|
Cerebral edema
Accumulation of excessive fluid in the substance of the brain. The brain is especially susceptible to injury from edema, because it is located within a confined space and cannot expand.
Quadriplegia
Complete paralysis of the body from the neck down, usually caused by damage to the spinal cord.
Burden of proof
A party's job of convincing the decisionmaker in a trial that the party's version of the facts is true. In a civil trial, it means that the plaintiff must convince the judge or jury "by a preponderance of the evidence" that the plaintiff's version is true -- that is, over 50% of the believable evidence is in the plaintiff's favor.
Vicarious Liability
When a person who did not actually cause an injury is held for the injury. Sometimes called imputed liability.
Loss of Consortium
When a person is injured, that person's spouse may also have a valid claim for Loss of Consortium. Loss of consortium represent many things, including the spouse's loss of the injured person's assistance in caring for the family home and children, as well as the additional stress and strain placed upon the marital relationship by the physical injuries that were suffered.
Burn, third degree
A burn in which the damage has progressed to the point of skin death. The skin is white and without sensation.
Acute condition
Type of illness or injury that ordinarily lasts less than 3 months, was first noticed less than 3 months before the reference data of the interview, and was serious enough to have had an impact on behavior.
Auto Car Accident
A simple fender bender car accidents an individual involved can suffer back and neck injuries that have a lasting adverse effect.
Compensatory damages
Which measure actual dollar-value losses for such things as medical expenses, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, etc.
Managed care
Any system that manages healthcare delivery with the aim of controlling costs. Managed care systems typically rely on a primary care physician who acts as a gatekeeper through whom the patient has to go to obtain other health services such as specialty medical care, surgery, or physical therapy.
|
Did You Know?