The women filed separate medical malpractice lawsuits against Dr. Paolo Bolognese in Queens County Supreme Court in October. The plaintiffs — from Georgia, Virginia and New Mexico — were all diagnosed with Chiari malformation. The rare, painful condition consists of brain tissue extending into the spine.

Bolognese, who specializes in Chiari malformation, performed surgeries on the three women. According to the complaints, he made such serious errors that the patients developed post-surgery complications such as spinal cords cysts, difficulty moving, impaired bladder function and sleep problems.

The lawsuit alleged Bolognese improperly placed hardware during the surgery of one plaintiff, while he dissected the neck muscles of another. The third woman claimed he failed to close her wound properly and ignored her subsequent complaints about excruciating pain.

As the case proceeded, prosecutors discovered the surgeon has been sued for medical negligence at least 20 times during his medical career. Bolognese who now practices at Neurological Surgery in Rockville Centre co-founded the North Shore University Hospital’s Chiari Institute. He was temporarily suspended by the institute for allegedly failing to operate on a patient who was anesthetized for brain surgery.

However, several former patients have spoken up in Bolognese’s defense. One woman said she “woke up feeling much better” after a 10-hour surgery the neurosurgeon performed on her. She said Bolognese’s decision to specialize in Chiari malformation makes him an easy target.

Medical professionals facing legal action for misconduct should contact an experienced attorney to challenge the accusations head-on. Medical malpractice can put one’s medical license and career on the line. Brill Legal Group has successfully represented physicians, nurses and other medical professionals facing criminal charges or disciplinary hearings.

A 26-year-old man was driving a Subaru Outback eastbound on the expressway when he apparently lost control of the vehicle and crossed the grassy median. The Outback went airborne and struck two westbound vehicles, a BMW and a Honda. the driver of the Honda was also pronounced dead at the scene. An 81-year-old passenger in the BMW died at the hospital; his wife remains in critical condition.

The driver of the Outback and a passenger, his sister, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver’s 10-year-old son was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but he could not be saved. His three-year-old niece was injured, but survived the crash. The family members were on their way to the Splish Splash water park for the child’s 10th birthday party.

Multiple car crashes happened every day, leading to serious injuries and deaths. One of the most common causes is the result of speeding. Seriously injured victims or family members of lost loved ones may have the right to compensation. It is important to consult an experienced auto accident attorney.

Worrying about finances is probably one of the last things on a plaintiff’s mind. However, just because you lost a loved one does not mean that the bills stop coming. Unfortunately, the mortgage will still be due, the car payments need to be made and food must be put on the table. For those struggling to make ends meet, Litigation Funding Corporation is ready to help with pre- settlement litigation funding.

After such a traumatic event, it can be a great relief to attain financial assistance to cover ongoing bills and expenses. Litigation funding is a non-recourse cash advance that can cover the loss of wages, mounting medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, and other out of pocket expenses as a result of the accident.

Pre-settlement litigation funding is unlike a traditional bank loan in which you must pay back the lender, in monthly payments, regardless of whether or not you win your case. The process begins with a one-page funding application and basic case documentation. You can also call Litigation Funding for a free, no obligation consultation. Approval is based on case strength, not collateral, credit checks or employment verification. For those approved for lawsuit funding, cash can be available within 24 – 48 hours. There is no need to worry about monthly payments because we are only paid once the case settles. If the case is lost, the repayment is completely waived. If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident and are undergoing serious financial challenges while waiting for your settlement, contact Litigation Funding Corporation today.

Under New York law, every driver is deemed to have given permission to police, as a condition of receiving a driver’s license, to determine his or her blood alcohol content level (BAC) if a police officer has “reasonable grounds” to believe that the person has been driving under the influence of alcohol. The BAC level may be tested by analyzing a person’s breath, blood, urine or saliva, but the most common method is the use of a device known as a breathalyzer.

Before administering such a test, the police officer must inform the suspect that refusing to take a breathalyzer test will automatically cause his or her driver’s license to be revoked for not less than one year. If the driver then refuses to take a breathalyzer test, his or her license is immediately suspended for fifteen days pending an administrative hearing. If the evidence at the hearing shows that the officer in fact had reasonable grounds for believing that the driver was drunk, the license will be revoked for one year, and the driver may be fined $500. This decision may, under certain circumstances, be appealed.

Refusing a breath test can have serious consequences. In the modern age of cell phones, a person who has been stopped and asked to take a breath test can contact an attorney with experience in defending DUI cases. The attorney can evaluate the situation and provide helpful advice about whether to take the test or refuse it.

Source: New York Vehicle & Traffic Laws, §1194, accessed Nov. 22, 2015

Earlier this year, we interviewed Heather Rogoff Angstreich, Founder/Partner, Special Needs Expos about the upcoming year and events they are holding in 2015. Here’s what she had to say:

1. Why did you create special needs expos? 

All I wanted to do was help other parents and children who were in my shoes. My son, (who is now 10 years old), was diagnosed with Autism when he was two years old.  I attended a small special needs resource fair when he was first diagnosed and found it incredibly helpful.  I love helping people so, when I got laid off, I started Special Needs for Special Kids, a printed special needs resource guide that I distributed across Long Island. I met my partners (Scott and Jamie) through this publication; they became clients. They knew I started the publication because I wanted to help other parents who needed guidance and resources to navigate the world of special needs here in Long Island.  Scott suggested that I should take the publication to another level and we thought we would do a small resource fair at a local JCC to bring some special needs resources together for a one-time event.  Scott and Jamie were no strangers to the special needs community either; they had a close family member who inspired them to get involved.

2. How did you begin this endeavor?

We looked for a venue to hold this little resource fair and ended up booking a much larger space at a local hotel.  We went from one end of the spectrum to the other and kept our fingers crossed that we would be able to fill the space. Our first expo was geared more towards children with special needs, but we did have resources that catered to the adult population too.  Our goal was to have each person that entered the doors to walk out with at least one piece of useful information that day. We estimated that 2500 to 3000 people walked through the doors that day.

3. What locations are you expanding to in 2015? 

Long Island is our “flagship” expo and will be held on April 26^th at the Long Island Hilton. The Special Needs Expo – Westchester will be back on November 8, 2015 at the Westchester Marriott and the Special Needs Expo – New Jersey (northern) will also be back on September 27, 2015 at the Glenpointe Marriott in Teaneck. We hope to expand to Philadelphia in 2016.

4. How does your expo help educate people to advocate for themselves and their family members?

Our expos have a variety of special needs resources, products, services, presentations and demonstrations.  We want people to take advantage of all the exhibitors that have come out.  They are there to answer questions, give support and ideas.  If a person meets the right connection, it can change things for them and/or their loved one.

5. What makes your expo different from other special needs resource fairs in the area?

Our expos are always free to attend and child-friendly (games and/or inflatables and face painting are provided at no cost to the attendee). We offer a wide variety of resources, presentations and demonstrations. We have a quiet room for those that might need to take a break, if they are too overwhelmed. We want to connect these amazing resources with the individuals, families, caregivers and professionals to help make the journey a little less difficult.  Our Long Island events have connected over 300 exhibitors to 5000 attendees in the last two years.  Westchester and NJ events are also growing and we have heard from many of our FB and website followers that the need is there for this service.

6. How do can people find more info about your expos? How do vendors register for an exhibit?

We have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpecialNeedsExpos and our official website URL is www.specialneedsexpos.com.There is a tab for attendees to register and a separate one for exhibitors to register and receive more information.  To contact us directly, email us at info@specialneedsexpos.com or call us at 516-279-3727.

Learn more about Littman Krooks services at www.littmankrooks.com or www.specialneedsnewyork.com.

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By Casey Schmalacker, Academic Coach, New Frontiers in Learning

The academic experience is one wrought with change and obstacles that can cause high levels of stress in students. When stress is not contained, it may negatively affect learning by impairing information retention and recall. This can be especially true for students experiencing prolonged stress as a result of the rigors of the academic school year.

Students with learning differences may experience a variety of stressors that can disrupt a successful academic experience. For example, students with ADHD may struggle with impulsivity, leading to poor decision-making and heightened stress. Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders may have trouble making social connections, leaving students feeling isolated and with increased anxiety. Even though students may experience higher levels of stress, their ability to learn should not be determined by this. Success in school can be affected by a student’s ability to cope with higher levels of stress. It is important to examine the various types of stress, the resources necessary for proper coping skills, and the actual processes for coping.

Stress can be categorized into past, present, and future stressors. Because of the ability to affect outcomes, present stress is the most important stress on which to concentrate. Past stress, such as a poor grade on an exam or a poor experience in a social setting, is no longer in one’s control, and, as the saying goes, “What is done is done.” Future stress has several variables surrounding it that is out of one’s control. By focusing on future stress, the unknown and unexpected can cause even more anxiety and stress. Unlike past and future stressors, present stress can be identified and managed in the moment. This sense of control is called a stressor’s amenability to change. Understanding the various types of stress allows students, parents, and teachers to provide the best advice on helping students to manage stressors.

Identifying stress is only the first step in the coping process. In order to fully manage stress, individuals need to utilize coping processes. These processes first require a foundation of coping resources.

There are four main categories of coping resources:

1) Optimism,

2) Control or Mastery,

3) Self Esteem, and

4) Social Support.

Students with various learning differences may lack in these four resources, which in turn may account for their higher levels of stress. Optimism is explained as an individual’s view that “Good things rather than bad things will happen to the self” (Taylor, Stanton, 2007, p.380). Personal Control over a situation is the view that an individual can affect and influence outcomes. Having a High Self Esteem is another coping resource that leads to “lower autonomic and cortisol stress responses,” or less intense episodes of stress. Educators and families many times understand the importance of high self-esteem, but understanding its importance as a foundation for coping with stress is essential. Social Support is understood as, “The perception or experience that one is loved and cared for by others, esteemed and valued, and part of a social network of mutual assistance and obligations” (Taylor, Stanton, 2007, p.381). By having a social support network, individuals may experience less intense and shorter lasting episodes of anxiety.

Students with learning differences can lack in one, some, or even all of the above coping resources. There are varied forms of treatment that can be used to help bolster some of these resources in students, but one area that can be directly supported by families and educators is a strong social support system.

Coping Processes can be understood as the implementation of the coping resources to overcome potential stressors in life. These processes are broken down based upon their focus. The three main categories of coping processes are:

1) Emotion Focused,

2) Problem Focused, and

3) Avoidance/Approach Oriented.

Emotion Focused coping concentrates on “Palliating event-related distress,” or altering the emotional response to various stressors. This process focuses on accepting stress for what it is and developing more productive means for responding to this stress. Problem Focused coping looks to resolve the stressful situation. This process looks to overcome the stress so as to remove its source. Finally, the third process is a range of options that can include the previous two processes. Avoidance/Approach Oriented coping is a variety of techniques that either look to deal with the stress head on or attempt to find means to avoiding the stress. Examples of approach-oriented coping include: Problem solving, seeking social support, or the creation of outlets for emotional expression. Avoidance techniques are means to avoiding stressors to prevent the negative reaction.

These processes have a variety of uses in different situations. Understanding the various aspects of stress, the methods and means of coping, and how that coping actually occurs, allows individuals to begin the process of developing systems to overcome these stressors. This can encourage students to reach their fullest potential without stress and anxiety becoming an academic obstacle.

References

Taylor, S., & Stanton, A. (2007). Coping resources, coping processes, and mental health. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 3, 377-401.

New Frontiers in Learning (www.nfil.net) is a high school and college support program for students with varied learning differences. New Frontiers provides coaching and tutoring services to students in the Westchester, Long Island, and New York City areas, allowing students to apply for and attend colleges based on their plan of study or personal campus preferences. For more information, please contact Samantha Feinman, Program Director, at (646)558-0085 or sfeinman@nfil.net.

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Visits from loved ones in the hospital can greatly improve a patient’s mood and assist in his or her recovery, but most hospitals restrict visitors to the human kind. Although many hospitals have pet therapy programs that use trained dogs, most do not allow visits from family pets.

A few hospitals are bucking that trend, allowing patients’ own dogs and cats to visit under certain conditions.

Among them is North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, which allows personal pets to stay with patients around the clock in its palliative care unit. Another Long Island facility, the Hospice Inn, also allows pets, and a few other hospitals around the country have adopted similar policies.

The policies vary, but they generally require a doctor’s order and an attestation from a veterinarian that the pet is up-to-date on shots and otherwise healthy. Most hospitals require dogs to be on a leash and cats to be taken in and out by carrier.

Hospital officials who have studied the issue say that the relatively mild risks, like animal bacteria transmission, are outweighed by the benefits, including comfort and reduced stress for patients.

Learn more by contacting a New York estate planning lawyer at (914) 684-2100.

Visits from loved ones in the hospital can greatly improve the mood of patients and assist in their recovery, but most hospitals restrict visitors to the human kind. Although many hospitals have pet therapy programs that use trained dogs, most do not allow visits by family pets.

A few hospitals are bucking that trend, allowing patients’ own dogs and cats to visit under certain conditions.

Among them is North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, which allows personal pets to stay around the clock with patients in its palliative care unit. Another Long Island facility, the Hospice Inn, also allows pets, and a few other hospitals around the country have adopted similar policies.

The policies vary, but they generally require a doctor’s order and an attestation from a veterinarian that the pet is up to date on shots and otherwise healthy. Most hospitals require dogs to be on a leash and cats to be taken in and out by carrier.

Hospital officials who have studied the issue say that the relatively mild risks, such as that of animals transmitting bacteria, are outweighed by the benefits, such as comfort and reduced stress for patients.

The post Some Hospitals Allow Personal Pets to Visit first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]> http://www.seonewswire.net/2013/07/married-couple-with-mental-disabilities-sue-for-right-to-live-together/ Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:23:37 +0000 http://www.seonewswire.net/2013/07/married-couple-with-mental-disabilities-sue-for-right-to-live-together/ A Long Island married couple who are both developmentally disabled has found a group home where they can cohabit, but a lawsuit for their right to live together continues. The case may be the first to raise the question of…

The annual cost of a nursing home stay in New York City has increased dramatically, according to an annual survey by Genworth.

In Manhattan, a private room in a nursing home costs $180,000 per year, making Manhattan second only to San Francisco in cost. Nursing homes in other parts of New York are expensive as well. The cost is $160,000 per year in Long Island and $140,000 in Queens. New York is far above the overall median nursing home cost in the United States, which is $84,000 per year.

The cost is significant for nearly all families, and staggering for many, especially given that the average stay in a nursing home is two-and-a-half years.

Experts say high prices in New York are driven by higher costs for property, maintenance, insurance and staffing.

While the cost of a nursing home stay has continued to rise about 5 percent per year, the cost of home health care has remained more in line with the national average. The average cost of a home health aide in Manhattan is $22 per hour, while the national average is $19 per hour.

Learn more at http://www.elderlawnewyork.com/elder-law/.

Today, 10-year-old Shannon Reilly’s mother, Danni, is “thrilled,” according to their now-“humbled” lawyer, Thomas Moore.

Suffolk County’s second-highest malpractice verdict in history will pay home healthcare and physical therapy costs for Shannon, who was deprived of oxygen at birth. Since the cerebral palsy patient is unable to swallow, speak, walk, or write without assistance, her parents worried what would happen to her if something happened to them.

“The agony of the last 10 years is finally ended with the knowledge that our beloved daughter will be protected for the rest of her life,” Danni reportedly told Moore.

The hospital will move for a retrial or file an appeal in a higher court, according to Long Island’s Times Beacon Record. The hospital’s attorney, Peter Kopff, is confident that the appellate court will reduce the $92.5 million the jury allotted for pain and suffering. In Suffolk County’s record-setting judgment of $212 million in 2007, the jury allotted $20 million to a brain-damaged infant for pain and suffering. The appellate court reduced that amount to $4 million, and the $212 million total ultimately decreased to $67 million.

“The saddest part of this case is that … had the nursing team communicated with the obstetrician just 15 minutes sooner,” said Moore, “this terrible tragedy could have been avoided.”

Below, Cleveland birth injury attorney Chris Mellino discusses what you should do if your baby suffered an injury at birth and what it may cost to hire a birth injury attorney in Ohio.