Staring into the mouth of defeat

I found out today that I will not be able to make any financial gain off of my radiation burn. I will not be able to sue my doctor, not without another one coming forward to say that what happened to my back was malpractice. My attorney tried to go at it from the standpoint of battery. Naturally, the hospital was able to distance themselves from the technicians and physicians involved by claiming that none of them were their employees. Technically, that is true, since they are all contracted labor. The hospital only provides the machinery and the bed. We will not be able to use the battery angle, because the state appeals court just struck down a ruling on an almost identical case. Since the patient assented to the procedure, and the physician did nothing out of anger or malice, there is no battery, in the state of Georgia. The legislature here enacted a law last February ‘05 limiting any malpractice suit in the state to a maximum of $250,000. I could get some expert testimony from another state. I will not make enough to be worth it after paying the attorneys, the court costs, and the expert witness. I may not break even in that scenario. I will not be able to get a local physician to testify against another, not even in a city as big as Atlanta.

It looks like this is over. I plan to make a couple of last-minute attempts to save it, but things do not look good for the home team.

Wings

Did I tell you that I hate Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials? I do. They have chosen to align themselves with the redneck-America right. Hear me out. What's their theme song? Sweet Home Alabama. It's the instrumental break, except for some reason someone dubbed in what sounds like honky-tonk piano. Actually, it sounds like the solo Steve Gaines played in They Call Me The Breeze. They play this on every commercial, during the announcer's bit. Now, Lynyrd Skynyrd music does not automatically qualify someone as a redneck. But you have to admit, their music does bring to mind a stereotype of listener. Think trailer park, curlers, old Camaro, cinderblock steps. Next, look closely at their graphics in the commercial. It's in the print ads, too. They letters are blocked, all caps, arranged in three or four lines--what does that look like? Exactly, like one of those signboards you see in front of every convenience store in the country. They always say something like "CIGS-$24.99" and "T-SHIRTS" and "GOD BL SS OUR TRO PS" and "WRESTLING TUE $5". The KFC Corporation has branded their multi-million dollar name to be associated with cheap, towable signboards and generic cigarettes. No pride.

Here's the upside to being in the hospital. While I there, Abby made this for me. Abby is the 4-year old that my wife nannys. (Isn't there a word for a child looked after by a nanny? I can't find it.) Abby spent Monday with her playfriends, since Linda was with me. I thought this was very sweet.