Researchers report that tobacco exposure, unintentional injury, obesity and mental health are the four greatest problems facing our nation’s youngest. If we can check these problems in children younger than five, they will lead significantly healthier lives and burden the nation’s health care system much less. Preschool-age children suffering from problems in these four categories are at a higher risk for health problems as they mature and age.

About one-third to one-half of American children are adversely affected by one of these four health problems. However, tobacco exposure and unintentional injuries were found to be the largest threat to child health while obesity has just been officially labeled as a major health problems for American preschool children.

About 25 percent of American children are victims of tobacco exposure and 500,000 babies are born every year in America whose mothers smoked while pregnant. Reducing tobacco exposure in children younger than five would save the U.S. $500 million.

The largest child health problem in financial terms is unintentional injuries. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death, disability and medical bills for Americans under the age of 19. Unintentional injuries suffered in the first four years of life cause $4.7 billion in lifetime medical expense and $14 billion in lost productivity. For more information on protecting your child from unintentional injuries read this Florida Child Injury Lawyer blog on water safety, this Florida Child Injury Lawyer blog on car seat safety, this Florida Child Injury Lawyer blog on furniture safety, this Florida Child Injury Lawyer blog on childproofing your home, and this Florida Child Injury Lawyer blog on age appropriate child safety tips.

This is an important policy statement because diagnostic imaging studies like x-rays, CAT scans and MRIs can provide documentation of injuries that will later be important in child protection proceedings.

Unfortunately, this type of evidence is not usually available in child abuse cases because doctors do not order the imaging studies. Insurance companies discourage medical practitioners from performing imaging studies to save money.

However, the insurance company’s savings comes at the patient’s cost. Not only is the quality of the medical care diminished, but legal evidence is missed out on.

Imaging studies are often the first sign of abuse in cases were children are initially diagnosed with natural illness.

Some of the new AAP polices are:

* When conducting global skeletal imaging, doctors should use radiographic skeletal surveys instead of other methods when they suspect child abuse

* Doctors must put in place precise protocols for skeletal imaging to assure quality consistency.

* If child abuse is suspected in a child older than 1, doctors may perform skeletal scintigraphies instead of radiographic skeletal surveys if their staff is experienced in pediatric nuclear imaging.

* Doctors MUST perform skeletal imaging surveys when they suspect child abuse of children older than 2

* Doctors MUST perform cranial CT or MRIs when they suspect intracranial injuries to an infant or child.

Do your part in protecting children from abuse. Know the signs of child abuse and report it.

I’ll be blogging about many issues including lawyer advertising in Florida and why it is so awful (we have the Florida Bar to thank for that). The chilling effect of the Florida Bar’s heavy handed enforcement of its advertising rules is a theme will run though this blog and was the inspiration for its title. In addition to commenting on lawyer advertising, I will also be lobbying the Florida Legislature to reform and improve our laws on child abuse. This blog will follow those efforts closely. Other blog topics will include legal discussions of negligence in nursing homes, accidents and medical settings. Finally, my personal interests will certainly shine through now and again.

That’s all for now. You’ll learn much more about me in the future. For now, I’m headed out for a 70 mile bicycle ride. I’m training for the Florida Ironman. Swim 2.4 miles, Bike 112 miles, Run 26.2 miles, brag for the rest of your life.