Whether you face the rest of your life as a quadriplegic (also called tetraplegic) or paraplegic after an accident, the insurance companies will more than likely offer you settlements far below what you need. In the face of increasing medical costs, your inability to work (at least in the beginning) and other expenses, you might consider taking a settlement offer out of fear and panic. You should consider resisting that urge because it provides only a short-term solution to a long-term condition.
Drug Disposal: A Public Health Threat
The unsystematic disposal of prescription drugs is a currently underappreciated societal issue. Unused medications pollute landfills, ground water and drinking water, as well as enable suicide, poisoning and antibiotic resistance. These negative consequences are rampant, as 80% of monitored streams have measurable concentrations of prescription drugs, including steroids and hormones. This ongoing problem can cause catastrophic injuries.
Deadly Risks of CT Scans in Children
A recent study indicates that after receiving 2 or 3 CT scans, children under 15 had triple the risk of brain cancer, as compared to the general population. After receiving 5 to 10 scans, children had triple the risk of leukemia. The study observed 180,000 children who had scans from 1985 to 2002. Of this group, 74 children ultimately developed leukemia and 135 developed brain cancer.
Hope for the terminally paralyzed
Paralyzed patients who been unable speak or move for 15 years can now direct robotic limbs to move on their own by using their minds to control the movements. This potentially life-altering technological breakthrough called BrainGate was pioneered by Brown neuroscientist John Donoghue to improve the quality of life for those paralyzed as a result of a stroke or a catastrophic injury.
