old. That judgment is far from the truth. Fact is that most people not die from old age, but they die from illness and accidents, and they die from murders and from all sorts of things that really are not related to old age. Some people, even those that are old, might die but might die from unforeseen circumstances.

Young people die too. Healthy people die. So our assumptions that death and dying is just for the old people who are not healthy is a mistaken idea. I know someone who was near death, a ten year old who had open-heart surgery. And I met someone (years prior to this) who was just about eighteen years old who was killed while trying to change a flat tire right off the Belt Parkway. And I know someone of age 45 who died right at her dining room table in the middle of dinner and none of her family had any clue at all that she was even sick. There are babies who die, I know of two of them and there are all sorts of ages in between who die or who come so near death they are given last rights already.

The point that I am making is that death and dying are not solely things that affect old people or seniors, but death and dying affects anyone and everyone who is alive. So, put away your misconceptions about old people dying and realize that people never ever die of old age, but rather they die of medical complications, of malpractice or gross negligence. Or they die from lack of food or from other related things. Bottom line is that you will no longer walk around with that misconception of those old-age myths of death and dying. So, remember, the next time that you walk around fearing old age, remember that old age never killed any human being. Old age has never killed even one human being.

Updated 2012.

What comes to mind when you think of a nurse? Common cultural stereotypes might imagine gentle women in clean, white uniforms holding cold compresses to the foreheads of feverish patients. Or maybe you think of a stressed-out, overworked hospital employee running from room to room shouting out all kinds of medical jargon and numbers to doctors.

Nursing, in fact, is quite a diverse profession with many specializations within the industry. Nurses don't always work in hospitals or the offices of doctors: they can work in private homes, schools, summer camps, with the military, or along in ambulances and even helicopters.

There are three basic types of nurses with many subdivisions among these types. They are: Critical Care Nurses, Non-Intensive Care Nurses, and Non-Bedside Nurses.

Critical Care Nursing

Like the name suggests, nurses working in critical care deal with situations that are very serious, for example: life-threatening emergencies or patients with critical illnesses. Most of this work is done in hospital settings, like the emergency and intensive-care units, but also in emergency medical response units (ambulances). Some subtypes of critical-care nurses are:

- Cardiac Care Unit - for patients with critical heart problems which may involve surgery

- Cardiothoracic ICU - immediate post-operation care, especially with heart or lung surgery and transplants

- Neonatal ICU - treating very sick or under-developed newborn babies

- Neuro ICU - treating serious injuries and traumas, especially to the head, as well as stroke victims

Non-Intensive Care Nursing

This kind of nursing work is similar to the above category with the obvious difference that here nurses are working with patients that are not in serious critical condition and with no immediate emergencies. Notice that the departmental subtypes are often the same as critical-care but with marked differences in the actual work:

- Cardiac Nurse - for cardiology patients who are not having heart surgery

- Cardiothoracic Nurse - regular recovery for patients who have had heart or lung surgery with few complications

- Nursery Nurse - taking care of newborn babies who are healthy

- Neurology Nurse - helping with a smooth recovery from strokes and brain injuries

Non-Bedside Nursing

When these nurses work in hospitals, their work is more often administrative. They also work in other industries, like educational institutions or insurance companies. Although this branch of nursing is non-clinical work, one must still attend a school of nursing and have several years of clinical experience in a hospital before working in one of the subtypes of non-bedside, or non-clinical nursing:

- Health Educator

- Medical Journalist

- Patient-Doctor Facilitator

- Patient Case Manger

- Quality Control

- Malpractice Consultant 

A good nursing program will give the student enough experience of all the different types of nursing work, so he or she can decide what branch is best for them. One of the exciting and attractive things about becoming a nurse is that you have a lifetime of new career opportunities that will never be the simple cultural stereotype of wiping foreheads or running alongside gurneys shouting numbers of CCs.

An immediate concern of many Americans is the threat of lawsuits, liens, judgments and financial loss from major medical or nursing home costs.

People worry that major medical costs, or a lawsuit, will steal the equity in their home or plunder their savings and retirement accounts.

One of the biggest threats is from driving automobiles or other vehicles. If you or your teenagers have an accident, which is your fault, the liability is almost unlimited and can go far beyond your insurance limits.

Other serious risks come from business activities or ownership. That is, business deals gone bad, debts that cannot be paid, unhappy customers, overzealous regulatory agencies, employee lawsuits, product and professional liability, and malpractice issues, etc. Ownership of rental real estate, or construction equipment where an accident could occur are some other big danger areas.

Some are concerned over risks they face from divorce and ex-spouses.

All these hazards leave your property at immense risk, and insurance and incorporation simply will not protect your family home or personal assets. A claimant or his family can legally come after your home, business, vehicles, investments, vacation property or anything else of value that you own.

Before deciding whether to take a case on a contingency basis, against you or your business, an attorney will log on to a web site such as http://www.docusearch.com and enter your name in the Asset Search section. Within hours he will have details of all real estate that you own, autos, boats and airplanes in your name and up to date details of all of your stock and mutual fund holdings and your family checking and savings accounts. Welcome to big brother in this United States of America. If your assets are off the radar screen, your chances of being sued are greatly diminished. And even if a judgment is obtained against you, your assets are secure.

So how can you protect your home, your cash assets, your autos and boats – even your child’s education savings?

For most people, the answer is an anonymous Nevada Corporation which cannot be traced back to you or your family. No shares will be issued and you will need a trusted attorney [http://www.attorneykey.com] or friend to control the assets. To protect your home for instance, just get this corporation to place a friendly lien on your property.

Traditionally, plaintiffs and their attorneys have faced a recurring predicament -- lack of adequate funds to pursue valid courses of action against deep-pocketed defendants. This forces them to either suspend those cases altogether, or accept unreasonably low pre-settlement funding offers. Powerful defendants recognize that the prospect of a protracted, costly litigation and/or appeal can provide them with significant leverage in the lawsuit settlement process, which they use to their advantage.

Lawsuit settlement funding can help in situations of struggling with expenses relating to a lawsuit. If the claimant is completely exhausted of funds, and has no other resources to turn to, a cash advance company such as Legal Advances can breathe life back into the personal injury lawsuit. Expenses like mortgages, car payments, and tuition fees can all be addressed with lawsuit settlement funding, which enables individuals to carry on with their lives while pursuing their lawsuit. Don't agree to a personal settlement out of court until a lawsuit funding has been considered first.

Too many plaintiffs settle for ridiculously low sums of money out of court because of the fear of continuing down a path of no return. A good lawsuit settlement funding company can provide the necessary funds that will keep the attorney on the case and allow individuals to continue on with their livelihoods.

The need for pre-settlement lawsuit funding services has been present for years. Plaintiffs frequently have financial hardships that need to be alleviated before their cases settle. Sometimes even attorneys have a need for cash prior to receiving their portion of a case settlement. However, only recently have avenues opened to allow effective addressing of this need.

This type of cash advance is a non-recourse loan, which means that the client will never have to pay them back if the case is lost. There are a number of other advantages as well, including: no monthly payments until the case settles; no need to tie the loan to financial standing such as whether the plaintiff has a job or not; and the ability to sidestep paying interest, as compensated cases pass the interest expense to the client as expenses.

Getting money before a case settles is fast and simple. There are no monthly fees required and in the unexpected event that a plaintiff's case does not settle, the plaintiff is no longer responsible for the repayment of the Lawsuit Cash Advance.

To be eligible, the lawsuit should be at least six months old, have a settlement value of at least $20,000, and the plaintiff must be experiencing a financial hardship.

Lawsuit Funding is available to the plaintiff for personal injury settlements, as well as class action/product liability, wrongful death, malpractice, breach of contract, worker's compensation, and medical bills. For the attorney, it is available to cover fees for expert witness testimony and research, as well as attorney fees.

It is very common to find plastic surgery before and after photos of celebrities who have deliberately went under the knife to enhance their appearances. If in the past, these plastic surgery before and after photos have been commented on negatively, these days, there is a more positive reception towards such news.

Furthermore, it is not only celebrities who have these plastic surgery before and after photos anymore. Even the everyday woman has been bitten by the self enhancement bug, that Hollywood star or otherwise, they volunteer themselves to get these cosmetic procedures done.

If you are one of those who think that plastic surgery is definitely for you, the next step is probably one of the most important that you will make. After doing your homework, saving a whole lot of money, weighing risks against benefits, and finally deciding that you want a plastic surgery before and after photo of you, choosing the right surgeon is the next major decision to make. Of course, that is easier said than done.

Like any other option, do not take the first plastic surgery before and after photo offered to you. Do not take the first surgeon that comes along, nor should you pick one too quickly. Take the necessary steps to ensure that your before and after photo won't be fit for the next horror movie.

First, before and after photos are great. They serve as referrals. But you want to get one primarily from your family doctor, or maybe from other family and friends who have had procedures done in the past. It is always best to ask for referrals from people you know and trust to ensure quality. Remember, it is your body we are talking about here.

Once you zero in on one surgeon, check for his credentials through the American Board of Medical Specialties. You can easily access it on the World Wide Web.

Speaking of the Web, use it to trace the profile and possible past and recent works of your chosen surgeon. Check out Check the American Society of Plastic Surgeons where you will find board-certified plastic surgeons near you.

While you are at it, also make sure that your chosen surgeon is licensed and does not have any malpractice lawsuits filed against him. You do not want to end up with a plastic surgery before and after photo that shows a person next to a zombie.

In this sense, always choose a surgeon that specializes on the procedure that you want done. His training is important if he is to make you look good, and your before and after photo simply beautiful. Go and see if they do participate in continuing education programs to make sure that their medical skills are up to date and can deliver the results of a perfect plastic surgery before and after photo that you absolutely want.

When people ran away from you as you initiate a conversation, you most likely will rejected thinking that they do not want you. This can be a horrible experience especially this happened not only once but twice or even more. But instead of feeling down, check yourself for you might be a sufferer of halitosis, in simple terms bad breath. The truth is people cannot stand it when a whiff of smelly, stinking breath odor comes into their nostril.

It is a funny thing because sometimes they do stand it when they talk across people who are physically filthy but it is almost impossible to talk longer with someone who breathes out ghastly air. So, if you have been experiencing like they are rejecting you, check yourself if you do have it. Then if you do, don't whine at it instead seek bad breath medicines and cure it to avoid having the same scenario in the future.

When finding bad breath medicines, it is important to consider that there is no such thing as magical medicine which can immediately cure your condition. First and foremost, you cannot get a medicine over the counter without having to trace the root of your bad breath condition. There are bad breath medicines available, but these are actually offered in different methods. Not all of these methods are the right solution to your case.

So, before you actually pay for medicines, isolate the real cause of your halitosis. Halitosis results from a variety of causes and your treatment will relatively depend on which one why you are suffering from this condition.

So, for example, if your bad breath is the result of not properly practicing dental hygiene, all you will need for this is to ensure you correct this malpractice and do it regularly. But if your condition is past that basic cause, you need other way. For instance, if the cause is due to sinusitis, tonsillitis, and others, you will need to treat these medical conditions first before you can proceed with bad breath medicines.

Meanwhile, herbs, minerals, and other natural products can be used to cure severe bad breath symptoms. Many people have been relying on the wonders of natural resources for they not only effectively cure bad breath problems but they have therapeutic natural compounds found in them making them ideal to promote good physical condition and healthy mouth. If you consult with a dental professional or physical doctor, other kinds of bad breath medicines may be recommended depending on the real culprit of your halitosis condition.

Whatever bad breath medicines that are being prescribed, it is important that you still practice the proper oral hygiene care along with the medication intake. Brushing, flossing, mouth rinsing, avoiding spicy foods, taking care of your physical condition are among the most important proper practices to avoid bad breath.

Having a good breath and healthy mouth condition is not only a reason to smile more often but to have more confidence when you are talking in front of the people. You will find that is it also what people would not mind having in every person they wish to talk in front with, instead of suffering from the horrible fit of bad gas coming from the mouth of the sufferer.

If you have a good breath, it would never be a hassle to your social life; thus, a much happier life as well.

Let's face it - even if the US is not faced with a looming deficit and at risk of defaulting on its debts if the debt-ceiling is not raised, Congress should still be debating what the nation is spending its revenues and resources on and how to extract the most out of every dollar spent. Congress should never be complacent, as they have been during the years of economic growth and prosperity, about the inefficiencies and bad policies we see at every level of Government.

The results of the 2010 mid-term elections carry with it a clear message: the voters are tired of the same-old, same-old. The Independents, tired of having to choose between two sides that have become so similar that it is hard to tell them apart, voted in a whole new bunch that ran on the message that they want to change Government. Indeed, some of them ran on pretty extreme messages but it seemed that the risk was worth it, if only to stir things up and get the fat cats out of their seats to start doing something to right the ship.

If we could rise above all the rhetoric about the numbers and who would be to blame if the government was shut down because no agreement on the spending cuts, we would realize that the real issue lies in complexities of our laws, layered on year after year, creating bloat and inefficiencies everywhere, sucking up precious national resources. As the saying goes, "a dollar is a dollar". We want to be spending it in smart ways that generate more economic activity which in turn lead to job growth and revenue, and not in paying for duplicative or unproductive processes and administrative structures.

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform conducted a study and came up with a report in December 2010 which we should all examine and build on if we are truly serious about what needs to be done. It is not a perfect document and dissenting views are clearly enunciated but it is a good start. The report proposes various changes encompassing:

• Discretionary Spending Cuts
• Tax Reform
• Health Policies
• Other Mandatory Policies
• Social Security
• Process Reform

It is a must read for anyone serious about the debate on our nation's fiscal health.

In every area listed by the Commission, we need a 'Reset' button to push for rationalization and simplification. Complexities lead to loopholes, creating an unfair advantage for those who cleverly exploit the loopholes and a gross disadvantage for others.

We need a Reset button for our tax laws to account for the shift in economic and political dynamics we are witnessing around the world. Asia is fast becoming the biggest consumer bloc and our survival and success will depend on how adept we are at meeting the challenges ahead. To that end, our tax laws must be redesigned to incentivize job creation, especially in the export of goods and services. We need incentives that will help make the US more competitive in the global market. We already have some of the best institutions of higher learning, a well-trained workforce, excellent design and marketing skills, and fertile entrepreneurial breeding grounds especially in new-age technology. Yet, our existing laws favor the off-shoring of millions of technology jobs to other countries. We need our lawmakers to help bring about the re-creation of those jobs in the U.S.

We need a Reset button for our defense strategy and our national security. We can no longer afford the price of being the world's sole policeman. Recent events in Africa and the Middle-East have shown us that any change towards a more democratic world must come from within. We need to be smarter about how we screen passengers at security checkpoints across the country. We cannot afford to layer on more and more scanners, personnel, and checks each time that Al Qaeda threatens another attack on the US. The Department of Defense spending has more than doubled between 2000 and 2010, ballooning from $300 Billion to just under $700 billion, and that number excludes Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs costs.

We need a Reset button on healthcare and medical tort reform. Healthcare providers today do not want to risk potential lawsuits and higher malpractice insurance and consequently they will often (especially if asked) prescribe all recommended tests and treatments regardless of whether or not they will be beneficial to the patient. We need a rational quality of care that is determined by a panel of experts, not lawyers. We need programs that encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. We cannot afford a growing population of expanding waistlines and higher incidences of obesity, including cases in the very young. Beneficiaries of government assisted programs such as Medicare and Medicaid should be subjected to annual "performance tests", monitoring their weight and waist measurements. If their deductibles and co-pays for medication increase along with their expanding waistlines, they would quickly join the pound-for-pound challenge on the Biggest Loser.

We need a Reset button on end-of-life care. We cannot afford to confuse compassionate care for the dying with extending life artificially. Trying to postpone the inevitable outcome for the very sick and the very old while denying care to young children which will allow them to grow into healthy, productive lives makes no sense. The notion that we will be 'killing grandma' by rationing care is ridiculous when the alternative is to have grandma hooked up to a host of machines and tubes for feeding, breathing, medicating, urinating, etc., because we can't let go. We're adults and we must think and act as adults. Advocating the notion that a logical plan for end-of-life care means 'killing grandma' is infantile.

We need a Reset button on our energy policies. We need to end our addiction to oil. Our dependence on foreign oil hurts us, making us subservient to oil producing nations and lender countries that have autocratic governments. We need to raise taxes on gas-guzzling vehicles while encouraging more eco-friendly cars. We need to revisit subsidies to big oil corporations. We need to invest in new infrastructure that will help move our energy consumption towards sources that are renewable. We need to expand our electricity grid so that we can bring solar and wind energy from solar and wind farms to the cities and towns across the country. We need to invest in support systems for car-pooling and use of mass transportation. The arrival of hybrid and electric cars are great but they alone will not make a significant enough dent in our total oil consumption.

We need a Reset button on government jobs, civil and military services. We need to flatten organizational structures and end promotion and pay increases based on seniority. We need to eliminate unnecessary paperwork, pencil pushers that add no value to a process, increase productivity through greater automation and move towards a self-service model through modern technology. We need to consolidate departments that overlap in function and we need to eliminate outdated regulations that discourage businesses from setting up shop or expanding their operations in the US. We need enforcement officers that are more attuned to the problems businesses face and who will help them meet regulatory requirements rather than act simply as a deterrent to lapses and failure to comply.

We need a Reset button on our policies on granting visas to bona-fide visitors to encourage in-bound tourism. We have amazingly beautiful cities, national parks, and exciting man-made attractions. We have museums and art collections that are the envy of many. Tourism is a highly labor intensive industry and it will create jobs that will always remain in the US. We need to end the levying of hefty visa fees and, more importantly, we need to end the discrimination against young, single women. The trend, seen first in Japan and now around the world is for more and more single female workers with a disposable income for whom travel and shopping are high on their priority list.

There are many more Reset buttons that can be added to the list. However not a single one will be in place if our politicians continue in their game of 'chicken' and care only about their ego and political ideologies rather than the nation's needs.

We are living in a fast changing world and systems and processes that worked well in the past may not be sufficiently adept in meeting the needs of today. Lengthy budget battles year after year distracts us from looking at what we need to be doing to positively influence America's economic future and its role in a freer, more global and more democratic world.

Chiropractic care is a profession that treats musculoskeletal problems trough manual therapy and spine manipulation. Chiropractic care mostly deals with spinal problems and back pains. Spine manipulation, although it sounds painful, is the primary approach, but chiropractic also deals with joints, muscles and the overall framework of the body.

Chiropractic comes from the Greek word "cheir" which means hand and "praxis" which is action. Combined, chiropractic literally means "done by hand" or "treatment by hand". Chiropractors are the professionals who practice chiropractic profession. They are licensed by the state and are required to undergo formal education before practicing the chosen profession.

Modern chiropractic started in 1800s when Daniel David Palmer performed the first spinal manipulation on a patient. Chiropractic went far after that and became the third largest medical field and the largest in complementary and alternative medicine. Currently, there are more than 50,000 licensed chiropractors in United States alone. They are even incorporated and included in the U.S. military health system.

Chiropractors nowadays are not only knowledgeable in treating musculoskeletal disorders but are also involved in nutrition and healthy lifestyle counselling. Chiropractors nowadays, also know something about physiotherapy, herbal therapy, heat/cold therapy acupuncture, exercise programs and other methods of instruction. They also include this kind of treatment in their treatment methods.

The Philosophy Behind

There are two basic concepts that chiropractic practitioners follow: (1) the body functions according to its structure and condition, and (2) health and healing relies on the interaction between the mind and the body.

An example would be when the spine is in its abnormal position. This could result to some nerves in the spine to get irritated and therefore can lead to back pain and muscle pain. The functionality of the spine can get affected, thus the whole body framework gets affected. This is the reason why it is important for chiropractic to reposition the spine to alleviate any physical discomforts.

This is why there is less emphasis on surgery, the body can heal through the patient's ability to recuperate, healthy lifestyle and environment. With chiropractic, illnesses can be cured by understanding not only the symptoms but also the reason for the illness to totally remove the sickness. Chiropractic also relies on the hands-on approach and is patient-centered.

A chiropractic professional should not only be good with the medical profession, but also employs critical thinking, open-mindedness and appreciation of the natural order of things. It is also important for chiropractic clinics to have a conducive environment where patients will be encouraged to recover and function properly.

Chiropractic Benefits

Most patients of chiropractic care would have back pains, arthritis, muscle stiffness, muscle spasms and other problems. Pain is relieved and the patient can move better. Joints and tissues would heal and pain would leave. A new chiropractic patient may find the treatment painful at first. A body which has been out of line for a long time may feel different the fits time it has been put into place.

Patients who have undergone chiropractic treatment would say that they would feel more energy, sleep better at night, lesser stress and tension. There are patients who prefer to have chiropractic care over medical treatments since it is perfectly natural, involves no drugs and needles and affordable.

Patients also choose chiropractic care because it is safe. Since there are no drugs used in the treatment, there is less possibility that the patient would get addicted to medication. Surveys also showed that malpractice among chiropractors is considerably lower compared to medical practitioners.

Other exceptional benefits of chiropractic care include:

• Improved immunity and overall health
• Improved athletic performance
• Improved posture
• Improve spinal structure and makes spinal disks healthier
• Shows significant effects on slowing down the aging process

Chiropractic also showed a great help among pregnant women. Chiropractic adjustments showed that it could help expectant mothers to deliver easily. There are also studies showing that pregnant women who have undergone chiropractic adjustments can decrease their labor time by 50 percent.

Another great advantage of getting chiropractic care is that the pain relief can be instant. You get to be relieved from nagging and recurring problems like back pains, indigestion and neck pain. Cures to these diseases can be found in chiropractic and are not present in any other kind of medicine.

Naomi Wolf's newest book, Misconceptions, is a testament to her own experiences and prejudices about childbirth. Ms. Wolf shares her own culturally-learned fears about childbirth but fails to recognize that this is in response to 100 years of medical society propaganda. Although she has access to research and studies documenting the safety of homebirth and non-medical midwifery, she paints birth outside an institution as dangerous. She chose to give birth with obstetricians in high risk hospitals and had cesareans both times. I think the book could have been more aptly titled, "(Misrepresentations) My Pain Phobia and Justification for My Cesareans."

I heard about this book through discussions on the internet which praised it for setting the record straight about childbirth. After looking at the book myself, however, I have come to an entirely different conclusion. It is simply another book, written to justify the unwarranted use of medical intervention and sequelae, unnecessary cesareans, and excuse bad maternity care decisions. Instead of accurately depicting birthing choices in America, Ms. Wolf used this book as a vehicle to promote her own opinions and discredit traditional midwives, homebirth, full-time motherhood and ecological breastfeeding.

Ms. Wolf places great importance on the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting", as though this is some highly regarded research book or the childbirth Bible. Sadly this book is written to promote the medical model of care and justify the many interventions foisted upon women who choose to have hospital births. She carefully goes through the many routine hospital procedures and explains the many risks and few benefits of each, yet she apparently did not believe her own research.

Those who have fought for years to eradicate the meaningless term "lay midwife" will immediately recognize Ms. Wolf's superficial understanding of birth attendants. Her repeated use of this term is a clear indicator of her lack of research and knowledge of childbirth. I half expected to see the terms "redskin" or "nigger" pop up during discussion about minority statistics.

She writes as a fact, "homebirth is now as safe as hospital birth." Now as safe? It has always been at least as safe! An entire book, The Five Standards by David Stewart, gives thousands of studies and statistics which conclude that homebirth is safer than hospital birth.

I took great offense at her term, "Naturalists," (pages 182-186) to describe anyone who would dare to promote or give birth without high-technology. She explains that this option "has been presented as so rigid .with such extreme requirements of courage and faith. It was for that reason that my husband and I would not consider it as an option." I wonder, what research led her to this conclusion? Judging from many comments which salt her book, it would seem she is her own source of "factual" information.

Anyone who promoted birth without drugs is included in this Naturalist group and portrayed as romanticizing the birthing event. Ina May Gaskin, however, is somehow exempt from this group and given the title, "The Patron Saint." It is obvious that Ms. Wolf is in awe of Gaskin, yet wasn't converted by her to better educate herself and choose a less interventive childbirth. It is also apparent that Ms. Wolf did not read the original Spiritual Midwifery book. If she had, she would have learned that Ina May wasn't exactly "a self-taught, lay midwife" but that her earliest training had come from an obstetrician (who also provided medication and instruments) and a local physician who provided friendly back-up for years. She also would have learned that the Farm clinic included a physician.

It is curious that Ms. Wolf is intrigued by free-standing birth centers and offers them up as a perfect choice for women. She is somehow under the impression that pain-relieving drugs are readily available for those who give birth at these centers, yet her depiction of Elizabeth Seton indicates a transport to the hospital for those who wish an epidural. How this is an improvement over one's own home is a mystery to me. Perhaps it is her fascination with institutions? and her phobia about pain?

Complete Mother readers will find her descriptions of breastfeeding revolting: "become someone's addiction." And quoting Sarah Hardy, "once nursing begins, bondage is a perfectly good description for the ensuing chain of events (and) lives on a mammary leash." How sad she didn't bother to go to a Le Leche League meeting or meet someone who was content breastfeeding. We can only guess that she probably was bottle fed, and lacking the nurturing of being breastfed herself, is compensating by portraying breastfeeding in a dim light.

Her social programs which would improve the world basically abdicate parental responsibilities to the government. She wants paid extended maternity leave, tax deductions and benefits to relatives who come to help the new mothers, on-site day care and nurseries, lots of hospital support programs, hospital statistics disclosure, parentless playgrounds monitored by "young people" so "an active, thoughtful mother, father. (won't be) uncomfortable at the playground." Basically she wants the government to act as nanny so she can get her work done. "Work" being something far more important than caring for her children herself.

Save yourself a few hours of frustration wading through this tripe. Instead, make a pot of raspberry leaf tea, give the older kids a fun project to do, put your feet up and put baby to breast and read the books she ignored: The Five Standards, Under the Apple Tree, The American Way of Birth, Being Born, Birth at Home, Your Baby, Your Way, Special Delivery, Labor Pains, Silent Knife, Malpractice: How Doctors Manipulate Women, Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities, Gentle Birth Choices and back-issues of The Compleat Mother Magazine.

Legal funding is in no way considered a "new" option for individuals that are going through the lawsuit process, and waiting on settlements. If you are asking yourself, "Why do I need money for my lawsuit?" I would first ask yourself, do I have money to pay a lawyer, and continue a case? In the event that the person inquiring about a cash advance is injured, or were involved in an accident, they are probably not working.

Lawsuits are expensive, and most individuals cannot afford tens of thousands of dollars to hire counsel, pay their bills, support their family, as many individuals who are waiting on settlements are out of work due to injury, unemployed because they were unjustly laid off, fired, or quit because they were discriminated against.

There are many misconceptions about lawsuit cash advances. First off, it is not a loan. If the case if lost, the individual does not have to pay anything. Legal funding companies underwrite the case, and determine whether it has a good chance of being successful, and settling for a an amount that determines the amount of funding they will provide.

How it works: The individual submits their information, and their case is reviewed to determine the legitimacy, which is based on if the case is winnable, and how much the outcome is projected to be. For accident and injury cases, the current medical bills, and the insurance policy limits are taken into account, which usually determine how much funding will be provided.

There are many types off cases that are eligible to receive cash advances for their pending lawsuit, until they reach their settlement. Kinds of cases include:

• Accident
• Injury
• Wrongful Death
• Negligence
• Malpractice - Legal & Medical
• Product Liability
• Slip & Falls
• Workmans Comp
• Employment Discrimination

Although there are many more, these are the most general of the types of cases that are eligible for lawsuit settlement funding.

Individuals can receive their lawsuit cash advances within 24-48 hours. Although, some cases do take longer based on case type, and complexity of the lawsuit. The cases that usually take longer are ones that have many parties involved, and there is a dispute about "what actually happened."

"Legal advances for individuals waiting on settlements have increased not only due to the economy, and more claims, but also due to the fact that lawsuit advances are a relatively under recognized option", stated expert Ron Duncan.

The latest Big Thing in medicine is "Standard of Care." It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? The name alone makes you believe that no matter what doctor you go to, there's a Standard of Care ensuring a quality outcome. What a comforting thought.

Clever name, that. The sad truth is Standard of Care has nothing to do good medicine or quality outcomes. It's pharmaceutical/insurance-company speak for a one-size-fits-all system intended to minimize costs, maximize control and bulletproof doctors against charges of malpractice-whatever happens to the patient. It has little, if anything, to do with healing; in fact, it could reasonably be called the anti-healing standard of care.

Let me illustrate with Standard of Care's impact on my life.

I have panhypopituitarism, which means my pituitary gland-the master of my universe-is shot. The pituitary gland, along with the hypothalamus, controls the endocrine system, that is, the thyroid which controls metabolism, the adrenals which control stress, the pancreas which controls blood sugar, the thymus which controls the immune system and the ovaries/testes which control reproduction and general well-being. Etc.

As you can see, panhypopituitarism is not an insignificant problem. Symptoms abound-brain fog, extreme fatigue, coma-like sleep, thinning hair, weight gain, and on, and on-adding up a veritable tsunami of symptoms.

And how, you ask, does Standard of Care (SoC) handle this life-limiting mess? By doing the side-step-and-deny shuffle.

First, hypopituitarism. There seems to be no inexpensive and effective test for pituitary problems Symptoms, viewed as unscientific, a probably imaginary report from the patient, don't count in the SoC universe. So, given no cheap test and a disbelief in symptoms, doctors simply say I don't have it. No test equals no problem. Meanwhile, the highly regarded Pituitary Network Association proved that one person in five has pituitary problems, which problems, needless to say, are ignored. Patients are left to wonder what bus hit them.

Then there's the thyroid. It's estimated that up to 40% of the population has underactive thyroid glands. Now here, SoC does allow testing-with blood tests that leave a lot to be desired. However, effective treatment, i.e., a natural, bio-identical medicine such as Armour Thyroid, isn't allowed. Instead, they push a synthetic thyroid medication that doesn't work-except to cause osteoporosis.

Another part of the endocrine system is the adrenal glands. The SoC approved blood tests are worthless, while the accurate saliva test is banned. A few years ago, an adrenal blood test pronounced me to be fine, while the adrenal saliva test proved I was in adrenal failure-which fit the symptoms, that is, if you want to stoop to anything as unscientific as symptoms. Of course, SoC won't order hydrocortisone, the proven treatment, in any case, so test or no test, you won't get any help.

And so it goes. If you don't have endocrine problems, you may think I exaggerate, but anybody suffering through this mess will emphatically assure you I'm not.

Despite patient distress, doctors don't go beyond Standard of Care. Some doctors are happy to go along, what with minimum effort and big rewards for not rocking the boat. But others go along because they have no choice. If they don't follow Standard of Care, they can lose their license to practice medicine-even if they heal every patient that comes through the door and have no complaints against them.

So I'm left to doctor myself. But, you know, I'm making it. A whole lot more than just making it, in fact. A fine doctor, the late Robert Hamburg of Detroit, diagnosed my problem some years ago. Knowing the diagnosis made it possible to study what I was up against, and my years of research unearthed information that makes the difference.

It would be wonderful to have a doctor who cared about whether I felt good or not and who could act on my behalf, but I'm not going to roll over and play dead because the docs have the Standard of Care burr under their saddles.

But Standard of Care hurts everybody. It literally kills people, and it may well kill you. If you ever get a chance to vote, argue or march against Standard of Care, do it. Don't hesitate for a minute. Help free good doctors to practice real medicine again.