Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Bubble Boy disease is the term used to describe a medical condition called severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID. It is a relatively rare disease in that forty to one hundred people are diagnosed with the disease per year in the United States. It is a genetic disorder that affects and compromises a person’s immune system. Patients were give gene therapy and results indicate that eight of the patients were successfully treated according to a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. You can read more about this study which gives some hope to children and families dealing with this disease at Study – Gene Therapy Cures 8 Children with Bubble Boy Disease.
The Center for the Study of Traumatic encephalopathy (CSTE), at the Boston University School of Medicine is researching a type of brain damage called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This type of brain injury is caused by concussions. Until recently, concussions were concerned invisible type of injuries that are associated with a jarring blow to the head that temporarily affects the senses. Occasionally, concussions lead to unconsciousness. Autopsies and studies have revealed the presence of CTE in former NFL players as well as even young players.
In Washington D.C. and other areas, infant deaths from accidental strangulation and suffocation rose over a twenty year period between 1984 and 2004. These deaths resulted from a parent, adult or another child accidentally strangulating or suffocating the infant while sleeping in the same bed or area with the infant. Some families have the infant in bed because there are no other beds in the home for the infant or parent. Others do it out of habit, culture or tradition. Whatever the reason, many infants are the unfortunate victims of strangulation and suffocation incidents that can be easily avoided. You can read more about this study at 
The Associated Press has reported that a lawsuit has been filed by the parents of Heather Harkness for her wrongful death. The surgeon, anesthesiologist, and hospital were named as defendants in the lawsuit. Heather Harkness, age 16, died as a result of alleged medical malpractice during a surgery for
Wii is a video game system that involves some movement and exercise. In various games, a child or adult will use motions to play bowling games, baseball, football, soccer, shooting games, strategy games, carnival games, and many other games. A player can get lost in a game and forget what he or she is doing. Many players have been injured by throwing out an arm or shoulder, injuring tendons or ligaments, or just over extending themselves. Often times, these injuries result when a person is not in good shape to begin with and there was no stretching before playing the Wii Game System.
In many school districts including the one in Tucson, Arizona, the school district or school board has a zero drug tolerance policy in the public school system. Crack, Meth, and, even aspirin are prohibited in the school system. There are many cases that have been reported where a child / student was suspended from school for having aspirin, Tylenol, or even vitamins in schools. There should be a distinction between Crack and Aspirin but the zero drug tolerance policy seems to lump all drugs and medications together.
Parents and caregivers of children who receive compensation or monetary settlements for personal injury cases should pay attention to the issue of qualification for benefits. Typically, a special needs child receives federal and state benefits based on disability as well as income requirements. If a child receives the proceeds from a personal injury settlement, these funds in a standard bank account could disqualify the child from some of the government benefits in place prior to the injury. Government benefits of this nature include Medicaid and Social Security Income benefits.
A medical / environmental study has reported that children in Washington D.C. were exposed to high levels of lead during a water crisis involving the city water system. Apparently, there was a high level of lead in the city’s tap water which began in 2001. It is estimated that 42,000 Washington D.C. children, who now range from the age of 4 to 9, might be at risk for health and behavioral problems associated with high lead exposure. Lead levels began rising in 2001 and were not corrected or improved upon until the issue was publicized by the Washington Post in 2004.