816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com
JAN. 2020
ANIMAL BITES
CAR ACCIDENTS
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
An Arbitrary Tradition
BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
MY PROBLEMWITH NEWYEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
To be completely honest, New Year’s resolutions just aren’t my thing. I’ve never really done them, but judging by how often we hear about these annual goals being abandoned by February, I don’t feel like I’m missing much. This isn’t to discourage people trying to make a positive change in their life — I just feel like there are better ways to go about making that happen. arbitrary. Making a goal for yourself out of a sense of tradition may seem motivating when the calendar has just renewed itself, but that feeling of “a new beginning” won’t last you the whole year. Rather than tying major life changes to an otherwise insignificant date, why not connect them to something important to you? That’s what I’ve found works best for me, at least. For example, last year, Tom and I watched “The Game Changers” documentary on Netflix — which highlights the benefits of a plant-based diet for athletes — and decided we wanted to have a healthier diet ourselves. Rather than cut off meat entirely, or adopt one of those fad diets out there, I just began writing down what I ate every day. I wasn’t counting calories, but I was forcing myself to think about what I was choosing to put in my The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they’re too
body. Seeing my eating habits on paper was a great way to hold myself accountable. Of course, a little help never hurts. Tom and I decided to get a meal planning service which makes preparing healthy dishes fool-proof. It’s hard enough to eat right as it is — if we had to go out and find all the fresh ingredients, and learn how to cook with them from scratch, well, we’d be reverting back to mac n’ cheese pretty quickly. Removing as many hurdles between you and your goal goes a long way toward finding success. "Find a goal that really andtruly excites you, and every step you take toward itwill feel like a victory." For example, we keep weights and a few fitness machines in our basement. That way, we don’t have to worry about driving to and from the gym in the midst of our busy work schedules and taking care of the kids. The more you can fit a change into your daily life, with as little disruption as possible, the better it will stick. Ultimatley, it all comes back to my original point: You have to want it. I think we often make the mistake of
BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES
setting goals around what we think we should want, based on the ideals of those around us. But, if you’re striving for something that, deep down, you don’t have any interest in, you’re either going to abandon it — or worse — be miserable doing it. There are innumerable ways we can better ourselves, so don’t let outside pressures pigeonhole your resolutions. Find a goal that really and truly excites you, and every step you take toward it will feel like a victory. For all I’ve said against them, I’ll admit there is one strength to New Year’s resolutions: that feeling of a fresh start. It’s not strong enough to last through to December, sure, but it can be a great way to kickstart change. So, if you have to make a resolution, let it just be to make this year better than the last. How you choose to do it is up to you.
BURN INJURIES
CONSTRUCTION INJURIES
NURSING HOME ABUSE
SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS
BOATING ACCIDENTS
Happy New Year,
–Chelsea Dickerson
TRUCK ACCIDENTS
PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES
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Steer Clear TIPS FOR DRIVING I We’re more than used to ice and snow in this city — it’s just a part of life at this time of year. But a little extra precaution never hurts! Here’s a refresher on how to keep yourself and others safe on winter roads. Check Those Tires : Good tire pressure and treads can make all the difference in packed snow. A good way to test your tread depth is to insert a penny into your tire’s tread grove with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can still see all of honest Abe, it’s time to get new tires. • Have Supplies : You never know when a snowstorm might leave you stranded in your vehicle. Keeping an emergency bag full of warm clothes, a flashlight, energy bars, and bottled water can ensure you’re prepared for the worst. BEFORE YOU DRIVE •
Meet the World's First Airport Therapy Pig HOW LILOU AND ANIMALS LIKE HER CALM STRESSED-OUT TRAVELERS Imagine you’re navigating a vast airport on a busy Saturday, shouldering your way through crowds and struggling to hear the PA system over the clatter of 1,000 wheeled suitcases. Suddenly, you see a pig wearing a hot pink sweater waddling toward you on a leash. Do you stop in your tracks? Does your stress level drop? Do you laugh out loud when you see its pink nail polish? If you answered “yes” to any of the above, then you can sympathize with the passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and staff at the San Francisco International Airport. They get to enjoy visits from Lilou, the world’s first airport therapy pig, on a regular basis! As part of the Wag Brigade, the airport’s cadre of (mostly canine) therapy animals, Lilou wanders the airport with her humans, bringing joy, peace, and calm to everyone she meets. Lilou may be the only pig of her kind, but airport therapy animals have been a growing trend for the last few years. According to NPR, as of 2017, more than 30 airports across the U.S. employed therapy dogs, and these days, estimates land closer to 60. The San Jose and Denver airports have therapy cats, and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport even offers passengers the chance to play with miniature horses before boarding their flights. Therapy dogs started appearing in U.S. airports after the 9/11 terror attacks, which changed American attitudes about flying. They did so well at helping passengers calm down that airports began implementing permanent programs. Some have pets on hand 24/7 to assist passengers, while others host animal visits every few weeks or months. These days, regular travelers have fallen hard for their local therapy animals, many of whom even have their own Instagram accounts and hashtags. So, the next time you’re traveling, keep an eye out for a friendly pup, cat, pig, or horse to pet. A bit of love from an animal just might improve your trip!
OUT ON THE ROAD •
Slow Down : Driving slower in freezing conditions isn’t about a lack of confidence in your driving — it’s about traction. The faster your tires spin, the less they’ll be able to
SurgeryGone Wrong IS MALPRACTICE TO BLAME?
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f Winter Crashes
ICY CONDITIONS
grip the road. By slowing down, you also give yourself more time to react if you or another car does start sliding. Follow Further : Along the same lines, you should increase the following distance you give to cars in front of you. A 6-second lag time is recommended to give you enough time to stop or safely maneuver your vehicle in case something unexpected happens up ahead. Remain Calm : Sliding on ice is often made worse by drivers overcorrecting or fruitlessly slamming on the brakes. Correcting a slide is possible, but it takes a cool head and the right technique.
vehicle. If your car uses front-wheel drive, steer into the skid and avoid braking or accelerating if you can. If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, steer in the direction you want to go and slightly accelerate. If you’re using all-wheel drive, steer out of the skid and brake normally (pump brakes if you don’t have an anti- lock system).
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TAKE A BREAK
IN A SLIDE •
How to Make Your Own Sauerkraut Inspired by NourishedKitchen.com
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Know Your Car : The way you should respond to a slide depends on your
ingredients • 2 lbs cabbage • 4 tsp fine sea salt Equipment • Jar • Lid with airlock
Risk is a part of any surgery. This is something every patient has the right to be aware of before agreeing to a procedure so they can give informed consent. However, one risk patients never consent to is the negligence of their surgeon or care facility.
• • • • • • •
Wrong-site
Wrong patient
Wrong procedure Anesthesia mistakes
Nicking a nerve or artery Damaging internal organs Leaving a surgical instrument inside the body
ASSUMED RISK VS. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
• Something to weigh down cabbage, ideally made of a nonreactive material like glass
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Causing an infection
Because all surgeries carry a degree of uncertainty, complications can occur even when care providers are doing their due diligence. These “assumed risks” aren’t considered to be the fault of health care professionals and don’t constitute grounds for a malpractice suit. However, if you experience complications well beyond what you were told to expect, medical negligence may be to blame. COMMON SURGICAL ERRORS Unless you’re a surgeon yourself, it might be hard to tell whether a complication was part of the assumed risk of your operation or whether a reasonable doctor could have prevented it. However, negligent care professionals are clearly responsible for some of these common mishaps:
directions
These are very preventable errors and can be deeply damaging. They often stem from lack of communication, poor sanitation, cutting corners on rules, or other reckless behavior. No one wants to be on an operating table in these conditions, which is why medical malpractice suits exist. MALPRACTICE LAWS IN KANSAS CITY If you believe you have grounds for a malpractice claim, you’ll likely face an uphill legal battle, requiring the testimony of expert surgeons and proof you have suffered damages as a result of malpractice. This is where a team of expert Kansas City malpractice attorneys can make a difference. To find out if you have a case, give us a call at 816-268-1960 or 913-428-8220.
1. Remove outer leaves from cabbage. Slice very thinly. 2. In a large bowl, combine cabbage and salt. Let stand for 20 minutes. 3. Squeeze cabbage to release juices. Let the cabbage continue to soak and release juices for another 20 minutes. 4. Transfer to a jar and press down cabbage until completely submerged in its juices. Weigh down cabbage. 5. Seal jar with airlock. Let cabbage sit at room temperature and away from sunlight for one month. Once fermented, transfer to the fridge. Sauerkraut will keep for six months to one year.
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inside
THIS ISSUE
Stick to Your Goals This Year Meet the World’s First Airport Therapy Pig Tips For Icy Driving Common Surgery Mishaps Take a Break How to Make Your Own Sauerkraut Enter 2020 With an Organized Computer
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Ctrl, Alt, Delete Your Clutter TIPS FOR NATIONAL CLEAN UP YOUR COMPUTER MONTH
ORGANIZE YOUR FILES Naming and arranging the files on your computer in such a way that they’re easy for you to find can end up saving you a lot of time. Declutter your workspace by creating one file for pictures, one for Word documents, one for spreadsheets, and one for programs to eliminate the hassle of frantically searching for the files you need. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER Be sure to back up your computer before you start deleting things. This acts as a safety net in case you delete something you didn’t mean to. Additionally, consider installing a second hard drive. The extra space can help with storing important files without having to worry about how much room is left. CLEAN UP SPACE Any files you’ll never use again should be deleted. Likewise, any programs you haven’t used in a while should be uninstalled. Check your hard drive for files that might be taking up unintended space on your computer. And remember to empty the recycling bin — it’s easy to forget just how much goes in there.
Everyone relies on technology. Computers, laptops, tablets, and phones are staples of modern life. However, it’s easy
for these devices to become cluttered with old photos, files, and general disorganization. Luckily, January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month and an excellent time to get your technology in order.
START BY DUSTING Over time, computer towers can become clogged with dust, which creates additional, unwanted heat within your computer. Regular cleanings will increase the lifespan of your computer and protect its essential components. Compressed air is great for removing most of the dust and other particulates. If the fans or filters are too dirty, you can remove them from the tower to clean them better. If you use water or liquid cleaning products on them, be sure they are completely dry before placing them back into your computer.
ADVERTISING MATERIAL: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. This newsletter is provided to former clients, individuals who have contacted the firm regarding representation, and individuals who have requested to be on the newsletter mailing list. This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or direct solicitation for employment of the firm on any particular legal matter.
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