My clients are often faced with very stressful situations.  That’s why they come to a lawyer in the first place.  This is particularly true if a loved one’s needed government benefits are at stake or if there is a dispute within a family.  These are tough, emotionally draining cases for those experiencing the conflict.

National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is May 6 through May 12.  You can find year-round educational seminars near you by visiting the Child Mind Institute website. A child’s mental health may be affected by stress.  Some stress can be beneficial, but if you are concerned that your child is too stressed, you may encourage him or her to take the stress-o-meter quiz offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

– Posted by Amanda Buzo

Many of us have experienced visiting our doctor and, when relaying the situation to our loved ones afterwards, realizing that we may have forgotten to ask important questions or that we are unable to summarize what the doctor told us.  For those who visit the doctor frequently or who are unfamiliar with medical jargon, going to the doctor can be a stressful and time consuming endeavor.  Therefore, we have a few suggestions to help you make the most out of each appointment.

Keep a medical binder.  The binder can be as fancy as something from an office supplies store with tabs or as simple as a folder.  The important thing is that you can use it to easily find the information you need.

Use the medical binder for each appointment or communication.  The binder can be used to keep your notes, list of prescriptions, health insurance information, test results, business cards, list of hospitalizations, contact information for medical providers and pharmacies, etc.  The binder may also be a good place to keep an extra set of your executed health care power of attorney and living will.

Prior to your appointment, write down why you are visiting the doctor and the questions you have.  It may also be helpful to document your symptoms, and include when they started, the frequency, if something causes the symptoms to worsen, and how it impacts your life.

Know, and communicate, your family medical history.  If you are computer savvy, it is helpful to

Are you or someone you know uninsured due to a pre-existing health condition? A health insurance option is now available for you, the Ohio High Risk Pool!  You must act quickly!

According to a news alert from the New York Times, the McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit of Johnson & Johnson has voluntarily begun a recall of certain children’s over-the-counter liquid medicines because of manufacturing deficiencies.  The deficiencies may affect the potency, purity or quality of the products, the agency said in a statement.  Consumers should stop using certain lots of infants’ and children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl products because some of them may contain too much of the active ingredient.  Please visit the Tylenol website for more information about the recall.

– Posted by Jill Fowler

Late on March 21, 2010, the House of Representatives passed the bill overhauling the Nation’s Health Care System, and then passed the package of fixes to that bill, which the Senate must now approve.

Some of the ‘immediate’ changes include:

Hickman & Lowder recently became a Certified Green Law Firm through the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.  To become certified, participating law firms must commit to taking concrete steps toward reducing their energy consumption and paper usage.  Some components of our certification plan include using compact fluorescent bulbs, printing on both sides of the paper when feasible, recycling paper, cardboard, plastic, and cans, and turning off lights and powering down equipment when not in use.  The goal is to reduce overall consumption by 10%.

This past Saturday was International Volunteer Day, a day sponsored by United Nations to recognize the efforts of individuals who donate their time towards the greater good.  How did you celebrate?  I spent the afternoon roller skating with Katie and Alexis, the two girls I mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters.  There were a few spills; but, as always, we had a lot of fun.

Recently, Attorney Judy Saltzman and I were admiring some of the creative artwork she has received over the years from her special education clients.  Pictured to the left is one such piece from a four-year-old boy with Autism.  This made me think of the importance of the arts in all of our lives, but especially for people with disabilities.