Personal Injury Glossary
Accolate®: Medicine prescribed for prophylaxis and treatment of chronic asthma in patients 12 years and older. Accolate® may cause liver dysfunction, particularly in females.
Accutane®: A brand of prescription medicine used to treat severe nodular acne that has not responded to other treatments such as antibiotics. Accutane® can cause serious side effects, including birth defects and mental disorders.
Acetaminophen: A medication effective for relieving mild pain and fever. It is also used as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.
ACM:Asbestos Containing Materials. Materials such as ceiling tiles, heat insulation, friction materials like brake and clutch linings, and other building materials produced before 1990 commonly contained asbestos.
Actinolite: A basic calcium, magnesium, iron silicate, one of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals forming the group called asbestos. Actinolite was never used in commercial products.
Addiction: A physiological and psychological compulsion for a habit-forming substance. In extreme cases, an addiction may become an overwhelming obsession.
Adenocarcinoma: This form of non-small cell lung cancer begins in the glandular cells that line the lungs. Thirty-five percent of U.S. lung cancer patients have adenocarcinoma.
Adjuvant therapy: A supplemental treatment to the main medical procedure. This treatment usually comes in the form of radiation therapy or chemotherapy and is employed after surgery.
Admiralty law: The area of law concerning navigation and shipping.
Advanced cancer: The stages of cancer in which the disease has spread from its original location in the body.
Agonist opioid: A powerful type of narcotic that works by blocking signals to pain receptors in the brain. This process also raises the level of dopamine in the brain, creating a feeling of euphoria.
Alveoli: Tiny, thin-walled air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange places. Asbestos fibers in the lungs cause scar tissue to form on the walls of the alveoli, decreasing oxygen intake.
Amosite: Another one of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals forming the group called asbestos. Amosite was a common form of asbestos used in commercial products and is light gray to pale brown in color.
Amphibole asbestos: A subgroup of asbestos characterized by crystals or straight fibers forming in a chain-like structure. Two common forms are amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue).
Analgesic: Generic term for medications that relieve pain. Some analgesics like aspirin have a low pain-relieving threshold, whereas others like oxycodone have a much higher ceiling.
Anemia: A condition in which a person has a lower than normal number of red blood cells. Exposure to toxic chemicals can contribute to the development of anemia.
Anesthesia injury: An injury sustained from incorrectly administered anesthetics.
Antidepressants: A type of drug used to control or reduce depression. Some antidepressants have been found to have serious side effects.
Arava®: An oral medicine prescribed to slow the progress of rheumatoid arthritis. Arava® may cause liver dysfunction and birth defects.
Asbestos: A fibrous silicate mineral that was once commonly used in construction. People who have been exposed to asbestos over a period of time may develop asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Asbestos abatement: The removal of asbestos containing materials from structures. Only a licensed, experienced contractor should perform asbestos removal.
Asbestosis: A disease that afflicts people who have been exposed asbestos fibers. Scar tissue builds up in the lungs, causing breathing difficulty and an increased risk of infection.
Asbestos pleural disease: A disease characterized specifically by scarring of the membranes lining the lungs and chest cavity.
Aspiration: The medical process of removing a small sample of tissue for testing with a needle-like suction device.
ATV: Stands for All-Terrain Vehicle. These small, open motor vehicles have three or more wheels and are usually used off-road.
Baxter dialysis filter: A filter for dialysis machines produced by Baxter International, Inc. The manufacturer has recalled certain filters that were found to be defective.
Baycol®: Originally prescribed to lower cholesterol, Baycol® has been voluntarily recalled by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Baycol® has been linked to rhabdomyolysis, which can be fatal.
Benign tumor: A non-cancerous growth, visible as a mass of cells. Benign tumors do not invade other cells or spread to other parts of the body; however, they should be monitored regularly or removed.
Benzene: A chemical that is frequently used in manufacturing and present in industrial fumes. Benzene exposure can cause cancer and other health complications.
Biopsy: A tissue sample removed and analyzed to determine the presence of cancer cells.
Breach of warranty: When a retailer/manufacturer fails to follow through with a promise or claim about a product.
Bronchi: Tubes that branch from the trachea, into the separate lobes of the lungs. Within the right and left lobes of the lungs the bronchi branch further into bronchial tubes.
Bronchoscopy: A procedure used to test for lung disease in which a small camera is attached to a tube that is moved down the trachea. Samples of lung secretions or lung tissue may be taken during the bronchoscopy procedure.
Carcinogen: A cancer-causing agent, assisting in the growth of cancer. Asbestos, radon, benzene, arsenic, and uranium are examples of carcinogens known to cause lung cancer.
Carcinogenic: Of that which is known to cause cancer. Asbestos is known an known carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance.
Carcinoma: Malignant tissue, usually in the form of a tumor originating in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Celebrex®: A brand of medication used to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Celebrex® use can result in stomach bleeding and liver damage.
Chemotherapy: A lung cancer treatment that damages cancerous cells, causing them to stop dividing. Chemotherapy also affects normally dividing cells in the body, such as those in the skin, digestive tract and blood. For this reason, a patient may become quite sick as a result of chemotherapy treatment.
Chrysotile: Silicate of magnesium and one of the six fibrous minerals forming the group called asbestos. Chrysotile made up close to all of industrial asbestos and is the only "non-amphibole" asbestos-belonging to the serpentine category.
Civil lawsuit: A lawsuit in which one does not need to prove criminal liability.
Compensation: Monetary award transferred from defendant to plaintiff to make up for some wrong, damage or injury caused by the defendant's actions or inaction.
Cox-2 inhibitor: A drug designed to treat chronic pain without irritating the stomach and stomach lining.
Crashworthiness: The measure of how well a vehicle withstands a crash. If a vehicle does not meet required standards, the faulty design can result in injury to occupant(s) during a crash.
Crocidolite: A fibrous, lavender-blue mineral, also called blue asbestos. Crocidolite is a member of the amphibole group of asbestos. Although used less in construction and industry than other forms of asbestos, crocidolite is more commonly associated with mesothelioma.
Cryosurgery: The use of an extremely cold probing instrument to destroy unwanted abnormal tissues.
DES: Diethylstilbestrol (DES) used to be prescribed to pregnant women believed to need more estrogen to maintain their pregnancies. Daughters of these women, who were exposed in the womb to DES, developed a rare form of vaginal cancer.
Duract: A brand of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), Duract was recalled after rare cases of sever hepatitis and liver failure were reported in people who took the drug longer than directed.
Elder abuse: Any physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, or financial abuse perpetrated against an older adult. Elder abuse is most often commited by caretakers, whether they be family members or nursing home staffers. Many victims do not report violations because they are scared or ashamed.
Enbrel®: Medication for reducing signs and symptoms and delaying structural damage in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Some patients treated with Enbrel® are reported to have developed serious infections.
Ephedra: Once used in a number of over-the-counter dietary supplements, Ephedra contains ephedrine, which acts as a stimulant and bronchodilator. While it may help those with asthma breathe, ephedrine poses significant health risks for the casual user. Ephedrine has been reported to contribute to heart attack, stroke, seizures, psychosis and death.
Epidemiology: The statistical study of the distribution and determinants of disease in populations.
Fen-Phen: Short for fenfluramine phentermine, a drug combination used for weight loss purposes. Fen-Phen has been linked to heart valve disease in numerous cases, prompting the FDA to request that manufacturers recall the drug.
Fibrosis: The development of excessive scar-like fibrous tissue. Punctures caused by asbestos fibers can lead to fibrous scar tissue build-up in the lungs.
Firestone tires: Firestone/Bridgestone has recalled the ATX and Wilderness AT tires that were installed on Ford Explorer Sport SUVs because of a series of fatal rollover accidents caused by tire failure.
Friable: Of a material which when dry, may be crumbled, crushed, pulverized, or reduced to powder by normal hand pressure.
Herceptin®: A medical agent indicated for the treatment of certain breast cancer patients. Herceptin® injection can cause fatal pulmonary effects in patients with preexisting lung conditions.
Immunotherapy: A cancer treatment that is still under development, immunotherapy causes a body's immune system to react against foreign, cancerous cells.
In situ cancer: Cancer that is in situ or "in its original position" has not spread to other areas of the body. In situ cancer is less aggressive than invasive cancer.
Invasive cancer: Cancer characterized by spreading from its point of origination into other tissues and organs.
Kava: An herb used in dietary supplements intended to promote relaxation and stress relief. Kava has been linked to an increased risk of liver toxicity.
Lamictal®: An epilepsy medicine. There are reports of dispensing errors involving Lamictal® and Lamisil®, a medication for the treatment of toenail fungus. Patients receiving Lamisil® instead of Lamictal® would be inadequately treated for epilepsy.
Lamisil®: A medication for the treatment of toenail fungus. There are reports of dispensing errors involving Lamisil® and Lamictal®, an epilepsy medicine. Patients receiving Lamictal® instead of Lamisil® could experience adverse side effects.
Large cell lung cancer: Undifferentiated large cell carcinoma produces tumors along the bronchi and is identified by the large, round shape of the cancer cells.
Latency period: The time elapsed from exposure to a carcinogen to the onset of disease. The latency period between exposure to asbestos to development of mesothelioma can last from 10 to 40 years.
Leukemia: A type of cancer that forms in the bone marrow, causing abnormal white blood cell development. Leukemia can be caused by exposure to certain carcinogenic substances.
Lobectomy: The lungs are divided into separate sections or "lobes." The left lung has two lobes and the right lung has three lobes. During a lobectomy a surgeon will remove an entire lobe of a patient's lung.
Lotronex®: A drug used to treat irritable bowel syndrome in women. The manufacturer voluntarily withdrew Lotronex® from the market after it was associated with reports of serious side effects such as intestinal damage, severely obstructed or ruptured bowels, and death.
Lung cancer: The leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., lung cancer is broken down into two groups: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Although there is no cure, preventative measures can drastically reduce a person's risk of developing lung cancer.
Lymphoma: A type of cancer that forms in the lymph nodes. Lymphoma can be caused by exposure to certain carcinogenic substances.
Malignant tumor: A growth of abnormal cells that is cancerous. Malignant tumors invade other cells and spread to other parts of the body.
Medical malpractice: Improper or negligent treatment of a person under a medical professional's care, which results in injury or death.
Mellaril®: An antipsychotic drug for schizophrenics. Mellaril® has been associated with other drugs that may cause cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Meridia®: A prescription diet drug containing sibutramine. Sibutramine has been associated adverse cardiovascular effects and, in some instances, death.
Mesothelioma: A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma can occur in the lining of the lungs or abdomen, and it has no known cure.
Metastasis: The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another, or a new (secondary) cancer growth.
Mesothelium: Tissue that forms a lining around the chest, abdominal cavity and other organs. This tissue produces a lubricant fluid that protects organs and allows them to move.
Misrepresentation: False advertising, especially when ads claim that a product is safer than it truly is.
Negligence: Failure to exercise a reasonable degree of care, resulting in an unintended injury to another party.
Nevirapine: A drug prescribed for use in combination with other anti-HIV drugs. Nevirapine can cause a severe rash in some patients. Reports have also associated nevirapine with hepatotoxicity, a condition which can result in liver damage and death.
Non-small cell lung cancer: A lung cancer in the form of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or large cell carcinoma. Non-small cell lung cancers affect between 70 and 80 percent of lung cancer patients.
Norplant®: A contraceptive device that is implanted in the patient, Norplant® provides birth control by releasing active agents over time. Norplant® has been associated with side effects such as irregular menstrual bleeding, headache, nervousness, depression, nausea, dizziness, skin rash, acne, change of appetite, breast tenderness, weight gain, enlargement of the ovaries, and excessive growth of body or facial hair.
Nursing home abuse: Any physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, or financial abuse perpetrated against residents of a residential care facility. Although nursing home abuse is a growing problem, many victims do not report violations because they are scared or ashamed.
Oncologist: A doctor who has specialized in the study of cancer. A lung cancer patient's oncologist will diagnose his or her cancer, determine how much it has spread, and perform (or advise on) appropriate treatment.
Oxycodone hydrochloride: This drug is categorized as an agonist opioid, a powerful group of analgesics that work by blocking signals to pain receptors in the brain. A synthetic narcotic derived from opium-producing poppy plants, oxycodone HCL has properties similar to morphine and is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means that it can be legally prescribed but has a high potential for abuse. Oxycodone HCL is also an active ingredient in the following drugs: Percocet, Percodan, and Tylox®.
Oxycontin®: A powerful prescription pain reliever prescribed for patients suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain. Oxycontin® tablets contain anywhere from 10-160mg of oxycodone hydrochloride, an agonist opioid that blocks signals to pain receptors in the brain. Oxycontin® pills are manufactured with a controlled release mechanism that extends pain relief for up to twelve hours.
Percocet: A prescription pain reliever containing oxycodone and acetaminophen. Classified in the same category as Oxycontin®, Percocet contains no more than 5mg of oxycodone.
Percodan: A prescription pain reliever containing oxycodone and aspirin. Classified in the same category as Oxycontin®, Percodan-Demi only contains 2.25mg of oxycodone.
Peritoneal mesothelioma: A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the peritoneum, a sac lining the abdomen, and has no known cure.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A laser therapy treatment for cancer patients. A chemical that stays within cancerous cells is administered to the patient. The chemical, when activated by a laser, kills or weakens the cells.
Physical dependence: A physiological need for a substance, the absence of which leads to withdrawal. Physical dependence is distinguishable from addiction in that addiction also involves mental fixation.
Pleural mesothelioma: A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura, a sac lining the lungs, and has no known cure.
Pneumonectomy: The removal of an entire lung from the body of a cancer patient. Performed if the procedure may halt the spread of cancer.
Pneumoconiosis: Fibrosis and scarring of the lungs as a result of repeated inhalation of respiratory irritants, such as asbestos.
Pulmonary pleura: A serous (or "serum containing") membrane that encloses the lungs. The pulmonary pleura contains two tissue layers that are separated by serous fluid.
Polaris: A company that manufactures all-terrain vehicles. Polaris has recalled the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Xpedition 425 model ATVs due to a defect in the transmission that can cause accidents.
PPA: Short for phenylpropanolamine, a drug which was used in many over-the-counter cold medicines and weight loss drugs. The FDA issued a recall of PPA after a study linked phenylpropanolamine with a greater risk of hemhorragic stroke.
Prempro®: A type of hormone replacement therapy that combines estrogen and progestin. A study that sought to determine the effectiveness of long-term Prempro® use was halted when researchers discovered that it led to an increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots.
Product liability: Law that holds manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers responsibility for the safety and quality of their products.
Propulsid: A prescription heartburn medication used to relieve the symptoms of nighttime heartburn associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Propulsid was recalled by the FDA after a report linked it to heart rhythm abnormalities and some deaths.
Radiation therapy: A treatment used to target cancer in specific areas of the body. Radiation therapy can be performed internally or externally and is usually used in combination with chemotherapy or surgery.
Radioimmunotherapy: A treatment that combines the effectiveness of radiation treatment with immunotherapy. The body is given radiolabeled antibodies. These antibodies attach to cancerous cells (thereby alerting the immune system) and weaken them with attached radiation.
Radon: A radioactive gas that is created when uranium breaks down. Radon carries no scent, taste, or color and thus may accumulate within homes and buildings unchecked. Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking in the U.S.
Relenza®: A medicine used to treat influenza (the flu). Some patients have had serious breathing problems while using Relenza®, and it is not recommended for those with chronic respiratory disease.
Rezulin®: A prescription diabetes drug that was used to control Type 2 diabetes in combination with insulin or sulfonylurea. Rezulin® was recalled by the FDA because it was linked to liver failure.
RhoGAM®: A medicine that was injected into pregnant women to avoid specific pregnancy complications. RhoGAM® used to contain thimerosal, which some suspect is related to the development of autism.
Secondhand smoke: Also referred to as "sidestream smoke" or "environmental tobacco smoke," secondhand smoke poses a significant risk to those who are exposed to it. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 3,000 lung cancer deaths are caused by "passive smoking" yearly. Infants and children are especially susceptible to secondhand smoke.
Serentil®: An antipsychotic drug for schizophrenics. Serentil® has been associated with other drugs that may cause cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Serpentine asbestos: Asbestos characterized by curly fibers with a layered or tiered structure. Chrysotile, or white asbestos, is a member of the serpentine group and is also the most common form of asbestos used in industrial applications in the U.S.
Serzone®: A prescription medication used to treat depression. Cases of life-threatening liver failure have been reported in patients treated with Serzone®. Patients should be alert for signs and symptoms of liver dysfunction and report them to their doctor immediately if they occur.
Small cell lung cancer: Between twenty and twenty-five percent of lung cancer cases are caused by small cell carcinomas. Small call lung cancer is more likely to spread to other parts of the body than non-small cell lung cancer.
Smoking cessation: A person who quits smoking will greatly reduce his or her chance of developing lung cancer, but the process is difficult as tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive alkaloid. Many nicotine replacement therapies are available to help smokers, as are "quit" programs and support groups.
Soluble: Capable of being dissolved in some solvent. Chemicals that are water soluble may contaminate water supplies through spills or landfill leaks.
Sputum cytology: The study of cells within a person's sputum or phlegm. Sputum cytology can reveal the presence of cancerous cells in the lungs.
Squamous cell carcinoma: The most common form of lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma originates in the bronchi and is slow to spread to other parts of the body.
Staging: Lung cancer is staged according to the extent to which it has spread. Non-small cell lung cancer stages are separated into Stage 0, IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, and IV. Small cell lung cancer is normally staged as either limited or extensive.
Statute of limitations: A law limiting the length of time a potential plaintiff has to file a lawsuit. These statutes vary depending on circumstances.
Strict liability: This holds manufacturers responsible for the goods they produce, especially if they cause consumers injury.
Sulzer hip: An artificial hip produced by Sulzer Orthopedics. The manufacturer has recalled certain Inter-Op hip prostheses that were found to be defective.
Sulzer knee: An artificial knee produced by Sulzer Orthopedics. The manufacturer has recalled certain knee prostheses that were found to be defective.
Systemic treatment: Treatment to destroy or weaken cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body.
Tasmar®: A drug used to treat patients with Parkinson's disease. There have been reports of fatal liver injury associated with use of Tasmar®.
Thalidomide: A medicine that was used as a sleep aid and for treatment of morning sickness during pregnancy. It was discovered that thalidomide causes birth defects and fetal death.
Thimerosal: A preservative that was used in many vaccines. Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, which some suspect may cause mercury poisoning and autism in children.
Tort: Any action or inaction that wrongs, damages, or injures another, and thus forms the basis of a civil lawsuit.
Trachea: The windpipe or tube that brings air from the larynx to the bronchial tubes.
Tremolite: Once of the six varying forms of asbestos. Characterized by a translucent bright- to gray-green tough interlocking fibers which are flexible and elastic.
Tumor: Cells that reproduce abnormally may form masses called tumors. A benign tumor remains in one position and is not cancerous. A malignant tumor is cancerous and will spread to or invade other cells.
VIAGRA®: Medicine intended to treat sexual impotence in men (erectile dysfunction). Patients taking VIAGRA® have experienced heart attack, sudden death, irregular heart rhythm, stroke, chest pain, and increased blood pressure.
Vicodin: A prescription pain reliever containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Classified in the same category as Oxycontin®, Vicodin contains 5-10mg of hydrocodone.
VIDEX® EC: A medication used to treat HIV. There have been reports linking VIDEX® EC with fatal lactic acidosis and pancreatitis.
Vioxx®: A brand of medication used to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Vioxx® use can result in stomach bleeding and liver damage.
Withdrawal: Discontinuation of the use of an addictive substance, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bone pain, hot or cold flashes, shaking, irritability, etc.
Wrongful death: A death that occurs because of someone else's malice, negligence, or recklessness.
Zerit®: A medication used to treat HIV. There have been reports linking Zerit® with fatal lactic acidosis and pancreatitis.