As most of you know my husband Paul was left deaf follwoing meningitis 3 years ago. He is currently representing pro bono a number of hearing loss victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing who have not been compensated fairly - some not at all - from the One Fund. Please show your support for the victims by going to OneFundBoston.org click on ABOUT and post in the public commentary link letting One Fund know that these victims should be treated fairly. Public commentary is only open until Monday at the latest. There is a press conference taking place at this very moment in Boston. Here is more info: ONE FUND, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) & HEARING LOSS The One Fund’s stated mission is to “help those most affected by the Marathon bombings.” One Fund gave persons who spent only 1 day in the hospital $125,000 regardless of the injury One Fund gave persons who spent 3 days in the hospital $275,000 regardless of the injury One Fund gave victims with serious and significant brain injuries and hearing loss $0 or $8,000 One Fund hired an executive director in February 2014 who it will pay a total of $450,000 Traumatic Brain Injuries Each year, 1.7 million U.S. civilians suffer a TBI.1 Symptoms of TBI can include severe cognitive deficits, hearing loss, vision loss, headaches, dizziness and balance impairments, excessive fatigue, concentration difficulties, and sleep problems, among others. One Fund created a category for permanent brain injury, but did not give any award to anyone in that category, and now says that TBI is a “controversial diagnosis” and that the medical community doesn’t agree on whether it exists. TBI is not a controversial diagnosis; there is no disagreement in the medical community over its existence. The CDC and NIH reported to Congress last year that, “Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the highest priorities in public health and medicine because of its magnitude, cost and consequences (e.g. death and disability).”2 Six years ago Congress passed the Traumatic Brain Injury Act which requires the CDC, NIH, DoD and VA to work together to develop and improve TBI diagnostic tools and treatments Hearing Loss Hearing loss often leads to social isolation, depression, loss of work, and increased risk for stress-related diseases. The most common injury caused by explosive devices is hearing loss. The One Fund has recognized that hearing loss and tinnitus are “widespread concerns” among Marathon bombing victims, but does not believe that compensating them is an effective way of assisting them. Draft Protocol for Second Distribution The One Fund collected and distributed $61 million in 75 days - called it “rough justice.” One Fund now has $19 million more and recognizes that “rough justice” is no longer appropriate. One Fund will take a “much more nuanced approach” in evaluating those with arm and leg injuries and give them the vast bulk of the additional funds, but for those with TBI or hearing loss, the One Fund will not review their medical records or give them any significant compensation regardless of how serious and impactful their injuries are. Victims with TBI or hearing loss are at least equally deserving as those who spent only a day or two in the hospital. The draft protocol unfairly treats victims with TBI and hearing loss, and it must be amended.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:32:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015