$2 Million Dollar Delayed Diagsonis of Cancer Verdict Awarded to Lawrence County Woman

On Monday night after a six day trial in front of the Honorable Dominick Motto, it only took a jury two and a half hours to award a $2Million verdict to a 32 year old nurse and mother of three small children. It was proven that in May of 2008, after experiencing what she thought was hemorrhoidal bleeding, Sarah Bargas went to see Ann Blakeley, D.O. at her office, Hemorrhoid Care, P.C. At that first visit Dr. Blakeley performed an anoscopy and diagnosed Sarah with hemorrhoids. She then recommended treatment with an “IRC” machine (infrared coagulation machine) in which a wand of light is applied to the base of a hemorrhoid, without ordering any further testing.

Reocrds show that Dr. Blakeley saw Sarah four more times in sixteen months with no relief of Sarah’s symptoms, each time diagnosing her with hemorrhoids and failing to order further testing. In July, 2009, Sarah finally self-referred to a specialist who found that she had Stage III rectal cancer with positive lymph nodes. What followed for her was a grueling course of radiation and chemotherapy, followed by major surgery, followed by more high-dose chemotherapy.

Sarah Bargas was represented by medical malpractice attorneys, Deborah Maliver, M.D., J.D., and Christine Biancheria, Esq. “This was a clear case of medical malpractice,” said Dr. Maliver, who, in addition to being an attorney, is a board-certified internal medicine doctor. “As a physician, if you see an adult patient with rectal bleeding, endocopy tests, either a flexible sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy must always be performed. The risk of cancer is too great to not look. Multiple very strict guidelines have been devised by the American Gastroenterology Association, the ASGE, as well as numerous other medical and surgical organizations mandating that all rectal bleeding in and adult be evaluated this way. This case was one in which these strict rules were inexplicably broken, to the detriment of a wonderful young wife and mother.”

The jury found Dr. Blakeley was negligent. They determined that the delay in diagnosis of cancer made it more likely that Sarah would require extensive, painful therapies for her cancer and that her chance of dying of cancer was increased by Dr. Blakeley’s negligent delay. The total award was $2 million. The jury awarded $75,000 for past medical expenses, $1 million eight hundred twenty five thousand for her pain, suffering and mental distress, and Trever Bargas, her husband, was awarded $100,000 for loss of consortium.

Common misconceptions about treatments for hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are actually present in all individuals whether healthy or not. They are the vascular cushions which surround the general area of the rectum and anus. The term we call hemorrhoids is associated with the symptoms when this part of the body becomes enlarged, inflamed, thrombosed or prolapsed.

Many people have them without suffering from any symptoms, and therefore these may be safely left alone. Treatment is usually required for those whose hemorrhoidal symptoms such as excruciating throbbing pain affect quality of life and daily living. There are many traditional remedies and non-surgical treatments for hemorrhoids. However, if none of these work, surgical procedures maybe required as a last resort. Below are some misconceptions about hemorrhoids treatment and the truth behind each.

Misconception No. 1. All surgical procedures for hemorrhoids are very painful. Due to this reputation of a painful operation, advances in hemorrhoid surgery have focused on making it less painful. One such operation is stapled hemorrhoidectomy. Using a specially-designed, single-use stapler instrument the hemorrhoids are excised and the anus repaired from the inside. The end result is that the surgical wound is inside, and no wound is visible outside the anus. Scientific studies have proven that this is less painful than traditional surgery.

Another advanced surgical technique is transarterial hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD). Using a Doppler ultrasound, the blood vessel supplying the hemorrhoid is identified and ligated with stitches. Deprived of its blood supply, the hemorrhoid then shrinks and shrivels. Again there is no wound outside and is therefore almost painless.

Misconception No. 2. Another more common misconception about surgery for hemorrhoids is that it can cause fecal incontinence, or the inability to control farting or defecation. Again this is not true. When hemorrhoid surgery is done properly, incontinence won’t develop.

All surgical procedures for hemorrhoids, however, whether traditional or innovative, may sometimes develop complications such as bleeding, infection and stricture. It is important therefore to see practitioners with real expertise in performing such procedures when seeking treatment.

For effective hemorrhoid relief and treatment, MEDICard, a leading HMO company, has recently opened its Colorectal Specialists Clinic, a first in the HMO industry. Located at the MEDICard Lifestyle Center at the corner of Paseo and Buendia St, Makati, the clinic offers the latest technology and expertise in colorectal healthcare.

How Can You Treat Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids can be very painful and also irritating. At some point in life, folks generally suffer from hemorrhoids. In the event you too are suffering from the identical, you surely understand why one wants to obtain eliminate it at the earliest. Once the veins in the lower rectum as well as the anus get enlarged, piles occur. Difficult bowel movements are one of the reasons for its occurrence. Pregnancy is yet an additional cause, though there are lots of other reasons for it to develop. In the event you are struggling with being overweight or from frequent constipation, you may suffer from hemorrhoids as well.

There can be both external and internal hemorrhoids. The internal ones aren’t generally painful and unless they obtain irritated, you may not even detect them. The external piles are mainly agonizing and can be very itchy. In the event you want to cure yourself, a possible solution comes in the shape of Venapro. It is self care product and will ease your scratching and pain. In the event you go through the Venapro reviews you’ll obtain to know, this cure can help you in two methods. The interior method requires you to put some drops of the liquid inside your mouth. The liquid that you’ll take in is made of natural shrubs as well as herbs. This is very advantageous for internal healing.

Internal health issues generally emerge because of improper dietary habits. The Venapro solution helps to help make your immune system stronger and thus conditions your body to deal with diseases. The second method employs a supplement that enhances the wellness of the intestinal tract. In the event you have a proper colon, this will assist prevent the occurrence of ailments. Venapro is better than other medicines since it treats the core of the issue instead of just the symptoms. Other medicines may give temporary respite from the symptoms, but the cause remains unaffected. So if you want to lead a proper life and, you should buy Venapro, and begin along with your cure immediately.

Blackstrap molasses can help give relief from hemorrhoids

I tried numerous OTC remedies to ease my inflamed hemorrhoids, to no avail. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that surgery was the only answer left.

I was in absolute misery until I found a testimonial about blackstrap molasses for hemorrhoids in “The People’s Pharmacy” column and decided to give it a try. As crazy as it sounds, I take 2 teaspoons a day, and the improvement has been amazing and immediate.

It has been three weeks, and the problem is 95 percent better. The bleeding has stopped, and the pain is gone. This is so astounding I had to encourage others to try it.

We have heard from many readers who have found taking a spoonful of blackstrap molasses helps hemorrhoid symptoms. Blackstrap molasses results from the third boiling of cane syrup to extract the sugar and contains residual minerals, such as manganese, copper, iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. One of these, or perhaps the combination, might be responsible for the benefits you have observed.

Two teaspoons contain 32 calories from 8 grams of carbohydrates.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years ago, and my doctor started me on metformin. At first it caused horrible diarrheTaking the drug with food lessened that problem a bit.

Now I find that the constant burning in my throat and chest is unbearable. Even the Nexium I take doesn’t help.

My short-term memory is deteriorating. Could metformin be responsible? Are there any natural approaches that might help with my blood sugar control and my heartburn?

Metformin is a very useful medication to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, flatulence and indigestion are fairly common side effects. They usually fade after several months of use, so if your heartburn has just started, you should contact your doctor promptly.

Metformin and Nexium (esomeprazole) can interfere with the absorption of vitamin B-12. Over time, the level of this vitamin could become low enough to affect memory. Ask your doctor to check your B-12 level so that you will know if you should take a supplement.

You recently wrote that sea salt has no iodine, but there are brands on the market that are iodized. I use Hain Iodized Sea Salt, and I also have seen Morton Iodized Sea Salt. I trust this is a better choice than regular salt.

Thank you for alerting us to these brands of iodized sea salt. When you use one of them, you don’t have to worry about too little iodine in the diet causing goiter. Most commercial sea salt has very little iodine, raising the concern about thyroid health and goiter.

I had high triglycerides until I read about taking1/4 teaspoon a day of cinnamon. My triglycerides have been perfect ever since. Sugar is the culprit in high triglycerides.

Other readers also have found that cinnamon can help control triglycerides. Cinnamon blunts the rapid rise in blood sugar and insulin after a meal.

Removing cloak of silence best way to deter suicide

It's one of the last truly taboo topics, the shameful secret that few want to talk about -- and that silence can inadvertently lead to people taking their own lives.

Mental health advocates say that while the recent highly publicized suicides of several prominent sports figures have shone a spotlight on the issue, the lack of frank public discussion about causes and prevention is leaving those at risk for suicide and their loved ones as much in the dark as ever.

"We are trying to encourage informed and sensitive conversations on the topic of suicide," said Tim Wall, executive director of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. "There is so much secrecy and shame that often surrounds this issue that it can be a difficult conversation to have."

Wall believes people shy away from the topic because "it feels scary ... I think it's not knowing the words, not knowing what to say when somebody has died by suicide. What do you say to the family? So there's embarrassment, there's shame, there's an awkwardness."

There's also the fear that talking about suicide might plant the idea in a vulnerable person's head, but "that is a myth," he said from Winnipeg. "In fact, talking about suicide directly to someone actually lowers their risk for suicide.

"It's only by talking about it in an informed way that we can prevent suicides. We need to have those conversations."

With that goal in mind, the association and other groups are mounting a concert Saturday in Ottawa to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. The concert, featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark and Irish rock band Friends of Emmet, will support local suicide-prevention programs as well as national advocacy organizations.

Scott Chisholm, founder of the Collateral Damage Project and one of the concert organizers, said the event is meant to raise awareness and get people talking openly about the issue.

"People need to understand that it can happen to anybody, any time. Nobody's immune to it and we need to talk about it if we're going to do something about it," Chisholm said from Thunder Bay, Ont. "We need to make it people's issue before it becomes their issue."

Close to 4,000 Canadians die by their own hands each year. Canada's suicide rate, as measured by the World Health Organization, is 15 for every 100,000 people. But the Canadian Mental Health Association says rates are even higher among certain groups, such as youth, the elderly and Aboriginals, with the incidence for males four times higher than that of women.

In Canada, suicide accounts for 16 per cent of deaths for those 16 to 44, says the CMHA. It is the second leading cause of death after accidental injury for 10- to 25-year-olds; 73 per cent of hospital admissions for attempted suicide are among those aged 15 to 44.

Two years ago, Chisholm began collecting the stories and photos of survivors -- the loved ones of people who had taken their own lives. "Collateral Damage: Images of Those Left Behind by Suicide," will be a book of portraits, a website and gallery exhibition.

The project, he said, is a way of coming to terms with his father's suicide at age 47 and a means of counteracting the stigma surrounding the act, which is considered a grave sin by most religions and was a criminal offence in Canada until 1974.

As a 17-year-old high-school student, Chisholm said he was left to grieve and ponder "why" in the isolation born of the hush-hush nature that encircled his father's death.

"My teachers didn't know what to do. They had no tools, they'd never been trained about suicide, and all that they had was their fear and myth and anxiety," recalled Chisholm, one of five siblings. "And with that, they did nothing. So they put up this wall that wouldn't allow me anybody to talk to."

His father had been in and out of the hospital, but the children were told he was being treated for hemorrhoids, recalled Chisholm, who believes his dad was an alcoholic and likely suffered from severe depression.

"But one thing I know, he would do anything for his kids. My feeling is that he thought he was a burden to us and that we'd be better off without him. It's a common theme I hear."

He said one man contacted him to say he had lost his job and had planned to kill himself to avoid being a burden to his four daughters. But a newspaper article he'd read about the emotional devastation experienced by Chisholm's sister, just 11 when their father died, stopped him cold.

The man took it to heart and instead sought help, said Chisholm. "We now can say there's four teenaged girls out there who have no idea about (their father's intention) because we chose to talk about it."

Chisholm said he hopes the Collateral Damage project will give pause to those struggling with depression, other mental health disorders or despair-ridden lives and show them that suicide isn't the only way out -- either for themselves or their families and friends.

"It rips apart families," he said, adding that loved ones are often consumed by guilt over not having recognized the warning signs or failing to get the person help. "It makes us question our relationships, the meaning of them. What is it that could drive somebody to get to that point?"

Aglukark has also experienced the loss of loved ones to suicide, among them three cousins and two close friends.

Bioengineered anal sphincter could transform fecal incontinence care

What's best for a wrecked rectum? Maybe an auxiliary anus.

Kidding aside, scientists say they've created the world's first replacement anal sphincter, the circular muscle that rings the rectum - and predict it could make an effective treatment for fecal incontinence. That's potentially big news for people suffering from the embarrassing condition, given the limited effectiveness of the electrical implants, muscle grafts, and other treatments now in use.

"In essence, we have built a replacement sphincter that we hope can one day benefit human patients," study author Dr. Khalil N. Bitar, a professor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine, said in a written statement.

Using human muscle and nerve cells, scientists were able to make the bioengineered sphincters in about six weeks. The sphincters worked normally when implanted in mice. The ultimate goal of Bitar's effort is for doctors to take muscle and nerve cells from individual fecal incontinence patients and use them to create "personalized, hard-wired" sphincters that would not be rejected by an immune response.

The research was detailed in the July 2011 issue of the journal Gastroenterology.

Calling his work "proof of concept research," Dr. Bitar said bioengineered sphincters might prove useful in the treatment of urinary as well as fecal incontinence, a term that covers both the inability to hold a bowel movement until reaching a bathroom and the accidental leakage of solid or liquid stool while passing gas.

Nearly 18 million U.S. adults have fecal incontienence. Risk factors for the condition include nerve or muscle damage, hemorrhoids, poor overall health, and injury to the "pelvic floor" tissues during childbirth.

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse has more on fecal incontinence.