February 26th, 2009

Brain Injury Claims: New Guidelines to Diagnose Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

New Guidelines to Diagnose Mild Brain Injury

The American College of Emergency Physicians has established new guidelines to be used in diagnosing mild traumatic brain injury.

Serious but Undiagnosed Injury

Mild traumatic brain injury has to be one of the most serious, yet undiagnosed health problems in Canada. Unfortunately, the general public has little understanding of what mild traumatic brain injury is and the problem is compounded by a poor understanding by some health professional about the criteria for what constitutes a brain injury.

Each year approximately 700 Nova Scotians suffer a traumatic brain injury. There are up to 5,000 – 6,000 serious car accidents in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. each year. Given the violent nature of car crashes, many of these people will suffer a mild traumatic brain injury, although they may never be diagnosed by a health professional.

No One Knows the Real Numbers!

In their release announcing the new guidelines, the College of Emergency Physicians states:

“The real incidents of traumatic brain injury are unknown since many patients who sustain an injury never seek medical care.”

I fully support any initiative that makes it easier for health professionals to determine when a patient has suffered a brain injury. But more effort needs to be placed on educating the public about the causes, and symptoms, of mild traumatic brain injury.

Thanks to Bruce Stern at the Traumatic Brain Injury Law Blog for bringing the guidelines to my attention.

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What is a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury?

If you are looking for a Nova Scotia Brain Injury Lawyer you can contact me through this blog for a free copy of my book, The Survivors Guide to Brain Injury Claims: How to prove the invisible injury, or by calling me toll free at 1-877-423-2050.