A growing number of medical malpractice lawsuits in the US have been a focus of many discussions in the medical field and in the media. Settlement costs and damages are really enormous. In California, a Sacramento judge approved the $5.75 million court settlement for the negligence of the doctors and medical staff of UC Davis Medical Center to Cannon Hoops, the person who was born on December 1, 2004 who suffered brain injuries during the delivery. Another jury in California awarded $2.9 million for medical negligence of two doctors resulting from a woman dying from ovarian cancer.
People have rights to file complaints for any errors committed to them or to their loved ones by health providers, whether by ignorance or by accident. However, it is a must to establish first that a medical malpractice has been done based on malpractice definition. There is also a certain period of time before one can file a lawsuit so a legal consultation is advised to make the necessary action.
A complaint will be delivered to the health provider or institution being sued, known as the defendant and the complainant will provide the defendants a certain period of time notice, usually at least 90 days that a malpractice action will be initiated. A defendant should file an answer with the court and may either challenge or deny the allegations.
Complainants and defendants will learn all about the affidavits of allegations and defenses as ordered by law including statements of other witnesses. Interrogations would be done by attorneys of both parties and there exist court’s discovery rules in order resolve the disputes. The discovery process usually takes time, either a few months or years depending on the urgency of the case and availability of evidences or witnesses.
Both parties may settle the dispute during the proceedings before a case comes to a trial. The health provider may either offer to settle a lawsuit or accept the complainant’s demands. This should be done in consultation with his lawyer and insurance company as this is a complicated issue. The health provider should have insurance and he should have a written permission for the insurer in order to settle the case. According to Jury Verdict Research, from the period 1994 to 2000, the settlement cost median for physician malpractice and hospital malpractice were $375,000 and $300,000 respectively.
If the case will be subjected to trial and if the jury finds the health provider guilty of medical malpractice, the extent of damages will be assessed by court. Medical malpractice trial normally lasts for up to two or three weeks. A losing party may still appeal for retrial.
Friday, October 16, 2009
What is a Portable Gasoline Generator?
Electricity now is like basic necessity. We are all electricity dependent that all our works or jobs use almost all electric powered equipment or appliances including our phones for communication.
In cases of power outages, a portable gasoline generator is being used. This type of generator is normally designed for homes for electrical appliances as this have limited wattage. They should not be connected directly to a building’s wiring system.
A portable gasoline generator is useful in times of blackout or anytime when there is utilities failure which is normally right after a disaster like hurricane, typhoon, winter ice storm, tornadoes and others in order to have instant source of lighting or heating and even for cooking purposes. It can be used also for camping or in some job sites where tools like drills, paint sprayers and others are utilized.
Most portable gasoline generators for homes normally range in size from 1,000 to 15,000 watts. Appliances with power requirements would run on them depending on their wattage output. It is best to prioritize one’s needs when using appliances as the more appliances are running, the more fuel is consumed.
Portable gasoline generators are normally cost effective than other generators run by other fuels. Diesel, propane, and natural gas generators are more expensive than gasoline.
Some popular brands of gasoline powered generator are Briggs and Sttraton, Yamaha, Honda and Onan. Before operating the generator it is advised to read and follow the entire manufacturer’s instructions in the manual. It is advisable to position the generator outdoor where its exhaust will be far from windows and doors as it gives off carbon monoxide gas which is harmful to health.
In cases of power outages, a portable gasoline generator is being used. This type of generator is normally designed for homes for electrical appliances as this have limited wattage. They should not be connected directly to a building’s wiring system.
A portable gasoline generator is useful in times of blackout or anytime when there is utilities failure which is normally right after a disaster like hurricane, typhoon, winter ice storm, tornadoes and others in order to have instant source of lighting or heating and even for cooking purposes. It can be used also for camping or in some job sites where tools like drills, paint sprayers and others are utilized.
Most portable gasoline generators for homes normally range in size from 1,000 to 15,000 watts. Appliances with power requirements would run on them depending on their wattage output. It is best to prioritize one’s needs when using appliances as the more appliances are running, the more fuel is consumed.
Portable gasoline generators are normally cost effective than other generators run by other fuels. Diesel, propane, and natural gas generators are more expensive than gasoline.
Some popular brands of gasoline powered generator are Briggs and Sttraton, Yamaha, Honda and Onan. Before operating the generator it is advised to read and follow the entire manufacturer’s instructions in the manual. It is advisable to position the generator outdoor where its exhaust will be far from windows and doors as it gives off carbon monoxide gas which is harmful to health.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
How to be Eligible for Supplemental Security Income?
In order to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) the main requirement is that an individual should be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled. Blindness as defined by Social Security disability program as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in better eye with best correction or having a limitation in the field of vision of better eye so that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees. However, if one’s visual problem can not be classified in any of these conditions, SSI benefits can still be provided based on one’s disability.
Meanwhile disability’s definition is classified differently for a child and adult. The term “disabled” for a child means that one is below 18 years old and has proven physical or mental impairment based on medical findings which resulted in marked and severe functional limitations. On the other hand, the term “disabled” for an adult means that one is 18 years old and older and has proven physical or mental impairment based on medical findings which resulted in inability to do any substantial gainful work. For both child and adult, other medical findings may also state that one’s condition may result to death or lasted or expect to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Other detailed requirements are as follows: He or she has limited income and resources.
Income is the salary that one obtains from work or from other sources like Social Security, employment compensation, unemployment benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs, friends or relatives including free food and accommodation. Resources can be defined as one’s personal possession including cash, bank accounts, stocks, US saving bonds, land, vehicles, personal property, life insurance and others which is convertible to cash and can be used to purchase food and pay one’s accommodation.
The SSI’s limits for resources that they count are: $2,000 for individual or child and $3,000 for couple.
In addition to the requirements, he or she is a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens, that is, a non–citizen who meets the alien eligibility criteria under the 1996 legislation and its amendments. He or she should legally reside in one of the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, or he or she should be a child of military parent assigned outside the US, or he or she is a student who is temporarily abroad. He or she is present from the country for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days. He or she applies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, e.g., pensions and Social Security. He or she allows Social Security Administration to contact any financial institution for whatever financial records he or she may have. He meets other certain requirements in his or her application process.
Some examples of those who are not eligible for SSI benefits include a fugitive felon, a convict or prisoner, employee of public institution and an individual who gives away or sells his or her resources to reduce them in order to apply for SSI benefits. Furthermore, a non–citizen SSI beneficiary who did not meet the criteria for the alien status and an individual who is a SSI beneficiary and has been away from the US for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days.
The SSI is paid monthly to individuals. The amount paid is basically the same in all states. However, there are states that give additional money to the basic benefit.
Meanwhile disability’s definition is classified differently for a child and adult. The term “disabled” for a child means that one is below 18 years old and has proven physical or mental impairment based on medical findings which resulted in marked and severe functional limitations. On the other hand, the term “disabled” for an adult means that one is 18 years old and older and has proven physical or mental impairment based on medical findings which resulted in inability to do any substantial gainful work. For both child and adult, other medical findings may also state that one’s condition may result to death or lasted or expect to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Other detailed requirements are as follows: He or she has limited income and resources.
Income is the salary that one obtains from work or from other sources like Social Security, employment compensation, unemployment benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs, friends or relatives including free food and accommodation. Resources can be defined as one’s personal possession including cash, bank accounts, stocks, US saving bonds, land, vehicles, personal property, life insurance and others which is convertible to cash and can be used to purchase food and pay one’s accommodation.
The SSI’s limits for resources that they count are: $2,000 for individual or child and $3,000 for couple.
In addition to the requirements, he or she is a U.S. citizen or national, or in one of certain categories of aliens, that is, a non–citizen who meets the alien eligibility criteria under the 1996 legislation and its amendments. He or she should legally reside in one of the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, or he or she should be a child of military parent assigned outside the US, or he or she is a student who is temporarily abroad. He or she is present from the country for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days. He or she applies for any other cash benefits or payments for which he or she may be eligible, e.g., pensions and Social Security. He or she allows Social Security Administration to contact any financial institution for whatever financial records he or she may have. He meets other certain requirements in his or her application process.
Some examples of those who are not eligible for SSI benefits include a fugitive felon, a convict or prisoner, employee of public institution and an individual who gives away or sells his or her resources to reduce them in order to apply for SSI benefits. Furthermore, a non–citizen SSI beneficiary who did not meet the criteria for the alien status and an individual who is a SSI beneficiary and has been away from the US for a full calendar month or more than 30 consecutive days.
The SSI is paid monthly to individuals. The amount paid is basically the same in all states. However, there are states that give additional money to the basic benefit.
Financing or Purchasing Foreign Property
Financing foreign property is becoming popular nowadays. It may be for holiday dream home, permanent residence or just a typical investment which one could buy and sell later on. But for whatever reason, the market for property investments in some parts of the world has grown already.
France, Portugal, Cyprus and Majorca and Spanish Property market are seen as the traditional and previously most popular markets in foreign property investment. The next major investment property location is predicted to be Brazil with its amazing beaches. It is also where property and land prices are very low at present. Florida in the US is still popular for investors.
Meanwhile in the Middle East, the market in United Arab Emirates particularly in Dubai rose significantly. This is attributed to the changes in property laws done by the government which attracted lots of foreign investors. In Asia, Malaysia is considered to be the property investment top destination with its new developments which can be purchase at considerably low prices. In the Caribbean, Bahamas, Belize and Dominican Republic are some of examples where one can find his dream property especially for some tourists. Because of the tropical weather and world-class beaches, these places became the couples’ favorite destination. Some other locations where there are property investments open for foreigners are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt and others.
While owning a foreign property investment is a dream come true for some people, there are however problems that they usually face. In some countries like the US, there are property taxes making the real estate value go up. When prices fell, these taxes do not automatically decrease quickly and one is forced to pay the original assessed value. However, there are still countries which lack property taxes and this is an advantage of purchasing foreign property. One example is Ecuador, where an investor will not pay any real estate taxes. In other countries also, the cost of labor and land prices are lower and this means that properties can also be bought at lower prices including the maintenance cost. Despite the current economic situation, US dollar has still a lot of value and investor can still purchase more including properties in other countries.
Meanwhile, it is important that investors should take into consideration the country’s economic and political stability if they want to purchase the property in that location. In some cases, foreigners are not given fair consideration and government confiscates their properties especially if they are not aware of the local real estate laws. Crime rate may also increase and therefore a foreigner may have to hire persons to secure his property.
Investors have the right to decide where they want to invest their money and purchase a property. However, there should be a lot of research that should do and a real estate lawyer should be consulted before entering in a transaction in order to protect themselves and their investment.
France, Portugal, Cyprus and Majorca and Spanish Property market are seen as the traditional and previously most popular markets in foreign property investment. The next major investment property location is predicted to be Brazil with its amazing beaches. It is also where property and land prices are very low at present. Florida in the US is still popular for investors.
Meanwhile in the Middle East, the market in United Arab Emirates particularly in Dubai rose significantly. This is attributed to the changes in property laws done by the government which attracted lots of foreign investors. In Asia, Malaysia is considered to be the property investment top destination with its new developments which can be purchase at considerably low prices. In the Caribbean, Bahamas, Belize and Dominican Republic are some of examples where one can find his dream property especially for some tourists. Because of the tropical weather and world-class beaches, these places became the couples’ favorite destination. Some other locations where there are property investments open for foreigners are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt and others.
While owning a foreign property investment is a dream come true for some people, there are however problems that they usually face. In some countries like the US, there are property taxes making the real estate value go up. When prices fell, these taxes do not automatically decrease quickly and one is forced to pay the original assessed value. However, there are still countries which lack property taxes and this is an advantage of purchasing foreign property. One example is Ecuador, where an investor will not pay any real estate taxes. In other countries also, the cost of labor and land prices are lower and this means that properties can also be bought at lower prices including the maintenance cost. Despite the current economic situation, US dollar has still a lot of value and investor can still purchase more including properties in other countries.
Meanwhile, it is important that investors should take into consideration the country’s economic and political stability if they want to purchase the property in that location. In some cases, foreigners are not given fair consideration and government confiscates their properties especially if they are not aware of the local real estate laws. Crime rate may also increase and therefore a foreigner may have to hire persons to secure his property.
Investors have the right to decide where they want to invest their money and purchase a property. However, there should be a lot of research that should do and a real estate lawyer should be consulted before entering in a transaction in order to protect themselves and their investment.
Roles of Construction Project Manager and their Opportunities
Behind the success or failure of a construction project is the construction project manager. A construction project is mainly accomplished based on resources such as manpower, materials, tools and equipment and management requirements to meet the goals and targets of the project. The project manager is the empowered individual or leader controlling and managing these resources in order to meet client expectations and finish within the set requirements. These requirements can be related to budget, quality specification, deadlines and others.
A construction project manager is a degree holder of construction management, civil engineering or construction science. His role normally requires human and technical skills to be able to implement some methods and other standard procedures and deal with different issues or with people like contractors, clients, consultants, suppliers, and even the staff. His technical expertise should be accompanied by his ability to connect and level with others.
Construction projects managed by project manager include buildings which can be residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, schools and hospitals. He has to be involved in the project from the beginning through to its completion to ensure the success of the project.
The construction project manager has to make a logical plan to make a systematic implementation of the project. He needs to make sure that the time frame is adhered to. He may also have to be proficient on the use of computer as managers use this now to analyze, conceptualize and implement plans and designs.
At present there are lots of international construction project manager jobs available. Lots of foreign workers are even recruited by different large construction companies and the offered salary and compensation benefits are rewarding. Some countries where construction project managers are in demand are in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai, Brunei and others.
There are positive prospects for qualified construction project managers. A good academic foundation coupled with good experience in construction industry could lead the way to a successful career in this profession.
A construction project manager is a degree holder of construction management, civil engineering or construction science. His role normally requires human and technical skills to be able to implement some methods and other standard procedures and deal with different issues or with people like contractors, clients, consultants, suppliers, and even the staff. His technical expertise should be accompanied by his ability to connect and level with others.
Construction projects managed by project manager include buildings which can be residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, schools and hospitals. He has to be involved in the project from the beginning through to its completion to ensure the success of the project.
The construction project manager has to make a logical plan to make a systematic implementation of the project. He needs to make sure that the time frame is adhered to. He may also have to be proficient on the use of computer as managers use this now to analyze, conceptualize and implement plans and designs.
At present there are lots of international construction project manager jobs available. Lots of foreign workers are even recruited by different large construction companies and the offered salary and compensation benefits are rewarding. Some countries where construction project managers are in demand are in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai, Brunei and others.
There are positive prospects for qualified construction project managers. A good academic foundation coupled with good experience in construction industry could lead the way to a successful career in this profession.
Cheap or Affordable Laptop Deals
Nowadays, choices for laptop computers are really overwhelming. There are lots of brands to choose from, lots of designs and sizes plus lots of cheap deals available online and in stores. There are 400 dollars laptop deals and even lower than that making everybody crazy about laptops especially students who used them for their Ipods, phones and other stuff.
The laptop deals under 400 dollars can be used normally for basic computing functions like working on your word processing or spreadsheets, internet browsing where you can connect wirelessly, checking or sending emails, downloading files and chatting where you can use the built-in web camera. Basically, they would meet the basic requirements of most computer users. They are also very small especially those mini notebooks making them an ultimate travelling companion.
The usual technical specifications of these 400 dollar (or less) laptop computers are as follows: 8.9” to 10.2” display, 533MHz- 1.0 GHz, 1.0-2.0 GB RAM and 60-120 GB Hard Drive, about 2.2 to 2.9 lbs. and operating system which could either be Microsoft Vista or XP. One may find these specifications from popular brands like, Dell, HP, Acer, Samsung, Lenovo, Gateway and Toshiba.
Some brands called these cheap laptops netbooks, subnotebooks or mini notebooks. Since they are very small, their keyboards are usually cramped. Most have also relatively weak processors, such as the Intel Atom which is good for most basic tasks. In addition, most of these small laptops do not have CD/DVD ROM so one may have to get external gadgets.
If one will only use the computer for internet browsing and other basic stuff, these cheap mini laptops will fit in one’s requirements just fine. However, if one will use it to watch TV shows or videos online, to design graphics or play games then one may have to extend his budget to get a machine with higher specifications.
Purchasing a laptop computer involves one’s budget and objective for buying. There are lots of cheap laptop deals but also where you are going to use it would also have to be considered.
The laptop deals under 400 dollars can be used normally for basic computing functions like working on your word processing or spreadsheets, internet browsing where you can connect wirelessly, checking or sending emails, downloading files and chatting where you can use the built-in web camera. Basically, they would meet the basic requirements of most computer users. They are also very small especially those mini notebooks making them an ultimate travelling companion.
The usual technical specifications of these 400 dollar (or less) laptop computers are as follows: 8.9” to 10.2” display, 533MHz- 1.0 GHz, 1.0-2.0 GB RAM and 60-120 GB Hard Drive, about 2.2 to 2.9 lbs. and operating system which could either be Microsoft Vista or XP. One may find these specifications from popular brands like, Dell, HP, Acer, Samsung, Lenovo, Gateway and Toshiba.
Some brands called these cheap laptops netbooks, subnotebooks or mini notebooks. Since they are very small, their keyboards are usually cramped. Most have also relatively weak processors, such as the Intel Atom which is good for most basic tasks. In addition, most of these small laptops do not have CD/DVD ROM so one may have to get external gadgets.
If one will only use the computer for internet browsing and other basic stuff, these cheap mini laptops will fit in one’s requirements just fine. However, if one will use it to watch TV shows or videos online, to design graphics or play games then one may have to extend his budget to get a machine with higher specifications.
Purchasing a laptop computer involves one’s budget and objective for buying. There are lots of cheap laptop deals but also where you are going to use it would also have to be considered.
What is the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
The supplemental income disability is the benefit for people in the US with disabilities. One is in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the other is called Supplemental Security Income (SSI). They are the largest of several Federal programs administered by the Social Security Administration. Both programs require medical criteria and only individuals who have disability may qualify for the benefits.
The SSDI is a payroll tax-funded program. An individual can only be insured if he or she has enough contribution and paid Social Security taxes. This program is intended to provide income in case the person is unable to work because of a disability until the person’s condition improves. It also guarantees income if the person's condition does not improve. Aside from the insured person, the supplemental security income disability benefits can be extended to certain members of the family which could be the spouse, divorced spouse, children and disabled children.
In general the total amount to be received by the family is about 50 to 80 percent of the insured person’s disability benefit. In addition to the benefit amount, the limit to the amount to be paid to the family will depend on the number of family members who are entitled for the benefit.
The requirements to be eligible for the SSDI benefits are as follows: The individual cannot perform any “substantial gainful activity" due to physical or mental condition. His condition is expected to last at least 12 months or may result to death. The individual is under the age of 65. He has worked 5 out of the last 10 years when he had disability.
On the other hand, SSI is a type of benefit based on financial need or for individuals experiencing financial and resource poverty, in addition to medical disability. It is funded by general tax revenues not Social Security taxes. It is a monthly stipend which is provided to people, who have little or no income. It also gives cash in order to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. The payments are made from the US Treasury and being paid on the 1st of the month, for the current month.
The requirements to be eligible for SSI benefits are as follows: The individual should be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled. He or she should legally reside in one of the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, or he or she should be a child of military parent assigned outside the US, or he or she is a student who is temporarily abroad. The individual’s income and resources are limited.
The SSDI is a payroll tax-funded program. An individual can only be insured if he or she has enough contribution and paid Social Security taxes. This program is intended to provide income in case the person is unable to work because of a disability until the person’s condition improves. It also guarantees income if the person's condition does not improve. Aside from the insured person, the supplemental security income disability benefits can be extended to certain members of the family which could be the spouse, divorced spouse, children and disabled children.
In general the total amount to be received by the family is about 50 to 80 percent of the insured person’s disability benefit. In addition to the benefit amount, the limit to the amount to be paid to the family will depend on the number of family members who are entitled for the benefit.
The requirements to be eligible for the SSDI benefits are as follows: The individual cannot perform any “substantial gainful activity" due to physical or mental condition. His condition is expected to last at least 12 months or may result to death. The individual is under the age of 65. He has worked 5 out of the last 10 years when he had disability.
On the other hand, SSI is a type of benefit based on financial need or for individuals experiencing financial and resource poverty, in addition to medical disability. It is funded by general tax revenues not Social Security taxes. It is a monthly stipend which is provided to people, who have little or no income. It also gives cash in order to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. The payments are made from the US Treasury and being paid on the 1st of the month, for the current month.
The requirements to be eligible for SSI benefits are as follows: The individual should be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled. He or she should legally reside in one of the 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, or he or she should be a child of military parent assigned outside the US, or he or she is a student who is temporarily abroad. The individual’s income and resources are limited.
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