Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome, TEN & Medical Malpractice: The Facts
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a little-known but life-threatening disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. It is caused by an allergic reaction to prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and, although SJS typically starts off with mild flu-like symptoms, it can rapidly progress into a blistering, peeling rash that can become necrotic. Without treatment, many patients…
Read MoreSigns of Physical Abuse at Residential Treatment Facilities
Residential treatment facilities (RTF) for children and teens is a billion-dollar industry. Programs that go by names like therapeutic residential treatment, therapeutic boarding schools, teen wilderness programs, juvenile boot camp programs or other similar monikers have a troubling problem with physical assaults – both from staff and from other residents. When these incidents of violence…
Read MoreRacism in Health Care – Finding Equity Through Education
The United States Health Care System is plagued with professional bias and systemic racism that go all the way back to the days of slavery, according to experts and medical students hoping to make big changes to today’s curriculum. These inequities add up to disparate and sometimes tragic outcomes for Black and minority patients –…
Read MoreTrucks and Guardrails – How Much Protection Do They Really Offer?
A big rig driver in Horry County was recently hospitalized after an accident sent his truck off the side of a bridge into a ditch. The crash, which happened at the Highway 501 and Waccamaw River Bridge intersection, resulted in road closures for several hours. Although officials put up a temporary guardrail immediately following the…
Read MoreGymnastic Coaches and Sexual Abuse – A Widespread Problem
Gymnastics is one of the more popular extracurricular activities for children. It’s an activity they can start early in life and continue through high school, college, and – for some athletes – move on to national or international competition. However, as we’ve seen with USA Gymnastics and the Larry Nassar case, competitive gymnastics is undergoing…
Read MoreWhy Are Treatment Facilities Using Restraints on Our Children?
For many parents, caring for a child with special needs, disabilities, or a mental health disorder is difficult and emotionally draining. The ultimate goal is to keep their children at home and under the care of the family. Unfortunately, through no fault of their own, some children need more intensive and round-the-clock care, and some…
Read MoreSex Trafficking in South Carolina – A Report Card
The Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) is an organization dedicated to ending sex trafficking in the United States, providing law enforcement and criminal justice systems with their expertise and strategies. As part of their annual federal trafficking reports, HTI also provides state-by-state data on active criminal human trafficking cases. Along with South Carolina’s new lead prosecutor…
Read MoreCoach of Riverside High School Accused of Sexually Assaulting 40+ Student Athletes
More than 40 survivors are coming forward to hold Greenville County School District and others accountable years of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment they suffered at the hands of track coach Eric Jay Cummings. Cummings, who coached at RHS until he was placed on administrative leave in early September, later hung himself just days before…
Read MoreBlack Veterans, Mental Health Care, and Racial Bias
A recent study revealing the presence of implicit racial bias in VA mental health care shows that Black patients can pick up on non-verbal cues from their doctors, leading them to experience disparities in quality of care. When patients perceive bias in health care, they may be less likely to seek necessary treatment, preventative medical…
Read MoreCongratulations to Johnny Felder & Steve Welch on Their Membership to ABOTA!
McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips is pleased to announce attorneys Johnny Felder and Steve Welch have been invited for membership into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA was founded in 1958 and is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. Membership into the organization is by invitation-only. About the American Board…
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