Florence Nightingale Diagnosis Henry VIII: Part 1/3

I'm so excited about hosting JoAnn Spears and her series on Henry VIII's medical issues. I have my own personal theories as to what caused Henry's demise. What are yours?Welcome, JoAnn!Henry VIII never had nursing care as we know it today.  In his time, care of the sick fell to family members or servants, generally female.  Henry’s last wife, Katherine Parr, certainly fulfilled this role for Henry.Obviously, the modern medical testing which...

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Up and Coming

This week will prove to be very interesting at Redwood's. I'm so excited to host JoAnn Spears who will be guest blogging all this week on Henry VIII's ailments. Fascinating look into history and the medical care he received.So, do you think you know what caused Henry VIII's dea...

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Treatment of Minors in the ED

It may surprise you to learn that there are circumstances where an underage minor can sign themselves into the ER for medical treatment without parental consent. In most states, if the patient is 13 y/o and up and requesting treatment over concern for a sexually transmitted disease or concern for pregnancy, they can seek treatment and we cannot call their parents.This is one area that can be a huge source of conflict in the ED and most doctors...

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ED Treatment: Peds versus Vehicle (2/2)

We’re continuing with Mart’s question. Briefly from last post, a 16 y/o has been struck by a car. What would medical treatment be? She bounces off the hood and these are her injuries. Her elbow stung and her right leg turned back and blue almost instantly. Right hand is swollen. Her shin looked like a giant Easter egg lived under its skin.EMS Response: DiannaContusion is the medical term for bruise. Contused areas don’t color immediately; it takes...

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Dianna Benson: EMS Treatment of a Minor (1/2)

Mart asks: My MC is 16 yrs old. She gets hit by a truck. She has road rash. Right leg turned black and blue. Shin welled up. But other than feeling like she literally was hit by a truck, she is okay....she thinks. What would most likely occur after an incident like this? In short, how can I make it so a 16 yr old girl who has been hit by a car, stalls at home before her Mom takes her to the ER?I hope there is a way.Dianna says: A 16-year-old can...

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Up and Coming

This week at Redwood's Medical Edge, we're focusing on the special issues that relate to the medical treatment of minors.Monday: Dianna Benson posts about treatment of a minor patient in the field. Can a minor refuse transport? Wednesday: Dianna and I tackle care of a minor patient involved in an accident. What does the EMS through ER care look like? What specifically is done for the patient?Friday: Did you know we can treat minors in the ER without parental consent? Find out what those special situations are.Hope you all have a terrific week!...

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How to Write a Hospital Scene: Amitha Knight

As a doctor, I don’t like reading books or TV shows about doctors. Not because I’m jaded and think I’ve heard it all before (quite the contrary) but because often, it feels like the writers just haven’t done their research. I’m not talking about highly involved medical research—it’s the basics that can trip you up. Here are a few questions to think about when writing a character’s hospital scene (please note that some of this is for US hospitals...

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C.J. Lyons Interview: Part 2/2

Today, I'm concluding my two-part interview with New York Time's bestselling author C.J. Lyons. If you're a fan of medical thrillers and haven't read C.J.'s books, now is the time to start. The focus of today's questions is on aspects of the writing craft.Jordyn:  After reading through several of your past interviews, I discovered we’re really kindred spirits. I, too, started writing at a very young age. Do you still have these stories? Have...

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CJ Lyons Interview: Part 1/2

I'm honored to have had the chance to interview CJ Lyons, past pediatric ER doctor and now full-time author extraordinaire. If you haven't checked out CJ's books, now is time time, particularly if you're a fan of medical thrillers.Today we're going to focus on aspects of medicine in writing. On Wednesday, we'll focus just on the writing craft. Jordyn:  Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s my great honor to have you here. Redwood’s Medical...

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Up and Coming

I am so excited for this week at Redwood's Medical Edge. Can you see me Snoopy dancing?Can I just say I got to interview New York Time's bestselling author CJ Lyons!! I am so honored to have her here. CJ was a pediatric ER doc (so she holds a special place in my heart just for that) who segued her life into a full time writing career. Great information on medical accuracy and the writing life.Monday: CJ Lyons interview Part I-- Medical accuracy in fiction.Wednesday: CJ Lyons interview Part II-- The writing craft.Friday: Amitha Knight...

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Learning from Darkness: Robert P. Bennett

Researching a Protagonist with DisabilitiesMy new nephew, Seth Morris, is only five months old and I’m learning quite a bit from him already. For example, I already knew that we live in a very visual world, but what I didn’t realize was that it is through vision that we first interact with the world. My nephew can’t speak yet, of course. In fact he can’t do much of anything except lay there and be cute. But he is learning, every day in fact. He is...

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My Path to Writerhood: Robert P. Bennett

I’ve never believed in the concept of fiction. In my opinion a writer and his work are made of the sum of his or her life experiences. In that vein, my journey to writerhood has been a journey of meeting people and experiences head-on. Everything I am, everything I have ever been, comes from and goes into my writing.Amazon PhotoWhen I was younger I wanted to be a lawyer. I’d always heard the cries of society’s disenfranchised and thought the best...

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Medical Question: Exsanguination

Dee asks: How long would it take a character to bleed out if they were shot in the arm and the back? What organs can be hit to bleed but not be lethal?Jordyn says: If an artery is hit, bleeding out (exsanguination) can happen very quickly. Like a matter of minutes. So, if you want these people alive, I wouldn't have the bullet hit any artery. You have several major arteries in your chest (aorta, pulmonary artery, etc) and the brachial artery in your...

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Up and Coming

This week at Redwood's Medical Edge:Monday: How much can your character bleed before they die? This writerly medical question deals with exsanguination.Wednesday: So pleased to host Robert P. Bennett. He's writing from a unique perspective and has incorporated his experiences into a protagonist with disabilities.Friday: Robert P. Bennett discusses his research into how to make a blind protagonist authentic. I found this piece quite interesting and learned things I never thought about.Hope you enjoy and have a blessed week.Jor...

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Historical Medicine: Ann Shorey

I'm pleased to have Ann Shorey back with us today as she discusses some uniquie aspects of 19th century medicine with a fun quiz. Do you know the answers? Don't fear, they're posted.Welcome back, Ann!As people of the 21st Century, we’re accustomed to hearing about advanced medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, even though we may hope we never need the technology. We think of blood tests, urine samples, even DNA testing, as the norm.But if...

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Historical Medical Question: Laudanum Dosing

I have the great pleasure of hosting Ann Shorey today and Friday. First, I'd like to give her my warmest congratulations on the release of her novel Where Wildflowers Bloom that released Jan 1, 2012. What a great New Year's Day gift. I hope you'll check it out.Ann Asks:My wip is set in 1867. One of my characters is a doctor. Here are a couple of questions:How much laudanum would be needed to give pain control to a four-year-old? How much for...

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