Halifax Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

January 16th, 2009

NHL Hockey Stars – Doctors team up to study concussion/brain injuries

Medical experts, former NHL players and olympic medalists will be in London Ontario this weekend to study and draw public awareness to sports related concussions due minor traumatic brain injury.

The London Hockey Concussion Summit is being chaired by Dr. Paul Echlin, a sports medicine and junior hockey doctor. Dr. Michael Czarnota,OHL and WHL consultant, will discuss concussions in minor hockey, and Dr. Jason Mihalik of the University of North Carolina, will discuss the recent multi-center youth concussion study.

But what is likely to get the public’s attention are former NHL stars Eric Lindros, Alyn McCaulay, and Jeff Beukeboom will speak about the effects concussions had on their careers.

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December 23rd, 2008

Assessment of Amnesia in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Cases: Nova Scotia Personal Injury Lawyer Explains

by John McKiggan

Early Identification of Brain Injury Critical

Early identification of patients who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury is imperative to determine appropriate treatment and ensure a maximum recovery. Although there is some disagreement among medical professional as to what constitutes mild traumatic brain injury, all medical professionals agree that amnesia is evidence of a brain injury.

Online Tool Helps Explain

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December 17th, 2008

Trasylol (Aprotinin) May Cause Fatal Side Effects: Information for patients

by John McKiggan

We have been investigating potential personal injury claims against Bayer Inc. the manufacturer of the drug Trasylol (Aprotinin) for almost a year now.

In January 2006, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that of the 4,400 heart surgery patients who received Trasylol:

1. Trasylol increased the risk of stroke by 181%;

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December 12th, 2008

Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia: Halifax Chapter Christmas Party

by John McKiggan

Last night I attended the annual Christmas party for the Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (Halifax Chapter).

As I have mentioned before, I was recently appointed to the Board of the Halifax Chapter of BIANS.

The party was a great success and credit is due to my fellow Board members who volunteered their time to organize and put on the party. It was a great start for the newly reestablished Halifax Chapter of BIANS!

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December 9th, 2008

Trasylol (Aprotinin) Class Action: Information for Nova Scotia patients.

by John McKiggan

A “multi-million dollar” class action law suit has been filed against drug manufacturer Bayer Inc. for injuries allegedly caused by the drug Trasylol (also known as Aprotinin)

CTV News has reported that a number of class action lawsuits have been filed in the United States. Now patients in Canada have filed a similar lawsuit.

Bayer Inc. withdrew Trasylol from the market after medical research studies showed that patients treated with the drug were more likely to die than patients treated with other medication.

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December 5th, 2008

P.E.I. Department of Health Refuses to Release Report about Radiologist’s Errors: More problems to come?

by John McKiggan

Here we go again. Prince Edward Island’s Department of Health has been investigating a radiologist (currently on leave) because of what the Department describes as an “unacceptably high” error rate.

However, despite the fact that the radiologist’s mistakes may have an impact on the health and safety of patients in Prince Edward Island, the Department has refused to make the report public.

CBC has reported that Dr. Karunamoy Das has been on leave since an independent audit of his work showed that his interpretation of CT scans, MRI images, x-rays, and ultrasound images had an error rate of 12%. The Department of Health ordered a complete review of all 5,700 diagnostic images that Dr. Das reviewed.

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December 1st, 2008

NHL, Parents Need to be Aware of Brain Injury from Concussion

by John McKiggan

A Toronto neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles Tator, says that professional hockey players, NHL exceutives and parents need to be more aware of the serious effects that concussions have on the brain.

CTV news quoted Dr. Tator as saying that the problem of sports related concussions has:
“…reached epidemic proportions…
Too many people are getting these concussions. They really are not mild . . . We have to take it more seriously.”
Dr. Tator repeated what those of us that represent injured victims have known for a long time: The effects of brain injury due to concussion are too subtle to show up on standard medical imaging tests like CT scans and MRI.

The Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (BIANS) has posted a page about sports related concussions.

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November 27th, 2008

Chronic Pain Rewires the Brain: Insurance Companies Take Note!

by John McKiggan

For years insurance companies and their lawyers have been telling chronic pain victims: “…it’s all in your head!”

Defendants Claim Chronic Pain Isn’t Real

Insurance companies hire psychiatrists to produce reports claiming that the chronic pain victim’s pain is the result of a psychiatric illness, accuse the victim of malingering or come up with a bogus diagnosis like compensation neurosis.

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November 13th, 2008

How Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse and Refuse: New Report

by John McKiggan

Insurance companies use “dirty tricks” and “unethical behavior” to deny legitimate claims and boost their profits, according to a new report released by the American Association for Justice.

The report explains how insurers have:

…endeavored to deny claims, delay payments, confuse consumers with incomprehensible insurance-speak, and retroactively refuse anyone who may cost them money.

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November 12th, 2008

Nova Scotia Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Lawyer John McKiggan Appointed to Board of Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia: Halifax Chapter

by John McKiggan

The Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia (BIANS) has reestablished its Halifax chapter. I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed to the Board of Directors of BIANS Halifax.

The Brain Injury of Association of Nova Scotia is a non profit association dedicated to providing support for survivors of brain injury and their family members.

Having represented survivors of serious brain injuries for many years, I have personally seen the devastating effects that brain injury can have on victims and their families. I am looking forward to working with my fellow board members to reestablish a successful and active Halifax chapter.

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