Mystique Gallery

Shes everyones favorite shape shifting mutant! In August 2014 I traveled to Georgia the week of Dragoncon to visit a friend. We decided to do a photo shoot before the chaos of the con and I suggested Mystique. I wanted to take the concept a step further. Inspired by actress Jennifer Lawrence portrayal of the character in  X-Men First Class and Days of Future Past, I wanted to do a mid-transformation look. I boil permed my blonde wig and my photographer at Bodhi Tree Photography called in the talents of body painter Lynn Cole. The photo set was amazing! Below are the images from the session in Georgia.

Photography by Bodhi Tree Photography

Body Paint by Lynn Cole

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CPR in space is possible maybe

Last summer I wrote about the many problems associated with performing surgery in outer space. [Link here.]  Not surprisingly, I was highly skeptical about such issues as training astronauts to operate on each other and the difficulties in taking along enough supplies to deal with unexpected trauma and surgical diseases.

At least one commentor on that post felt that NASA had all the answers. But another said, “What NASA never wants to discuss publicly is the scenario: If X happens then you die.”

Not to be outdone, the European Space Agency recently released a YouTube video illustrating how cardiopulmonary resuscitation could be carried out in a weightless environment.



You can see that the technique is rather awkward and questionably effective. To my knowledge, the rescuer falling on the victim is not currently recommended in the latest CPR guidelines.

Assuming that by some miracle the victim survives CPR, what would happen to him? Would he be transferred to the intensive care unit on the spaceship? Would there be a ventilator? What about an endotracheal tube and someone to insert it? Who would monitor the patient? Would that person be subject to work hours limits?

Here’s what I think.

If you have a cardiac arrest on the way to Mars, you’re not only in deep space, you’re in deep doodoo.

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Are guidelines a safe harbor against malpractice suits

Several months ago, Physicians Weekly featured an article describing a bill that was introduced into the House of Representatives called HR 1406 The Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act. It would create a "safe harbor" for physicians who could show that they followed best practice guidelines when faced with a malpractice suit. At the end of the piece, a question was asked, "Do you think this bill will help safeguard physicians against the influx of federal rules and regulations?"

Knowing little about the bill at the time, I tweeted that such a bill would never pass.

I couldnt list the reasons in a tweet, but here are a few.

Although guidelines are useful, they can be controversial too. Take the guidelines on screening mammography and PSA testing. When they came out, there was so much criticism that it would be difficult for any lawyer to use them as safe harbors. Plaintiffs experts would simply say they disagreed with any guideline. A seed of doubt would be planted in the minds of jurors, and the safe harbor defense would fail.

The Dr. Whitecoat blog published a conversation between an emergency physician and a plaintiffs lawyer. It should be read in its entirety, including the comments, to be appreciated.

The conversation was mostly about the Choosing Wisely campaign, in which specialty societies publish guidelines listing certain tests and treatments that they feel can be avoided.

The lawyer said, "There will be a lot of bad discharges, refused admits, procedure delays, diagnoses delays, all in the name of ‘costs.’ Your societies and hospitals are masking this as evidence based practice, etc. But I can get a jury to see that very differently. A lot of physicians will be paying out before long, as will hospitals…Testing is what makes diagnoses, saves people.

"I have a pretty set script here. To the effect of ‘so Doctor, you just didn’t care enough about my client to order this test?’ Or ‘so my client was just a statistic, just a percentage to you?’… [Juries] love that stuff!”

A post I wrote last year about a supposed set of common goals shared by lawyers and surgeons had these comments from another plaintiffs lawyer.

Regarding the use of guidelines as a malpractice defense which some have labeled a "safe harbor," the lawyer said, "The safe harbor concept becomes unacceptable if it allows guidelines to be used as a get out of jail free card. Guidelines must be useful in exonerating and implicating clinician wrongdoing." My interpretation of what he said was that its OK to use a guideline to prove a clinician did wrong, but following guidelines should not be a fail-safe defense strategy.

Just for fun, I looked up HR 1406s history. It was introduced on February 27, 2014 and immediately referred to three committees—the Energy and Commerce Committee, The Judiciary Committee, And the Subcommittee on Health. On March 20, 2014 it was referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, and it hasnt been heard from again.

A website that tracks bills lists its status as "Died in a previous Congress."

I dont think you will be sailing to a safe harbor any time soon.

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Taking a Stand Against Sexual Violence in the Costuming Community

Photo by Green House Photography

A shocking revelation has recently rocked the costuming community. Many brave women have come forward in admitting that they have been sexually assaulted at conventions and hotel rooms by male cosplayers. They have been raped, beaten, threatened and stalked. This isnt a case of he said-she said. In some cases there are police reports (although no charges were filed) in addition to piles of damning evidence by more than dozens of women who can prove they were abused at the hands of predators and sociopaths hiding within the cosplay community. Ive seen some of this evidence with my own eyes and trust me when I say, it is disturbing. These are rapists, plain and simple. Sexual violence against women is NEVER acceptable. Speaking out about it is one of the first steps you can take in healing and raising awareness. As Amazon Sisters, we need to protect one another and take a stand in putting a stop to this.

If you have been a victim of sexual violence first and foremost what you must understand is that it was not your fault. You did not deserve what happened to you. The fault lies in your attacker and him alone and he will do it again to someone else. Below I have listed some steps to help on the path for healing that I hope can guide my amazon sisters to peace.



1. Tell someone: I know from personal experience that it is sometimes difficult to speak about a trauma in your life however, it is the first step in healing. You have to be honest with yourself about what happened and you have to come to the realization that it was not okay. You need support so please, confide in someone you know and trust.

2. Go to the authorities: This step may be the hardest. Its difficult being honest with yourself about the incident and even harder to go to the police and tell your story to a stranger. However a police record can be very beneficial. It serves as an official record that you can get a copy of and provide to convention organizers in the future. After you have filed a report, you can make the decision to press criminal charges.

3. Go to the doctor or emergency room: Particularly if a beating was involved, a medical record would further provide proof that you were attacked by the assailant.

4. Collect evidence: Photos of yourself displaying psychical bruises, cuts and other bodily harm, text messages, voice mails and emails admitting guilt and anything else that would be beneficial to your case.

5. Seek counseling: The trauma you have experienced will affect you not only psychically but emotionally and mentally. Your emotional and mental health are just as important as what your body has suffered through and just like your body, it requires treatment.

6. Dont be afraid to speak out and prepare for the backlash: The reason why this topic is circulating like wild fire within the community right now is because one brave woman spoke up. She publicly addressed her abusive relationship regarding her ex and soon after, countless women came forward with evidence and similar stories regarding the same man. Some of the stories related to him were much worse. Other stories surfaced of other abusers and rapists who masquerade as cosplayers. Although this brave woman received a lot of support she was also met with backlash and hate mail. This is something you have to prepare for. Be prepared to be a warrior and fight. Perhaps even enlist a friend to help filter out your email and comments.

Joyful Heart Foundations helps victims of sexual assault and domestic violence:

 http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/

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