FASD: Who is at risk?
If a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, regardless of timing and amount, she is at risk of having a child with a FASD. Alcohol can affect an embryo before a woman knows she is…
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: What is it?
Prenatal alcohol exposure is the single leading preventable cause of neuro-developmental disorders (Zagorski, 2015). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a blanket term for a number of effects that can occur in an individual who was…
Veterans’ Court
The purpose of veterans’ court is to assist veterans who are accused of crimes that occurred as they are adjusting to civilian life. There is an extensive screening process for veterans who apply. The courts…
Veterans: Blast Injury
Blast injury-the signature wound of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is always wise to ask a veteran client who has served in the Middle East if he or she was ever exposed to…
Veterans: Psychiatric Issues
There are several depression screening tools that professionals administer that are cost effective and provide concrete data that can be used in court. Symptoms of depression that could affect a veteran’s functioning are; sad or…
A look at Veterans in Criminal Court
Hypothetical Scenario The following is a fictional scenario in which a veteran client may be arrested and charged with a crime. Mr. Smith served two yearlong tours in Iraq. He experienced a mild traumatic brain…
Chemical Restraints Nursing Homes
The following example is a true case scenario where administrators and staff in a Nursing Home inappropriately used chemical restraints, resulting in harm. In California, The Kern Valley Nursing Home used chemical restraint to control…
Bipolar Patient Chemical Restraint
The following case scenario is an example of the use of chemical restraint for bipolar disorder: The staff of the mental health unit chose to medicate a patient, Mr. Big with Risperdal which was ordered…
Verbal Abuse in Chemical Restraint
The following case scenario is an examples of the use of chemical restraint: Mr. Jones is a 65 year old man who is being evaluated in the emergency room after a fall with a possible…
Chemical Restraint Documentation/Medications
Documentation by caregivers is extremely important to avoid litigation when chemical restraint is used. The person’s competency to refuse care including medication should be evaluated and documented. The medications most commonly used for chemical restraint…
