Litigation

Better Screening of Troops For Brain Injury Urged

By Michael Kaplen

A report issued by the Institute of Medicine, a government advisory group that studies health and medical issues, recommended that the military test all new recruits for cognitive skills and then do large-scale studies of returning combat veterans to better evaluate and respond to traumatic brain injury.

The report also recognized that military brain injuries, which in many cases are caused by blasts, may have symptoms that resemble typical post concussive symptoms as well as symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder.  Symptoms such as sleeplessness, dizziness and confusion complicate the diagnosis since they are associated with both conditions. 

Hopefully, these recommended studies will confirm the long term disabilities associated with traumatic brain injury and focus more attention on this public health crisis.

You can read more information in today's New York Times.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on December 06, 2008 (boomark / email).