U.S. Supreme Court to Consider Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Death Penalty Case

/PRNewswire/ -- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the nation's leading preventable cause of mental retardation, will be front and center when the Supreme Court opens its new term this week. Tomorrow, on Tuesday, September 29, the court will consider whether to take up Holmes v. Louisiana, the case of Brandy Holmes, a 29-year-old woman with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome currently on death row in Louisiana. She and a codefendant were convicted of a 2003 murder in Louisiana. Brandy's lead attorney is noted Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree.

The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) submitted a friend of the court brief arguing that Brandy's prenatal alcohol induced brain damage and deficits should be seen as mitigating factors in keeping with previous court rulings.

"Brandy has a hallmark case of FAS. Her mother testified that she drank throughout her pregnancy, and in fact named her daughter after her favorite drink," states NOFAS President Tom Donaldson. "Thirty-three states and the federal government don't execute persons with mental retardation - 16 more than only ten years ago. Evolving standards of decency place Brandy's case squarely within the precedent established by the court and society with regard to intellectual disabilities and the ultimate punishment."

Donaldson argues that there needs to be a renewed emphasis on public health messages about the risk of alcohol during pregnancy, "It's time to stop playing Russian roulette when it comes to alcohol and pregnancy."

Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading known preventable cause of intellectual disabilities and neurobehavioral disorders in the developed world affecting as many as 40,000 newborns each year in the United States alone, more cases annually than autism or other commonly known birth defects such as Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida and sudden infant death syndrome, COMBINED.

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Cell Phones and Health: Is There a Brain Cancer Connection?

TT Note: I remember an uncle of mine suggesting that my brand new cell phone would cause brain cancer. His bold statement was made in 1991. Wonder what the evidence shows now?

/PRNewswire/ -- Are cell phones safe? Mounting concerns about the cancer risks of cell phone radiation, especially for children, will bring experts to Washington for a groundbreaking international conference on September 13-15. The goal of the conference is to propose a U.S. research agenda.

The latest scientific evidence on cell phones and human health and public policy implications will be presented by such respected experts as Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, Director Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute; Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, Tel Aviv Medical University, Israel's key researcher on cancer and cell phones; Dr. Margaret Offermann, national research deputy at the American Cancer Society; and Professor Frank Barnes, chairman of the 2008 National Academy of Sciences report on research needed on cell phones and other personal wireless devices.

Key members of Congress are expected to attend. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) is planning to independently chair a Senate hearing on cell phones and health on Monday, September 14 on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Devra L. Davis, Professor of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh and primary organizer of the conference, reports: "Deeply troubling findings have been reported outside the U.S., where cell phones have been widely used for longer periods of time. These findings show a doubled risk of brain cancer. Many governments, including France, Finland, China and Russia, even advise that children not use cell phones."

Says co-organizer Dr. Dariusz Leszczynski, Research Professor at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, "People want to believe that cell phones are safe, but at this point we cannot make that judgment. Some scientific evidence suggests that cell phones might be harmful. Given the current uncertainty, we have to develop precautionary measures to reduce potential risks while the new research is planned and carried out."

Sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; University of Pittsburgh; National Research Center for Women & Families; The International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety; The Flow Fund Circle, and the Environmental Health Trust, the conference will be held at the historic Credit Union House, 4th and Maryland Ave. NE, near the U.S. Capitol.

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Sports Concussions: Common and Preventable

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sports and recreation related concussions impact an estimated 1.6 to 3.8 million individuals in the U.S. each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a blow or jolt to the head and can range from mild to severe. It is important to note that even if you do not lose consciousness after a fall, it is possible to have a concussion.

Symptoms of concussion can include headache, nausea, dizziness, and visual changes, but it is important to note they are different for every individual and are not always immediately evident. In fact, it can take days or weeks before symptoms are present. Therefore it is important to seek medical attention immediately following any type of blow to the head.

"Recovery from concussion and brain injury never really stops, so even if an injury occurred in the past, it is not too late to seek medical advice," according to Patrick Walsh, Psy.D., Marianjoy Director of Psychology and Brain Injury Program Coordinator. "It can be a very slow process and usually requires long-term rehabilitation."

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month; this year the focus is on sports and concussions. It is important to wear protective gear -- including a helmet -- when engaging in physical activities such as snowboarding, skiing, bicycling, rollerblading or contact sports.

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to have received full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its inpatient brain injury program. Its experienced staff is dedicated to improving the outcomes of patients with brain injury by addressing their physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges. The Marianjoy Brain Injury Team works with the patient to optimize the patient's life skills that are necessary to transition home and integrate back into the community.

In addition to offering an acute inpatient brain injury program, the Marianjoy Post Concussive Institute Program offers treatment for individuals experiencing physical, cognitive or emotional difficulties following a mild head injury.

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