Sandra is the Founder, Lead Legal Nurse Consultant, and Coordinator of Krug Consulting, a Legal Nurse Consulting firm. She is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). She has over 12 years of college ...
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No good mesothelioma cure has been found
By Sandra Krug
An Insight Into Mesothelioma Cure
Doctors and researchers are looking for answers related to Mesothelioma cure but have not found any. Before we discuss a cure, it is necessary to know about what mesothelioma is and what are its possible causes. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen. High Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma cancers.
Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral that was widely used in the construction process, building material, and many manufacturing units.
Asbestos breaks into minute particles that float into the air, can be easily inhaled, and settle on the clothes of workmen, leaving them and their family members prone to many health hazards.
Understanding Its Symptoms – A Step towards a Cure:
Some common symptoms of mesothelioma are difficulty in breathing, chest pain, and chronic cough. However, many times this disease lies in asymptomatic in the body, which makes mesothelioma cure an impossible task. Once detected, the chances of survival of an average mesothelioma patient are very bleak.
The options for treatment of mesothelioma depend upon the different stages of the disease.
In the first stage, the treatment options depend on factors such as the patient’s age, general health, organ affected, and the size of the tumor.
Surgery is used for mesothelioma treatment and cure in the first stage. The doctors remove the tumor and the nearby tissues with a surgical process. However, doctors use a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy if the tumor has witnessed enormous growth.
Fluid collection in the chest and abdomen takes place in the advanced stages of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma cure in these stages involves draining the fluid to reduce discomfort. This process of treatment is known as Thorancentesis or Paracentesis.
After this, the doctors use Surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Treatment and efforts for mesothelioma cure can suffer a severe jolt if the disease strikes back. In that case, the treatment depends on the location of recurrence, and the patient’s medical history.
What If the Treatment Efforts Fail?
As we have discussed the survival chances of mesothelioma patients is bleak and the possibility of mesothelioma cure is rare.
In that case, it is necessary to make the patients aware that they are legally entitled to claim compensation for the medical expenses, loss of income, lost earning capacity, pain, and the mental trauma they are undergoing.
Though the award of compensation cannot bring about mesothelioma cure or compensate for the loss of life, it can provide some relief to the mesothelioma victims and their family members.
Devastating Headaches Found After Motor Vehicle Collision – Newsletter vol 8 2016
By Sandra Krug
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), auto accidents cause most brain injuries in the United States. Individuals who have been involved in a motor vehicle collision (MVC), and are hurting from headaches may be experiencing a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
TBI is a severe blow or jolt to the head causing a disturbance in major functions of the brain. MVC victims who have suffered from trauma to the head during auto accidents often experience long term medical and cognitive issues. A headache is the most common symptom of damage TBI.
Headaches frequently occur after an MVC. Some MVC victims start getting headaches immediately after the collision, others may not get them until after a few days, weeks, or months. Individuals experience headaches of varying character, onset, duration and location.
Headaches can cause a significant health burden with direct impact on the quality of life of MVC victims, altering their relationships, work attendance and efficiency, and their capacity to plan for their future. The International Headache Society (IHS) categorizes headaches into primary and secondary.
Primary headaches are diagnosed and treated conservatively. Secondary require immediate intervention. Such headaches often have a more immediate threat of mortality or higher morbidity.
Post-traumatic headaches resulting from MVCs are secondary headaches that can be caused by factors such as an acceleration/deceleration injury, and that often occur with other whiplash-related symptomatology.
There are numerous reasons why headaches may arise after an injury. Sometimes the source is not always obvious and can continue for months or years for no distinct medical reason. The assessment of a MVC claim, and particularly one based on headaches, can be difficult to determine. There are several factors involved.
The consequences of the MVC may include all medical expenses ensuing from the collision, loss of income subsequent from the headaches, pain and suffering caused by injuries, and loss of enjoyment of life. Headaches will wear the MVC victim down mentally and emotionally.
If you find this newsletter helpful, please share it with colleagues, or direct them to our website.
Mesothelioma cause is the deadly little asbestos
By Sandra Krug
An Understanding Of Mesothelioma Cause
Some Facts about Mesothelioma Cause
Asbestos exposure is the only known mesothelioma cause. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals. It contains strong and flexible fibers. One can separate these fibers into thin threads. Commercial use of asbestos started in the late nineteenth century. It was widely used because of its durability and ability to withstand high temperatures.
Asbestos was widely used in brake linings, cement, roofing shingles, textile, flooring, insulation, and many other industrial products. Small asbestos particles remain suspended in the course of the manufacturing of these products. Asbestos workers, their family members those residing near asbestos manufacturing industries could easily inhale asbestos fibers that could cause mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
The biggest mesothelioma cause is the negligence of asbestos manufacturers. Manufacturers continued using asbestos even after being aware of its harmful effects. They did not issue any warnings or take necessary precautions to prevent asbestos exposure to the workers. Had they been sincere in their responsibilities, many people suffering from mesothelioma and dangerous asbestos-related diseases would have been healthy and happy.
Smoking Increases Mesothelioma Risk
Experts are of the opinion that smoking in itself is not a cause. Nevertheless, it increases the risk of pleural mesothelioma – the mesothelioma of the linings of the lungs.
Studies have revealed that smokers with asbestos exposure have an increased mesothelioma risk when compared to non-smokers with similar exposure to asbestos particles.
Preventive Measures against Mesothelioma
Studies have revealed that family members of asbestos workers have suffered from mesothelioma. The mesothelioma cause, in this case, is the asbestos dust particles settled on the clothes, shoes, and hair of the asbestos workers that their family members inhaled.
Workers should shower and change their clothing to avoid the possibility of exposing family members to asbestos particles. Workers should also put on protective equipment to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure.
Lack of Transparency? HIPAA is Not the Reason Why. – Newsletter vol 7 2016
By Sandra Krug
Let’s look at HIPAA and patient communication
A fundamental tenet of patient safety is patient communication – talking with and listening to patients. Once healthcare professionals engage patients and families in dialogue and share information, it is simpler to understand patient values and preferences, then arrive at decisions jointly.
This shared communication result in a consensus that can be thought of as a “shared mind” between patients and providers, with subsequent engagement improving patient outcomes and quality of life (Epstein et al., Why the nation needs a policy push on patient-centered health care).
When something does go wrong, health care professionals should have honest communication with patients and families. However, organizations may not know all the contributing and causative factors immediately after the adverse event occurs.
Organizations should pledge to communicate with patients and keep families updated regularly as more information becomes available and facts become known. Many professional associations view disclosure as fundamental to ethical care.
The Joint Commission necessitates disclosure of sentinel events as part of accreditation requirements.
The Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual (RI) Standard RI.01.02.01, an element of performance (EP) 21, requires an accredited organization to inform patients or surrogate decision-makers about unanticipated outcomes of care, treatment, and services that relate to sentinel events (as defined by The Joint Commission).
EP 22 of that standard specifies that the licensed independent practitioner responsible for managing the patient’s care, treatment and services (or his or her designee) must inform the patient about unanticipated outcomes of care, treatment, and services that relate to sentinel events when the patient is not already aware of the occurrence, or when further discussion is needed.
Was there open communication with your client? Did the facility disclose, investigate, and resolving instances when errors occurred in your client’s care? Do you think something is missing? Do you suspect tampering? Our legal nurse consultants will review all pertinent information and help you discover the truth.
If you find this newsletter helpful, please share it with colleagues, or direct them to our website.
Mesothelioma cancers: seen in people exposed to the asbestos
By Sandra Krug
An Overview Of Mesothelioma Cancers
What are Mesothelioma Cancers?
Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers that spread in the mesothelium tissues. Mesothelium, in general, is the name of tissue that forms the lining of different body organs such as the heart, lungs, abdomen, and reproductive organs. The lining around abdominal organs is known as peritoneal membrane. Lining around the lungs is called a pleural membrane, while the lining around the heart is called the pericardium.
These linings perform two functions. They protect the internal organs by producing a lubricating fluid and allowing the smooth movement of the internal organs. Mesothelioma cancers are the cancers affecting these membranes.
The names of the cancers depend on the tissue or linings they affect:
– Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdomen.
– Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs.
– Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the heart.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common cancer, found in 70 % of patients. Peritoneal mesothelioma constitutes 10% to 20% of the mesothelioma patients, while third type pericardial mesothelioma is rare.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancers
Symptoms of mesothelioma are the same as of other common diseases. It makes the diagnosis of mesothelioma cancers problematic. Pain and swelling in the abdomen, weakness, loss of weight, loss of appetite, and nausea are some symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are persistent cough, difficulty in breathing, weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, chest pains, lower back pains, and difficulty in swallowing.
History
The history goes back to as far back as the 1900s. It took about 60 years to gather sufficient information about these cancers. By the end of the sixth decade of the last century, experts could conclude that exposure to asbestos particles is the reason behind the disease. J. C. Wagner was the first researcher to report 32 cases of cancers and confirmed its association with asbestos exposure.
One alarming fact about the mesothelioma cancers is its extended latency period. These cancers may remain asymptomatic in the body for even up to 50 years. Chances of survival for mesothelioma patients are rare, and the average survival period after diagnosis is not more than 12-24 months. Surgery, if diagnosed early, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are some conventional treatments for all types of mesothelioma cancers. People suffering from mesothelioma cancers can file lawsuits to recover damages for medical expenses and other damages. They can file the lawsuits against the persons and companies responsible for causing asbestos exposure.
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