The loss of a limb is a serious injury and can completely alter someone’s quality of life. If you’ve lost a leg or an arm in car crash, truck wreck, or some other major accident, the rehabilitation process can be extensive and you may have to re-train yourself on how to perform simple, everyday tasks.
But even with this hardship, keep in mind that the situation could be far worse, like if you suffered this injury in a developing country. Take Haiti, for instance. After the horrendous earthquake which killed an estimated 230,000 people, there were thousands more who lost a limb. Some of the emergency operations in the disaster were done in a way that failed to leave the victims with enough skin and muscle to have any real chance for successful future use of a prosthesis
Sadly, due to Haiti’s poor economy, people without a limb can’t find employment and are routinely forced to beg for money, according to the Associated Press. There’s also a terrible stigma in this country which views amputees as “less-than” and not capable of contributing to society.
“In Haiti, if you’re disabled you’re forgotten,” said Michel Pean, secretary of state for the integration of the disabled.
To make matters worse, many victims of a lost limb fail to get the injury treated properly leading to a serious infection and potentially death.
This information isn’t meant to denigrate your pain and suffering from a lost limb. The trauma associated with such an injury in the U.S. can be devastating, but we’re fortunate to have organizations like the Amputee Coalition of America and first-class technology that provides the opportunity to obtain an artificial limb. Obviously, it’ll never completely compensate for your lost limb, but it’s far better than what other people are struggling with in underdeveloped nations.
People who struggle with this type of major loss are heroes, and even in our country we all could stand to be more understanding and respectful of folks who are coping with this catastrophic type of harm
About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm (VA-NC law offices ) edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service to consumers.
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Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
One Comment
Anonymous
Your recent article is much appreciated. I have been an amputee six age 10 and recently lost more of my leg, becoming an above knee amputee 3 years ago. I was dismayed by the current state of affairs for US amputees. I am a research scientist and work for a state University. Our insurance is managed by a self-insured, state run plan. The state health policy authority refuses to cover anything other than a "basic" prosthesis.
The contract language is abhorrent:
"Coverage is limited to the basic (standard) appliance or device which will restore the body part or function. If you elect to purchase a prosthetic appliance or device with deluxe enhancements or features such as electronic components, microprocessors or other features designed to enhance performance, the Plan is only responsible for the amount that would have been allowed for a basic (standard) appliance. You will be responsible for paying the additional cost of the deluxe enhancements, electronic components, microprocessors, performance enhancements, comfort, convenience or luxury items."
There is nothing deluxe, luxurious, comfortable, performance enhancing or convenient about a prosthetic limb. Who determines whether a prosthesis is comfortable or convenient and thereby denied?
The state doesn't provide prosthetics on par with Medicare, Medicaid or the VA. If I were to quit working, go on disability, stop paying state taxes, stop raising grant money for the state and stop paying my insurance premiums, then state Medicaid would provide me with the prescribed limb.
Sadly, this is how it is for many US amputees. The ACA is fighting for national prosthetic parity, but self-insured plans like mine will most likely be exempt.
So, while there are technological advances that are far above the prosthetics of WWII, many US amputees cannot afford them and their insurance refuses to cover them. There is no doubt that things in Haiti are much worse, but for many US citizens, they're not much better.
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