Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton - February 2020
February 2020
The Story of the King Family
M
edicare defines a “never event” as an identifiable, easily preventable medical error that should never happen and simply cannot occur with the exercise of reasonable care. “Never events” result in severe consequences, complications,
As the case progressed, Vinetra said Leon made sure to give her realistic expectations of howmediation would work and what a possible settlement might be. He referenced previous cases that he had worked on and fully explained to her what the range of outcomes had been. She says,“He was adamant that we receive an offer that was appropriate for the conduct of the nurses and the lack of training that led to my father’s easily preventable death.” When a settlement was reached in August 2019, Leon’s commitment to the case, Vinetra, and the rest of Victohr’s family didn’t end. Mindful of the family’s desire to honor any financial obligations existing at the time of Victohr’s death, Leon offered to help tie up any loose ends. This entailed leaving nothing outstanding or unresolved so that Vinetra and her family could finally have peace of mind and move forward with their lives. Also, Leon knew that for Vinetra to do that, she needed her father’s death to make a difference somehow.
and/or the death of patients, and they are entirely avoidable. Air embolisms fall into this category, particularly when they occur as a result of hospital staff failing to follow critical, essential steps designed to ensure patient safety. One such event occurred at Princeton Baptist Hospital, where a major failure in care tragically took the life of Victohr Rivers in July 2016. Mr. Rivers was being discharged when nurses removed a central line from his neck while he was sitting, rather than in a supine position. He immediately suffered from a predictable air embolism. After Victohr’s death, his daughter, Vinetra Murphy, and her family sought legal counsel from a local attorney. Due to the highly complex nature of this medical negligence case, they were referred to Hare Wynn’s Leon Ashford, managing partner at the firm, and former Alabama Supreme Court Justice, Ralph Cook. On Oct. 21, 2016, on behalf of Vinetra and her family, Leon filed a lawsuit against Princeton Baptist, alleging medical negligence in the wrongful death of Victohr Rivers. Vinetra says of the firm, “Everyone was extremely professional yet highly personable. When the case began, I was in Baltimore doing my internship for my doctorate in psychology. However, Leon and his team all kept in close contact with me and kept me updated. If I had questions, they made time to explain things to me fully.”
For that reason, the firm believes that the litigation resulted in changes at the hospital, which will assure that the same “never event”will not occur again at Princeton Baptist. Vinetra explains, “The hospital policies and procedures have now changed because of my dad’s case. They have already started training their nurses in a new way to make sure what happened to him never happens to anyone else again. Not only are we grateful for the settlement, but we’re also grateful that from now on, other lives can be saved in the future. That was the most important part of it all to us.” When the cold, harsh hand of tragedy strikes, life can suddenly become a dark and frightful place, so any hands offered in compassion, strength, and encouragement are gratefully welcomed. Vinetra found this at Hare Wynn. Furthermore, looking back on her experience with Leon, Vinetra was always struck by how personable and genuine he was. She sums up her experience: “He asked about my life and my family. He wanted to know how things were going in our lives. I feel this was a massive strength of his. Many people in professional settings tend to relate to the people they are working for purely as a business transaction: ‘I’m here to do this for you, and that’s it.’ But Leon wasn’t like that. You can tell the difference between people who are trying to be personable but just aren’t genuine and those who genuinely are. Leon took the time to get to know me and my family and what was important to us. I felt heard and listened to, and I always knew that he was wholly dedicated and committed to us and to helping make our lives better.”
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Feb. 14 is National Donor Day
With all the cards, chocolates, and expensive dinners, it’s easy to become cynical about Valentine’s Day. However, National Donor Day also falls on Feb. 14, and it can refocus our attention back on the real meaning of the day: love. In the U.S., 20 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant. Losing loved ones is one of the most painful aspects of the human experience, and while it is unavoidable, organ donation offers a pathway to help prevent that loss.
Installing It Properly When installing your car seat, you need to determine if you’re using the seat belt or the anchors to secure it. It just depends on your preference, but don’t use both at once. When your child needs a forward-facing car seat, you can use the tether along with the seat belt. Be sure to read the car user manual section on car seat installation and car seat instructions, as every size and brand of car seat is different. Using the Right Harness When a car seat harness properly fits your child, a five- point harness has straps that go over the shoulders and hips, and between the legs, then buckles at the crotch. Be sure to check the label for the required weight and height for the harness. When the child has outgrown the harness, the adult seat belt is used with the proper booster seat. Finding and installing the right car seat for your little one is especially important for winter driving. If you find yourself struggling to find the right seat or proper way to install it, go to HealthyChildren.org for in-depth guides that will ensure your child is safe this winter. register. Registration is not permanent and you will always have the option to change your mind. Once registered, you will not need to carry your donor card with you, as your status exists in the registry. Join a Donor Dash. Donor Dash fundraising events pop up all over the country on National Donor Day. These noncompetitive 5K running and walking events are designed to bring donors and recipients together and keep hope alive for those who are currently waiting for a donation. To learn more, or to register for an event, check out DonorAlliance.org. Participate in #StartTheConversation. Donor Alliance, a nonprofit that works to promote organ donation, began the #StartTheConversation campaign as a way to help spread awareness about organ and tissue donation. Starting the conversation
can be as simple as sharing that you registered with your friends and family or as personal as sharing a story about how organ donation has touched your life or the lives of your loved ones. Don’t let another Valentine’s Day come and go in a tide of cellophane, candy hearts, and cheesy cards. This year, get involved in National Donor Day. After all, what better way is there to express the value of love than giving the gift of life?
In the spirit of love, here are a few ways you can get involved with National Donor Day this year.
Register as an organ donor. Signing yourself up is easy and can be done either online or in person at your local Department of Motor Vehicles. You’ll need official identification to
As we’re in the heart of the winter weather season, it’s important to routinely check your tire pressure and tread depth, clear your windows of ice, and ensure your child’s car seat is installed correctly. In the winter, accidents can happen when we least expect it, so it’s especially important to secure children properly in their seats. So, to ensure you have peace of mind on the winter roads this season, here are some car seat safety tips. Finding the Right Seat The right seat depends on the age and weight of your child. If your child is between 5–40 pounds and 0–2 years old, you need a rear-facing car seat. Some children can stay in the seat past their second birthday because they haven’t yet reached 40 pounds. But when your child outgrows the seat and has reached the age of at least 2, it’s time for a traditional forward- facing car seat, which can accommodate children 65 pounds or more. A booster seat is next and raises the child so the adult seat belt fits over them correctly. Use the booster until they reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8–12 years old.
How the Community Is Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment
The new year marks some significant moments in our history. This includes Alabama’s bicentennial birthday and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. If you’re having trouble remembering, the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. In preparation for this significant anniversary, here is what the Alabama State Bar (ASB) is doing to celebrate. In 2017, the ASB established a task force to plan how the Bar could recognize the centennial of women’s suffrage. We are honored to have had three HareWynn attorneys selected to serve on the task force, including Mike Ermert, Ashley Peinhardt and Devan Byrd. Over the last couple years, the task force outlined three areas of focus, including education, celebration, and the future. The Bar is developing a documentary that is being produced by Jenna Bedsole of the Baker Donelson law firm. In addition, they’re developing several resources for schools to help inform their students about the history of women’s voting rights. This includes centennial-themed books, reading lists, andmore. To celebrate this historic moment, several resources and events are coming up this year that have been developed by the task force. This includes an information webpage, WomenRightToVote100.org , which links to the Alabama Department of Archives and History’s site dedicated to women’s suffrage. There will also be a statewide“Day Of”event in which public schools and other state organizations will recognize the anniversary. While planning for the recognition of the 19th Amendment and its significance, the ASB’s task force has several things in development. They will be promoting voter registration as well as evaluating the issues that still restrict women in Alabama from success, including the lack of equal-pay laws. Last August, the task force hosted an informationmeeting in Huntsville. They invited women’s organizations across the state to help celebrate this historic anniversary. The goal was to foster community support around what the 19th Amendment has done for women and the work that still needs to be done. If you’re in a women’s organization and want to get involved, visit AlaBar.org for more information.
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Valentine’s Day is all about love … and chocolate. Enjoy these chocolate peanut butter date truffles with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients:
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1 lb medjool dates, pitted (about 1 1/2 cups)
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1/4 cup peanut butter 1 cup bittersweet or dark chocolate, chopped 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
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1/2 tsp sea salt
Warm water
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Directions:
1. Using a food processor, blend dates and sea salt until dough can be formed into a ball. Slowly add enough warm water to mixture to thicken dough. 2. Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Freeze for 20–30 minutes. 3. In microwave, warm 1/4 cup peanut butter for 30 seconds, then drizzle peanut butter on top of balls. Freeze balls for another 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in microwave, warm chocolate with coconut oil until melted. Stir well. 5. Coat balls in chocolate and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 6. Top with additional salt and freeze for 30 minutes. Serve at room temperature.
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The Story of the King Family
Give the Gift of Life
Car Seat Safety Tips for Winter Safety
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Date Truffles
What You Need to Know About the 19th Amendment’s Centennial 3 Review Sites to Check Before Turning on the TV
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3 REVIEW SITES TO HELP YOU MONITOR WHAT YOUR KIDS ARE WATCHING With all the content available in the world of
film three distinct, category-specific ratings: one for sex and nudity, one for violence and gore, and one for language. Each rating is on a scale of 0-10, depending on quantity and context.” CommonSenseMedia.org CommonSenseMedia.org has you covered on all bases relating to content your kids want to consume. They review all the movies and TV shows available, but they also review books, apps, and games. They also provide age and genre filters so you can easily determine if the next Xbox game your child wants is appropriate. In addition, CommonSenseMedia.org understands that social media sites and interactive games like Fortnite are also areas for concern for most parents. To address these concerns, the website offers guides that walk you through child-appropriate use of leading social media and entertainment platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. These guides define what each platform is, how it works, and what you can do to make sure your kids stay safe while using them. Deciding what is or isn’t appropriate for your kids isn’t easy, so be sure to use these resources to monitor the entertainment your kids are consuming.
family entertainment, it’s hard to determine what’s appropriate for children, and it depends heavily on age. In this blurry landscape, it may seem as though no one has the right answers. Luckily, there are online resources available to parents who want to get educated about what is okay for their children to see. Dove.Org This website’s sole focus is to define the appropriate age for individuals to consume certain media. Their reviews do more than just declare a show or movie to be appropriate for all ages. They actually place films, TV programs, and books into three different categories based on their intended audiences. All the entertainment they review earn one of the following Kids-In-Mind.com Kids-In-Mind.com reviews all the latest blockbuster movies and breaks down exactly why they have G, PG-13, and R ratings. This website is a great tool to judge content for kids who are in between rating groups. The reviewers claim, “Unlike the MPAA, we do not assign a single, age-specific rating, and we do not make recommendations. Instead we assign each three ratings: Dove Approved All Ages, Dove Approved 12+, and Dove Approved 18+.
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