Denture Cream May Cause Zinc Poisoning

The more than 35 million Americans who use denture creams daily are  understandably concerned by recent reports that top-selling brands such as Fixodent and Super Poligrip may be linked to cases of zinc poisoning.  As with most potential product liability cases, its important to sort out the facts if you are one of those 35 million using such products. 

Many denture creams, including Fixodent, include zinc.  An individual must routinely ingest an overdose of zinc to cause zinc poisoning.  The symptoms of zinc poisoning can include neuropathy (disease or malfunction of the nerves) or urinary, bladder or gastrointestinal dysfunction.  Over time, some develop numbness and tingling in hands or feet, difficulty with balance and coordination, and weakness or pain in arms and legs.

If you think you may have zinc poisoning, you are encouraged to contact your regular health care provider to discuss your concerns.  Your physician can order the necessary blood and hair tests to evaluate your exposure to zinc.  If tests confirm that you currently have, or have previously had, elevated levels of zinc and have experienced some of the symptoms of zinc poisoning discussed above, you should also contact an attorney.  An attorney can help you identify and protect your legal rights to compensation for any injuries you may suffer as a result of using these products.  Please contact Kaufman Law at 888-973-2540 today to schedule a FREE consultation if you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have suffered zinc poisoning.

Fixodent and Poligrip May Cause Zinc Poisoning

Georgia Consumers Resource Bank

Death of Eleven Year Old Student May Re-Open Sovereign Immunity Debate

The suicide death of an elementary school student who was the victim of relentless bullying at Dunaire Elementary School has reopened the debate about sovereign or governmental immunity for public schools.  The parents of eleven year old Jaheem Herrera described repeated acts of physical violence as well as emotional and verbal abuse.  His mother says she reported the abuse to the school several times, without much being done to remedy the problem.  DeKalb County School officials insist they have taken all necessary steps to remove violence and bullying from their campuses.  However, other parents have since come forward with similarly disturbing stories.

While it appears that the school may have breached their duty of care, Georgia gives schools and employees immunity from civil liability.  The immunity turns on whether the breach of conduct is determined to be related to "ministerial" or "discretionary" duties.  In recent years, the court's persistent protection of governmental employees has caused the line between the two to become blurred.  The Georgia Supreme Court itself remarked earlier this week in a separate case involving school liability that the distinction was difficult to make.  The failure to make such distinction effectively renders virtually blanket immunity to schools and their employees against almost all civil claims.  The only recourse is for the Georgia Legislature or the Supreme Court of Georgia itself to remedy the disingenuous interpretation of the rule - or risk further confusing the distinctions and continuing to protect government wrong-doers to the detriment of their victims. 

The attitude of public servants has changed in the last six years along with the political environment in Georgia. We now find that some of the employees of government, whether state trooper, teachers or counter clerks feel that the people they serve have become an annoyance and that citizens can be bullied and abused with no consequences to the government workers. Their supervisors protect them and become complicit in the abuse. Certain politicians, known for back door dealing, protect these wrong doers politically, judicially and legislatively.  This is analogous to the the medical malpractice arena. When these same politicians limit liability and damages of doctors that negligently hurt patients the abuse gets much worse since there is no incentive to temper the bad conduct. The only way that Georgia can improve the performance of our public servants is to hold them to a standard of conduct that reflects the true attitudes of Georgians. 

Cagle Drops Out of Race for Governor

Earlier this afternoon, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle announced that he was dropping out of the race for governor of Georgia .  He read from a prepared statement and cited a shoulder and neck injury.  Although he's had this injury for several years, it had progressed to a particularly painful point during the 2009 session.  The injury even resulted in some paralysis and will now require surgery. 

Cagle discussed his degenerative spinal condition in his statement.  He mentioned that the pain led to numbness in his arm and was diagnosed as "serious nerve and bone problems and a degenerative spinal condition."  The condition requires immediate surgery and a potentially extensive post-operative healing period.  Cagle also noted that the odds of full recovery were high.

Nerve and spinal injuries such as the Lieutenant Governor's affect many Georgians.  Many accident victims are living with similar pain or enduring surgery and extensive therapy to correct it.  As the Lt. Gov. mentions, treatment of injuries like this can require a full-time commitment and routinely impact personal and professional ambitions.

While his exact diagnosis is not known the symptoms sound like a herniated disc. This is an injury that many Georgians suffer. It is very painful and can ususally only be repaired by surgery. The Lt. Govorner is very lucky to have been provided an excellent insurance policy to pay his medical expenses. He may also have insurance to pay for his lost income, which may be substantial. Many Georgians who are injured at work, in a car and in fall downs have not been as lucky as the Lt. Govorner and can not afford the medical treatment or even pain killers. They must suffer with no real hope of escape from pain, but often have families and young children and must work anyway in spite of grueling pain. The Lt. Governor had tears in his eyes while announcing his withdrawal from the race.  This can only make you wonder what desperate thoughts go through the minds of those who suffer herniated discs with no resouces at all.     

Lt. Govorner Cagle presides over the Georia Senate which is institutionally antaganistic to many persons who are injured or killed by the negligence of others.  One can only wonder now if he might have a battle field conversion on his thoughts reguarding injured people.

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