Aggravation Vs Exacerbation

Acute Exacerbations of Pulmonary Diseases

The field of acute exacerbations in chronic respiratory disease is challenging: definitions of acute exacerbations differ amongst the diseases and their severity has proven difficult to define. The Guest Editors of this Monograph tackle this challenging area by bringing together articles from internationally recognised experts in the field of acute exacerbations in chronic lung diseases. The book is separated into three sections: the first considers the definition, severity and consequences of exacerbations in each disease; the second looks at exacerbation triggers; and the third discusses the treatment and prevention of exacerbations using pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The book’s structure allows comparisons between the definitions, short- and long-term consequences, triggers and therapeutic management of different respiratory diseases. It serves as a complete reference that raises awareness about the importance of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic lung diseases.

Personal Injury and Damage Ascertainment under Civil Law

This volume serves to provide an international overview of personal injury compensation in different geographical areas (15 countries already included), with a special focus on the methods used to ascertain the injury and the related damages. It also goes on to clarify the logical and methodological steps required for a sequential, in-depth ascertainment of any traumatic event and the related personal damage, both pecuniary and non-pecuniary. Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions suffered by the plaintiff under tort and/or civil law regulations. Damages related to the injury can be pecuniary or non-pecuniary in nature. Although several comparative studies and research projects on tort and civil law and personal injury claims aimed at developing new tools for promoting harmonization of private law have been performed at an international level, heterogeneity and divergences still exist in the definition and compensation of personal injury and damage across different national legislative systems. The starting point for any awarding procedure should be a medical, or rather a medico-legal, assessment to gain evidence on the trauma or event causing the injury, the mechanism of injury, the pre-existing health status of the injured party, and the health consequences of the injury (temporary and permanent impairment, work incapacity, etc.). In order to pursue the ultimate goal of an international harmonization of personal injury compensation, it is of upmost importance to define the quality requirements for the medico-legal ascertainment methodology, which are essential for guaranteeing the objectivity, rigor, and reproducibility of the data and the evidence collection procedure. Currently, there are no supra-national medico-legal guidelines dealing with the ascertainment methodology of personal injury and damage under tort and civil law.

Digest and Decisions of the Employees' Compensation Appeals Board