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A new study financed by a section of the National Institutes of Health has made the first potential connection to an individual’s genetics and susceptibility to eventually developing deadly asbestos illnesses such as mesothelioma.

The study, which was recently published online in Nature Genetics, found evidence that people with BAP1 gene mutations may have an increased chance of developing multiple cancer types such as mesothelioma, breast, ovarian, pancreatic and renal cancers. The study highlighted two U.S. families with members who have the BAP1 gene mutation. Both families also have “a high incidence of mesothelioma.”

Dr. Joseph R. Testa, another study co-leader and the Carol and Kenneth E. Weg chairman in Human Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center, said the study was the first to “demonstrate that individual genetic makeup can greatly influence susceptibility to mesothelioma.”

While only a first step, the discoveries noted in this study could one day lead to fundamental progress in mesothelioma care. Thanks to Drs. Carbone and Testa and their crew for the hard work. We hope this is just the beginning of bigger breakthroughs to come.

Living with the day-to-day hardships of mesothelioma – whether it is you or a loved one who has been diagnosed with the illness – is both emotionally and financially taxing. If you feel that a company or former employer may be responsible for the asbestos exposure that led to an illness, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn about filing amesothelioma lawsuit.

Mesothelioma

Medical liability cases against obstetricians and other doctors who participate in the birthing process are most often spurred by errors in clinical judgment, miscommunication between doctors, and technical mistakes.

All of these errors can potentially result in a birth injury occurring that may remain with the newborn child for their entire lives.

According to a study released this month by CRIGO Strategies that analyzed more than 800 OB medical liability cases filed between 2005 and 2009, the three most common allegations in the lawsuits were as follows: Delayed treatment of fetal distress, improper execution of vaginal delivery, and improper management of pregnancy.

“Obstetrics has some unique vulnerabilities, most often involving situations in which a sequence of errors or oversights cascade into a crisis that can put mother and baby in jeopardy,” said Robert Hanscom, CRIGO’s senior vice president.

Obstetrician errors can result in a number of birth injuries that can affect the mother and/or the child being born. Among the more serious birth injuries a newborn can suffer from is cerebral palsy, which can affect a newborn for the rest of his or her life and often relegate them to a wheelchair and constant medical care.

If you or your child was born with a birth injury that can be attributed to medical error, such as cerebral palsy, there may be legal options available to you. Contact a birth injury attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn about your options regarding a lawsuit against the doctors who caused your injury.

Birth Injury

Aside from legal ads on TV, many Americans don’t know what asbestos is or where it can be found, let alone that exposure to this dangerous material can result in the development of an asbestos-related cancer such as mesothelioma. In fact, mesothelioma occurs in such a small number of patients – it’s estimated that only 2,500-3,000 new patients are diagnosed every year – that the disease is often referred to as an orphan disease. And while new mesothelioma treatments can alleviate symptoms and improve a patient’s quality of life, to date there is no proven cure for the disease.

Perhaps most troubling is the fact that despite these known health risks, asbestos is still not banned in the United States and is manufactured and used every day.

But you can help change this. There are a number of easy ways for you to join the fight to ban asbestos and beat mesothelioma forever, and it all begins with one simple goal: raising awareness.

Each year, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) recognizes September 26 as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day in order to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos exposure and raise much-needed financial support for research towards improved treatments of the disease. The first Mesothelioma Awareness Day was started in 2004 by a group of volunteers and every year since has been larger and more widespread.

Want to participate, but don’t know where to start? Here are some ideas:

• Write a letter to Congress urging them to ban asbestos. We have a pre-written letter on our homepage you can sign and send digitally in minutes. (Yes, your representatives really receive them and sometimes they’ll even write you back!)
• Spread the word! You can click the Facebook and Twitter buttons on the top or bottom of this page to easily share the news about Mesothelioma Awareness Day with your friends.
• Join MARF’s social media campaign. They have ready-to-use facts and updates for you to share online.
• Plan or attend a fundraising event. You can check MARF’s event calendar to see if there’s anything planned in your area, and if there isn’t, they have otherideas how you can become involved – both on 9/26, as well as throughout the year.
• Make a donation to a non-profit organization like MARF or the Asbestos Disease Organization (ADAO).
• Check out the Mesothelioma Resource Center’s list of ways to raisemesothelioma awareness, which include contacting local news outlets, meeting local government leaders, fundraising and more.

Whether it’s the click of a mouse or a dollar in a donation jar, you CAN make a difference on National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. By raising awareness, we can save lives through safety education and prevention, as well as gaining support for the movements to ban asbestos and secure additional funding for improved treatments.

So take action and spread the word! Together, we can ban asbestos and beat asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma

With Mesothelioma Awareness Day coming up on Monday, September 26th, we thought it apt to highlight the top ten products we were surprised to find that are still being manufactured today with the use of the known carcinogen, asbestos. Asbestos exposure has long been known to cause mesothelioma as well as other cancers and diseases. Mesothelioma Awareness Day is an annual day devoted to raising awareness about mesothelioma and raising funds for mesothelioma research.

In this post — the first in a series of Mesothelioma Awareness Day posts designed to help raise awareness – we present our top ten asbestos-containing products to be aware of:

Baby powder? Baby powder!

Baby powder and other adult cosmetic powders and talcum powders often contain talc. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies talc that contains asbestos as “carcinogenic to humans” and talc not containing asbestos as “not classifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans.

2. Cigarette Filters

As if smoking cigarettes wasn’t already bad enough, asbestos has been known to be present in the filters.

3. Hair Dryers

Check with the manufacturer of your specific model, as some hair dryers have asbestos-based insulators.

4. Mittens

Are your hands really that cold? Some fire or heat-proof mittens have linings that contain asbestos.

5. Yarn

Typically, you don’t have to worry about the yarn you’re using to knit a scarf, unless it’s known to contain heat-proof threads, which contain asbestos.

6. Popcorn Poppers

As with hair dryers, most small electronics and appliances manufacturers have discontinued the use of asbestos. If yours is an older model or if you have concerns, contact the manufacturer.

7. Brake Pads

Many automotive parts are still manufactured with asbestos today, especially brake pads, to help prevent overheating.

8. Cork Board

If you have an old cork board and you can’t verify its safety with a manufacturer, think twice before tacking up your next picture or note.

9. Duct Tape

Many electrical tapes contain asbestos to help prevent melting or catching fire.

10. Rope

Although many ropes are asbestos-free, some that are heat or fire resistant do contain asbestos.

When asbestos fibers are inhalable, they are breathed into the lungs where the microscopic fibers embed into the tissue and accumulate. The inhalation of asbestos fibers is the leading cause of mesothelioma.

Speak to an Asbestos Attorney Today

For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer that can be linked to asbestos exposure caused by a product or former employer, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney to learn more about your rights, and to see if pursuing a mesothelioma settlement is in your best interest.

Asbestos

The family of a 10-year girl who suffered birth injuries as the result of a botched birth process at a Maine hospital has won a $3 million lawsuitagainst a midwife who conducted the delivery.

Hannah Tilton was born with severe mental retardation, blindness, the inability to speak, and a reliance on both a wheelchair and feeding tubes. Many of the birth injuries she sustained were the result of a lack of oxygen she suffered during the delivery.

However, a fetal monitor that had been put in place to monitor Hannah’s oxygen and read that there was a problem went unnoticed by a midwife at the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, ME where the birth took place.

A medical malpractice case ensued following the birth complications. On July 1, following four hours of deliberation, a jury found that the midwife had breached the standard of care by not properly recognizing the warning signs.

As a result, the Tilton family was awarded $500,000 for the permanent impairment and loss of enjoyment of life that Hannah faces for the rest of her life, $345,000 to cover past medical expenses, and $2.3 million for her future medical and health-care costs.

For children who suffer a birth injury during delivery, there are usually a number of expensive medical equipment they must purchase, and treatments they must undergo, in order to live a more comfortable life. If you or a loved one are struggling to afford the financial costs associated with caring for a child who suffered a birth injury, contact a birth injury attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn more about the legal options that are available.

Birth Injury

Following his attempt to show that he is not limited by his cerebral palsy, a Coronado, California, man’s recent physical accomplishment has gotten him a considerable amount of media attention and praise.

Stephen Wampler was born with cerebral palsy that has always limited his movement. Nonetheless, he was able to take up the rigorous sport of mountain climbing. Following a year of training with a rope and pulley system, Wampler set out to become the first person with cerebral palsy to ever climb El Capitan, a 3,000-foot mountain in Yosemite National Park.

The climb was originally meant to show children that anything can be accomplished with the right mindset while also raising money for his Wampler Foundation, which helps children with disabilities attend outdoor camps in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

However, his six-day climb ended up doing more than that. In addition to earning him a nomination for an ESPY Award for “Male Athlete with a Disability,” it also was chronicled in a documentary film titled Wall: The Journey Up, which will premiere at a local park later this month.

“I was so exhausted, so dehydrated, so hungry, so sleep-deprived that after day one, it’s all a blur,” Wampler said of the climb.

Wampler is an example of how individuals born with cerebral palsy, or any other kind of birth injury, can succeed in life and overcome their obstacles with the proper treatments. However, for families who may have trouble affording the proper treatments, pursuing a financial settlement through a childbirth injury lawsuit may be a viable option. Speak to acerebral palsy attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn more about your legal options.

Birth Injury

After gaining Internet fame for an audition video posted as part of a reality show contest led by television diva Oprah Winfrey, wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy survivor Zach Anner will star in his own show documenting his travels and exploits around the world.

The show, titled “Rollin’ with Zach,” will premiere December 12 on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and hopes to raise awareness regarding cerebral palsy while also showing that those afflicted with it are able to lead productive and exciting lives.

Anner was something of an Internet star before he submitted an audition video to “Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star,” a reality show that promised to give its winner a deal to create an original series on OWN. Some 15,000 auditions were submitted for the reality series. Anner was one of two contestants chosen to create their own show.

“Rollin’ with Zach” is a travel show where Anner “explores the country, meets new people, indulges in his favorite treats, and attempts new and exciting experiences he never imagined possible.” In each episode, Anner travels to a city and conquers a “Top Five” list of activities for that area that range from surfing and sailing to appearing as a contestant on “The Price is Right”.

Anner’s show will demonstrate that while cerebral palsy is a devastating condition, those afflicted with it can live fulfilling lives if they receive the proper care and treatment.

If you or a loved one have a child with a birth injury such as cerebral palsy, you may be able to take legal action. Pursuing a cerebral palsy lawsuit could result in a substantial monetary settlement to help fund any treatment and/or assistance your child needs for the remainder of their life. Speak to a birth injury attorney at Sokolove Law today for a free consultation.

Birth Injury

Families with children who have suffered birth injuries such as cerebral palsy are always looking for the best types of treatments and medical care that is available to them in order. One method that has been found to be an effective treatment for children with spinal issues has been Lokomat robot-assisted walking therapy.

Lokomat robot-assisted walking therapy utilizes a harness that is suspended over a treadmill with robotic leg straps on it. The patient is attached to the harness and leg straps before a computer begins moving their legs on the treadmill at a controlled speed in a natural motion. The repetitive walking pattern has been found to help strengthen muscles, Improve circulation, and teach the brain walking motions.

A recent report from CBS’s New York television station profiled MacKenzie Maher, a young girl who was born with cerebral palsy that initially left her unable to walk. However, after working with doctors and using the Lokomat method in a clinical trial, she is now able to walk on her own.

“Like before I couldn’t even keep up with my family when I was walking. Now my mom says that I have to actually slow down,” MacKenzie said.

While MacKenzie was able to get her treatments funded through the Shriners, not everyone who could benefit from Lokomat therapies may be as fortunate. If you or a loved one have a child who suffered a birth injury and need money to fund medical expenses such as Lokomat therapy, contact a birth injury attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn if you may be able to pursue legal action.

Birth Injury

Cerebral palsy is a condition typically contracted through birth injury and the treatment options are few. One Missouri doctor may be changing that with a new, innovative cerebral palsy treatment.

While a number of treatments are available for those with cerebral palsy, a new treatment from the St. Louis Children’s Hospital that has been perfected by neurosurgeon Dr. T.S. Park has become a popular option for those who can afford the treatment and make the trip to Missouri.

Dr. Park’s specialty is the selective dorsal rhizotomy, a procedure that was developed more than 30 years ago that involves the cutting sensory nerves in the bottom of the spine to relieve muscle rigidness that often is caused by cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy patients who have trouble walking are the most common recipients of the procedure and have shown considerable improvement in their ability to walk as a result.

Park is known for developing a less-invasive technique of the procedure that involves removing bone from one vertebrae to locate the spasticity-causing nerves. He has performed his version of the procedure – which has fewer long-term back complications and side effects – since 1991.

Park’s procedure has gained even more popularity in recent years as international patients, particularly ones from the UK, have begun making the long trip for it. His peers have also heaped praise upon him for the work he has put into the procedure.

“His findings are absolutely fundamental and influential,” Dr. Ralph Dacey Jr., the Washington University chairman of neurological surgery, recently told a WU magazine, according to St. Louis Today. “He is one of the few people in the world to have perfected the technical aspects of this procedure, and he has systematically studied its effectiveness and role in the overall treatment of cerebral palsy.”

Some hurdles that families who want to sign their child with cerebral palsyfor the procedure may initially face may regard financing, as the procedure is expensive. However, if your child’s development of cerebral palsy may have been caused by medical negligence or doctor error, it may be worth pursuing a cerebral palsy lawsuit.

Speak to a birth injury attorney today to learn more about a lawsuit that could result in a substantial monetary award to help fund medical treatments, such as a selective dorsal rhizotomy, for the rest of your child’s life.

Birth Injury

Cerebral palsy is a serious birth injury that affects many families in the U.S. The birth injury causes lifelong challenges to both victims and their families, making it difficult to achieve life goals. That’s why this story is so heatwarming and inspiring.

Tyler Sexton was born in February 1986, 12 weeks earlier than expected. Soon after the birth, his lungs collapsed and posed such a danger that his parents were told that he would probably not live. Even after pulling through the ordeal, he was eventually diagnosed with spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy. He was 18 months old when his parents noticed that he was not able to sit up or crawl very easily. Because the cerebral palsy affected his lower extremities, doctors predicted that he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

However, Tyler committed himself to proving doctors wrong and worked with a physical therapist beginning at age three when he received his first walker.

“It was just embedded in me,” Tyler said. ”My parents instilled in me such a perseverance. If Mom and Dad say I can walk, then I can walk.”

After spending years improving his balance and muscle control through therapy and undergoing 16 surgeries, Tyler learned to walk on his own. He also learned to get around independently with the help of a Segway and his golden retriever service dog named Danny. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Southern Florida in 2007, Tyler enrolled in the University of Sint Eustatius School of Medicine to become a doctor.

Despite application denials from interviewers at other medical schools and warnings that patients did not want a doctor who was disabled, Tyler graduated from medical school this June with a medical doctorate in hyperbaric medicine.

Currently an adjunct professor at the university, he has already passed the medical boards and is currently interviewing for residencies. He and his mother have also written a book, God Bless These Little Legs, documenting his battle with cerebral palsy.

“I am an example that all things are possible, and I can tell a patient that I know how they feel and mean it,” he said.

If you or a loved one have given birth to a child with cerebral palsy, there are treatment options available that may be able to help the child overcome some of the disabilities they are facing and lead a normal life. Speak to a birth injury attorney at Sokolove Law today to learn whether it is possible to bring a lawsuit  against a doctor or medical center that may have caused the birth injury.

Birth Injury