BEFORE DOCTORS KEPT IT CLEAN The Horrifying History of Hand-Washing
We expect our doctors to wash their hands before examining us — it’s a no-brainer. But more than 100 years ago, the idea wasn’t only laughable — it was heresy. The first doctor who implemented mandatory hand-washing in a hospital saw swift improvements in patient mortality rates, but the backlash among other doctors came just as quickly.
determined something similar might be happening to maternity ward patients. Many doctors were examining mothers-to-be after performing autopsies — but midwives weren’t. Semmelweis blamed the problem on miasma from corpses. Nevertheless, he instituted sterilization and hand-washing procedures in the hospital in 1848. The maternal mortality rate dropped substantially in the doctor-run ward, becoming on par with the midwives. Semmelweis had solved the problem. Yet, his colleagues disagreed. Other doctors at the hospital resented the suggestion that they’d been causing their patients’ deaths. And Semmelweis allegedly didn’t make it any easier, behaving in ways others found condescending and arrogant. Further, Semmelweis had no hard proof that hand-washing and sterilization worked. Eventually, the other doctors stopped washing their hands. Semmelweis lost his job at the hospital and, sadly, died in a mental institution. Fortunately, for the rest of the world, Semmelweis was not the only hand-washing proponent. Though they likely came by the idea independently, Doctor Oliver Wendell Holmes and a nurse, Florence Nightingale, encouraged the practice. Their championing and the emergence of germ theory gave us medical professionals who now have much safer habits — and, hopefully, the humility to acknowledge that they always have more to learn.
Before germ theory began to catch on in the late 1800s, doctors believed illnesses were caused by “miasma,” bad smells that originated in swamps, garbage, and decomposing matter. While the concept sounds strange now, convincing a doctor that miasma didn’t exist would be much like telling a modern scientist the Earth is flat. The idea of germs or viruses contradicted everything they thought they knew. Still, a Hungarian doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis began to notice startling mortality rates between two maternity wards at his hospital. The ward run by midwives had a much lower maternal mortality rate than the one staffed by doctors. After watching a colleague die of infection after cutting himself during an autopsy, Semmelweis
Can You Expunge a Drug Possession Charge? YES! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you have an arrest on your record for drug possession, it can negatively impact your life — even if you’re found not guilty.
Additionally, Class C misdemeanors are eligible for expungement after completing the deferred disposition and if you haven’t been convicted of a felony within five years of your current arrest.
Your personal record could hinder you from finding a job, getting insurance, buying a house, and many other life occurrences. Fortunately, you can do something about it — with the help of an attorney. In Texas, you can have your record expunged for specific charges. Here’s what you need to know. Is there a difference between expunging and sealing your record? If your record is sealed, your charges will still be on them. However, your record won’t be accessible to the public. The charge will be taken off your record when you expunge your conviction.
How do you file a petition? First, you must fill out and submit a Petition for Expunction to the court. Then, a hearing will be scheduled so you can provide testimony. If your situation meets the requirements, you could have your conviction expunged. While you can file and process your forms independently, it’s not the optimal method. You want an experienced attorney on your side who can plead your case for you in front of the judge and jury. If you or someone you know is currently struggling with a drug possession charge, your friends at the Medlin Law Firm would be happy to be of any assistance. Please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions or concerns.
What charges can you expunge from your personal record? You can have a Class A or B felony or misdemeanor expunged if:
• You were arrested for possession but not charged. • The case was dismissed because there was no probable cause or lack of evidence. • You were found not guilty. • The jury “no billed” the charge. • You were pardoned.
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