Brain Injury Law Blog : Head Injury : Coma : Personal Injury : Las Vegas Nevada Lawyer & Attorney Tim Titolo

 I recently posted about a book entitled Blood Work by Holly Tucker on my Wordpress Blog and on GoodReads.

This is a non-fiction book about the travails of blood transfusion in the mid-1600s. The epilogue put the topic into perspective: how science and its discovery is historically taboo based on religion and other inhibitions of society and then, many times, transformed into well accepted practice.

In Catholic France transfusion experiments were shunned while in Protestant England experimentation was acceptable.  The times however were well before blood circulation or blood types were known.  Known science considered blood something akin to todays oil.  Science still considered the four humors, black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm as determinative of a person's health and disposition.

The first transfusions were done with animals and then animal to human.  The cultural world views played a significant role in the toleration of medical research.  The French feared animal to human transfusions would create dog-headed men and the like.

In 2006 President George Bush in his State of the Union address warned against the travails of unrestrained medical research that could create atrocious creatures of animal and human substance.  However by 2006 medical science was using pig valves in humans.  The point is that the same fears and religious world views still influence the highest reaches of leadership that affect acceptable medical research.

I want to direct any one who is remotely interested in the cultural aspects of medical research hundreds of years ago and today to read this book.  I also want to direct anyone so interested to listen to my friend, Dr. Ginger Campbell, in her podcast interview of the author Holly Tucker.  This one hour interview expounds on the issues raised in the book and was a serious compliment.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Educating lawyers to better represent their clients.

I returned last week from a seven day convention. The 2011 American Association of Justice Convention in New York City.  The annual event consisted of solid educational seminars put on by the brightest and most successful lawyers across the country and in Canada.

On Saturday, the Interstate Trucking Litigation Group sponsored an all day presentation by excellent experts in law and trucking.  The rules that affect litigation and legislative changes were discussed.  The group hopes to back higher insurance mandates for trucking companies and more regulation under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to deal with Mexico's influx of trucks on American roads near the borders.

I am on the executive board of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, and the all day seminar featuring traumatic brain injury issues on Sunday was terrific.  

An article I wrote with Dr. Howard Friedman entitled Bearing Witness was featured in the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group Newsletter.

I attended many board meetings and group meetings in which I participate such as the Inadequate Security Litigation Group, Motorcycle Litigation Group, and Products Liability Group.

I also got to visit with old and new friends from around the country who practice law, consult, offer needed legal services and more.  Of note was my dinner with Louis Siracusano, Dan Buttafuco, Ken Goldblatt and his lovely wife, Antonio Romanucci.  Many others were there too.

I also dined with Dorothy Clay Sims, and David Ball.  I had the pleasure of bringing to-go boxes of gourmet Italian food from Patsy's, in Manhattan, to two homeless men Dorothy and I found on the street.  Dorothy Clay Sims, had just received the verdict for her client Casey Anthony the day before in Florida.

I also enjoyed a meal on Arthur Avenue with the folks from the Trucking Litigation Group on Monday Night.  This group never fails to have over the top dinners with great company and food.

And of course a visit to Central Park was a must-do.  I am originally from Long Island, NY and I poke fun at myself for never having been to the Statute of Liberty.  I always took it for granted.  Maybe someday with the kids.  But I had not been to Central Park in the summer in years.  It was beautiful.

The next meeting is in Phoenix in February, a little closer to my home in Las Vegas, and I am already looking forward to a great time.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

I came across a most amazing video of neuro-anatomist, Jill Bolte Taylor's, personal journey through her own stroke.  In 1996, Dr. Taylor had a stroke.  The process of a blood clot shutting down her left sided brain is stunning.  The message she imparts is both beautiful and provoking. 

Her video is roughly 20 minutes.  I recommend everyone find some time, get a cup of coffee, and watch the video.  It is worth it.

I have been stuck between hard science and cognition of the spirit for many years.  When in a room full of scientists I find my inclinations are toward scientific explanations.  However when in a group of more spiritual minded folks, I try to impart science into spirituality.  I was genuinely moved by Dr. Taylor's video.

She segregates left and right brain function to allow a message I rarely hear.  This is not some journey through a tunnel toward the light scenario, although one could readily understand how that observation is reported by non-scientific folks who have near-death experiences.  This is more.

The left brain, Dr. Taylor explains, is the "I am" side of the brain that works to separate us from the energy in the universe.  The right side is where we appreciate that energy.   Sounds geeky and but if not for her credentials, I would have thought as much.  In her words, she found "nirvana" in the experience of losing her left sided brain as a hematoma almost took her life.

If you need inspiration, click on this link to Dr. Taylor's encounter.  Please, leave a comment, if you feel inclined, as to your thoughts.  I suspect many neuroscientists will have their explanations, but see what yours is and share it with me.

I will follow up on this post after reading Dr. Taylor's book My Stroke of Insight.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A test for mild traumatic brain injury is srutinized as to whether it is effective for athletes.

In the wake of increased awareness of concussions on the playing field, the journal Neurology recently published that the King-Devick is an accurate and reliable method for identifying athletes with head trauma.  The test takes only 2 minutes and involves reading rapidly a series of single digits presented left to right on printed cards.

Jeffrey S. Kutcher, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and director of the Michigan Neurosport Program, acknowleges the test does address certain functions of brain injury. However Dr. Kutcher, who is co-chair of the American Association of Neurology - AAN Section on Sports Neurology, says that using proper technique including using appropriate equipment, playing by the rules and waiting a sufficient time before resuming play should be adhered to.

The real concern was that the King-Devick has recently been found marketed on the internet.  Read more about the rapid number reading test by clicking here.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link