Archives for April 2014

Cold season is here again and the question always comes up: Is it OK to exercise if I have a cold?
According to Mayo Clinic Doctor Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. mild to moderate physical activity is usually OK if you have a garden-variety cold and no fever. Exercise opens your nasal passages and temporarily relieves nasal congestion, which may even help you feel better.
As a general guide for exercise and illness, consider this:
Are the signs and symptoms above the neck? Some of the signs and symptoms of the common cold are a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or minor sore throat.
If your signs and symptoms are below the neck (such as chest congestion, hacking cough or upset stomach), don’t exercise.
Consider reducing the intensity and length of your workout. Instead of going for a run, take a walk. If you attempt to exercise at your normal intensity when you have more than a simple cold, you could risk more serious injury or illness.
Don’t exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.
Ultimately, you want to let your body be your guide. If you don’t feel up to a full exercise, scale back a bit or take a few days off before resuming your normal workout routine. Most importantly, if you’re not sure it’s OK to exercise check with your doctor.

Dr. James Heinrich, a prison OBGYN, told the Center for Investigative Reporting that the money spent sterilizing female inmates is minimal “compared to what you save in welfare paying for these unwanted children.”
Corey G. Johnson, reporter for CIR covering money and politics, reported that in addition to being responsible for hundreds of female inmate sterilizations, Heinrich “has a history of medical controversies and expensive malpractice settlements both inside and outside prison walls.”
Between 2006 and 2012, Heinrich arranged nearly 400 accounts of sterilization, including hysterectomy, ovary removal, and endometrial ablation, a procedure that destroys the uterus’s lining, at Valley State Prison, according to data obtained under the California Public Records Act.
Despite his history of medical practices, Heinrich was hired even after a federal judge ordered a receiver to clean up the unconstitutional medical system in California’s prisons.
In order to prevent unnecessary surgeries and medical costs in prisons, California requires all surgery referrals to be signed off by a state-level committee of medical professionals. According to the medical service request records gathered by CIR, more than half the surgery referrals made at Chowchilla’s Valley State Prison, which became a male prison in 2013, did not receive the necessary sign-off.
From 2006 to 2008, Valley State Prison averaged 150 sterilization surgeries per year — six times that of Central California Women’s Facility, the largest women’s prison in the state.
Though Heinrich did not talk to Johnson for his report, Heinrich’s attorney, Ronald B. Bass, said he could not comment on Heinrich’s role because he had not seen the data compiled by CIR.
However, in response to CIR’s initial report, the Federal Receiver decided to bar Heinrich from future prison work. After two hearings in last August, lawmakers in Sacramento have ordered the Medical Board of California and the California State Auditor to “investigate the situation.”
Crystal Nguyen, a former inmate worker at the Valley State infirmary, received a letter in August advising her that, “The medical board is currently examining Dr. Heinrich’s patient care,” requesting her participation.
When contacted by CIR last September, Nguyen provided names of many others who were witnesses to Heinrich’s medical habits, such as eating while conducting vaginal exams. However state and federal rules ban health care professionals from having food and drink in areas where patients are treated.
Nguyen believed that the named witnesses felt powerless to get Heinrich to change his ways.
“It was gross. It just creeped me out,” said Nguyen.
Several former inmates told CIR that Heinrich pushed hysterectomies and other sterilization surgeries during routine visits, often giving misleading information about the medical reasons.
Johnson reported that one former inmate, Tamika Thomas of Stockton, saw Heinrich in 2006 to request birth control pills to regulate her menstrual cycle. Thomas said Heinrich refused her request and recommended endometrial ablation without advising her that this surgery would sterilize her.
Thomas also recalled Heinrich asking her if she had children. Thomas told Johnson that when she told the doctor that she has two boys, his face turned red and he said to her, “That’s too many.”
According to CIR, a team of federal examiners visited Valley State prison to investigate the deaths of two inmates’ babies during childbirth. They found that one newborn died, in part, because Heinrich, the staff and another prison doctor each gave the mother the wrong prenatal medicine.
The other death, the team concluded, resulted from Heinrich failing to perform a routine prenatal test for bacteria, according to court documents. The Center for Investigative Reporting also reported that medical documents show the state paid the woman $150,000 to settle against Heinrich, and that the Attorney General’s office and CDCR filed documents in 2010 acknowledging Heinrich’s negligence.
Furthermore Michelle Diaz, another former inmate, accused Heinrich of alleged unprofessional and unsanitary behavior while performing a Pap smear, according to CIR.
According to Diaz, 36, during a visit to get treatment for irritation near her genitals. Diaz told Heinrich that the discomfort was outside her vagina, but Heinrich inserted his fingers inside her and noticed the doctor was not wearing gloves. Then, without warning, Heinrich applied a burning chemical to her vaginal area.
Diaz filed a complaint against Heinrich in March 2008 and one of Heinrich’s regular nurses confirmed that Heinrich did not warn Diaz before treating her, a piece of information kept confidential before it became public as part of a federal lawsuit, according to CIR.
After his retirement in 2011, records show that Heinrich returned to the prison as a contractor, continuing to order sterilization, and was responsible for training his replacement at the prison.

National celebrations observed in March include Irish-American Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, American Red Cross Month, National Frozen Food Month, and Talk with Your Teenager about Sex Month.
Moreover, March brings Daylight-Savings Time, the beginning of Lent, Saint Patrick’s Day and the beginning of Spring on March 20, a fresh start for the year. So what would the men in blue do if they could start over with a clean slate?
“Asked on the Line” conducted brief informal interviews with mainliners and asked, “If you could have any career you want—time and resources not an issue—what would it be? In addition to your success, to which community would you give back to or what charitable causes would you support?
The desires and intentions of the men on the mainline were impressive!
Darnell Hill would choose to be a sociologist and work with urban youth.
“I would give back to urban communities by working with adolescents ages 12 and up, especially those with PTSD,” said Hill.
Jesus Flores said that he would like to go to medical school and become a physician.
“I would give poor people reduced fee or free medical care, depending on their financial circumstances. Too many poor families, especially immigrant families, have little or no access to reasonable medical care,” said Flores.
Cleo Cloman would become a professional baseball player.
“I would focus on communities that are less fortunate. Money is not everything. Some communities have been destroyed because of money. Support uplifts a community. I would support them with leadership, community building, unselfishness, patience, focus, and determination,” said Cloman.
Bernard Moss and Adriel Ramirez would study the culinary arts.
Moss said, “I would be a chef in a four-star restaurant. I would give back to urban communities and I would want to teach chef skills to mostly at-risk youth and teach skills to help them move on and be successful in life.”
Ramirez would study to be a chef and work at a fancy restaurant. “After I am a successful chef at a restaurant, I would love to give back by helping poor families,” said Ramirez.
Valeray Richardson would operate a youth center.
“I feel that our youth of today have no place to go, so they turn to the streets. They need a place where they feel safe, with positive role models. I would then give back by helping my community. I feel that I tore it down under a false belief system. Now, I owe my community and I would help build it back up by helping the youth,” said Richardson.
Juan Arballo would study to be an electrician.
“I would support children with mental disabilities. By offering my time and, if possible, economic support, I would like to create a safe environment within their surroundings and places for them to go. I would also help create awareness for children with disabilities, “said Arballo.
Michael Tyler wants to be a Big Brother or an Uncle. “I want to be a Big Brother or an Uncle as a career. I want to be the support to all whenever I am needed. I want to create a system that reaches all communities,” said Tyler.
John Neblett wants a career as a poet, songwriter, playwright and actor.
According to Neblett, all of his career choices are also worthy causes. Neblett said he would be all of the above with “human liberty and dignity being the primary cause.”
Orlando Harris would love a career as a basketball coach. He would be open to coaching “young men at the collegiate or professional level,” said Harris. He would give back to Alameda County, specifically the City of Oakland. “I would love to help women who have had violence committed against them or victims of violent crime. I would want to help by offering counseling, safe haven housing, and creating a network of support to help women regain their lives,” said Harris.
Alexei Ruiz would choose to be either a soccer coach or a counselor. Upon becoming successful with his career, he would work with young children because they are the “future of the country.” Ruiz said, “I would begin by raising awareness with the parents about the importance of maintaining a close relationship with solid lines of communication, and when necessary, teach them some parenting skills. Then, I would work with the children; to try to maximize their potential and develop or nourish their self-esteem and teach them strong work ethics.”