The $7 Million Case of Herpes

Before I leave the topic of STD transmission and lawsuits, I want to share another case. This one took place in California last year, and involved a 56-year old woman catching genital herpes from a 77-year old man. Basically, he had a twenty five year history of genital herpes outbreaks, yet did not disclose this history nor did he wear a condom. He is a very wealthy man, king of a hair product empire, and well-off enough to give his girlfriend a BMW as a gift (which she was allowed to keep, along with the $7 million.)

Now, I do not know all the details of this case. Was his quarter of a century battle with herpes recent, or in his remote past? If he had worn a condom, would that have made a difference? If you get herpes from someone who is a college student (rather than a multi-millionaire business man), how much will you be awarded?

Here is what I think is important:
1. Please note the AGES- 77 and 56!
2. Note that he had a recurring disease for over 25 years- these are not trivial infections...
3. This is a smart, educated, very successful man with full knowledge of his disease, yet he chose not to disclose.
4. Condoms cover only part of the anatomy, and herpes is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, so condoms HELP but do not 100% prevent herpes.
5. He was indeed, held LIABLE.

BOTTOM LINE: To REPEAT YET AGAIN, STDs can occur across any age, race, gender, or socio-economic boundaries- Buyer BeWARE!

Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully

This week, I've been talking about seniors, driving and maintaining independence. This topic is incredibly difficult to bring up with family members and friends. What role should the primary care physician play in this situation? Well, frankly, I'm sure we need to be playing a far more active role than most of do. In fairness, often it is difficult to squeeze in all the pure medical issues that an elderly patient has into a routine office visit. Many seniors have multiple chronic issues (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or thyroid disease) and simply addressing the ongoing concerns with these problems more than fills the appointment time.

However, I do think that at least addressing driving issues should be a routine part of annual physicals for our aging patients. There is a wonderful booklet, developed by the USAA Educational Foundation, AARP, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that outlines the physical effects of aging, as well as tips on coping with them so that people remain a safe driver as long as they can. The booklet is called "Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully" Take a look at this booklet, and print it out (in large print) for the senior you are concerned about. Additionally, if you have concerns about a family member's driving, let their physician know. A simple note with specific concerns ("Mom has had several fender-benders in the last year" or "I'm scared for my kids to ride with my father because he darts out into traffic, or drives 40 mph in a 65 mph fast lane") will help direct your parent's physician.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't wait for a serious accident to address issues with seniors driving, and PHYSICIANS- remember to ASK about driving and recommend the booklet Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully.

More on Senior Driving

How else can you talk with a parent or loved one about whether or not it is time to stop driving? Well, for many seniors, they have realized that they are not as comfortable driving as they used to be. Perhaps they have already self-limited their driving: no driving at night, or in the rain, or maybe no driving on busy highways any more. Often, they have narrowed it down to a weekly grocery trip, often doubling up with their same weekly trip to church. At this point, they are most likely spending more money on car insurance, car maintenance and gas then they would spend on a car service!

If they feel uncomfortable with "a stranger" and using public transportation, perhaps you could consider paying a responsible family member or friend to set aside a couple hours per week to run errands. Frankly, in this economy, there are many people happy to make an extra $100 per month for a couple hours work per week! Relying on friends and family members for favors is fine for the occasional event, but making a real business arrangement- even at a minimum wage plus gas type fee-helps all parties be more consistent and helps the senior feel more empowered (as opposed to feeling like a "charity case" or that they are imposing on someone to ask for a ride.)

BOTTOM LINE: Consider the financial bottom line as a legitimate talking point when deciding whether or not to stop driving.