A case reopened as murder

Matthew R. Nagle was stabbed in the neck on July 3, 2001, and spent the last six years of his life in a wheelchair. After he died last July, prosecutors said they would consider pressing murder charges against his attacker.

And now they are – in a move that some legal analysts say is unusual, but not without precedent.

Last week, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted Nicholas M. Cirignano on a charge of second-degree murder. Cirignano – already serving nine to 10 years at MCI- Norfolk for stabbing Nagle – now faces a charge that could keep him in prison for life.

He is expected to be arraigned in the next few weeks, according to David Traub, spokesman for the Norfolk district attorney’s office. Continue Reading »

A cyclist’s uphill battle to get his life back

The attorney lay awake in his hospital room, listening.

Even now, in the cold November dawn, helicopters landed, sirens wailed and respirators hummed with purpose. Nothing ever stopped at Harborview Medical Center.

And Mickey Gendler had a front-row seat to it all.

As he lay there, he replayed the accident a thousand times. The moment his bike tire caught in the grate. The flip over his handlebars. Later, his wife’s face when they heard the words “spinal-cord injury.”

Gendler watched the clock. It was time for the nurses to turn him in bed, a ritual that happened every two hours, another reminder that his body, all 6 feet 4 inches, had become the domain of others. Continue Reading »

Using Airbags without Seatbelts Increases Injury Risk

Newswise — In Motor vehicle crashes resulting in airbag deployment, drivers and passengers who are not wearing seatbelts are at higher risk of Cervical spine (neck) fractures and other spinal cord injuries, according to a study in the March 15 issue of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry.

“Airbags should be used in conjunction with seatbelts to minimize the risk of cervical spine fractures and spinal cord injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes,” concludes the report by Dr. William F. Donaldson III of University of Pittsburgh and colleagues. Continue Reading »

Overturning 2006 vote favoring stem cell research is criminal

Fifteen months ago Missourians passed the Missouri Stem Cell Amendment to protect research for lifesaving cures that could benefit 125 million Americans.

On Feb. 20 a Missouri judge forgot that election results are the collective voice of the people and ruled with the minority who oppose stem cell research.

I speak with 60,000 Missouri citizens and more than 100 respected patient, faith and medical groups when I say I am very disappointed.

The 2006 election results protected stem cell research in Missouri, thereby protecting the potential for cures for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell anemia and spinal cord injury. Continue Reading »

Spinal Cord Injury and its Legal Remedy

The spinal cord connects the brain to most of our body organs a minor injury inflicted in this vital part of our body may result to severe and fatal damages.

Most of us have learned the importance of the spinal cord in our body during our schooling. The spinal cord connects the brain to most of our body organs enabling them to perform their respective bodily functions. As an example, if a person needs to carry a pail of water, his brain will send impulses to the corresponding muscle through the nerves found in the spinal cord, then the responsible muscle will perform the job accordingly. Our spinal cord is also a delicate part of our body. Hence, a minor spinal cord injury (SCI) inflicted in this vital part of our body may result to severe and fatal damages. Continue Reading »

Court to decide if stem cell surgery is covered

ADRIAN — A Manitou Beach man told a jury Tuesday about regaining some control over the lower part of his body after a stem cell surgical procedure on his crushed spinal cord. The Lenawee County Circuit Court jury is to begin deciding today if the treatment was “reasonably necessary” for coverage under Michigan’s no- fault auto insurance law.

Home Owners Insurance Co. is being sued for refusing to reimburse $51,000 Kevin Krohn spent to have the procedure done in Portugal in 2005, claiming it does not meet the legal test for treatments it must pay for under the no-fault law.

Krohn said the improved quality of life leaves no doubt in his mind that the experimental treatment was necessary. Continue Reading »

Disabled Newton mom hoping for a miracle

Five years ago, Danielle Shine became a quadriplegic after a car accident. Now, she hopes to raise money for an experimental stem cell transplant in Portugal.

Newton, Ia. – Danielle Shine saw a TV news report not long ago that featured a man who set up a Web page for donations toward his credit card bill.

She figured her situation was worse than credit-card debt. So she built a My Space page: “Quadriplegic with family needs hope to walk again.”

She needs at least $50,000. Continue Reading »

The Stem Cell Summit

The climate is changing for stem cell research — for the better!

Stem cell research represents the universal hope for healing and the political climate is changing for those seeking cures through revolutionary medicine. New rules are being written and public and private funding for research is becoming available. Genetics Policy Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Burrill Life Science Media Group have joined together to produce The Stem Cell Summit. This unique event will gather the global community of stakeholders to learn what’s new, share ideas, search for solutions and focus on advancing stem cell research from “the bench to the bedside.” Continue Reading »

Injury gives athlete opportunities

Most people might not say a spinal cord injury is a positive event in their lives. Brian Sheridan does.

A life-long athlete who had hoped to play football at Central Michigan University, Sheridan was 18 when he tried to do a back flip at a gym but landed wrong. As he lay on the mat, all sensation draining from his body, Sheridan remembers thinking something wasn’t right.

But now, the 31-year-old says the injury opened countless doors and spurred him to become an Occupational Therapist, a small-business owner and a wheelchair rugby player. He’s also a father to 11-year-old Laken and runs a nonprofit group that helps bring modified sports equipment to disabled athletes. Continue Reading »

Paralysis Victim Uses Record Jury Award to Give Back

Family of Man Confined to a Wheelchair and Attorneys Donate $1 Million to The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis

TAMPA, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A man left forever disabled after a medical misdiagnosis, his family and the attorneys who helped them find justice have teamed up to donate $1 million to an organization working to find a cure for paralysis.

Announcement of this gift to The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis was made today by the victim, Allan Navarro, his family, and the trial team of Steve Yerrid, Rich Gilbert and David Dickey.

Accepting the donation was Marc Buoniconti, whose father, NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti helped found both The Buoniconti Fund and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after his son Marc was paralyzed during a college football game. Continue Reading »