|
Letter
# 79
Subj:
Attn: MR JACK LIPSMAN:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-Dealers
Date: 06/20/2001 9:04:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: brett_jenny@austarnet.com.au (brett_jenny)
To: dealers@nfge.com
Dear Jack,
I've just finished reading your piece on carpal tunnel syndrome & dealing. I have been a dealer at a casino in Australia for 5 years. Nine months ago I was found to have severe bi-lateral carpal tunnel syndrome, which was caused by dealing & chip work. My company fought the findings of my surgeon, asking on three separate
occasions for a review, even going to the extent of sending him a ergonomics video on
dealing (which he thanked them for, cementing his findings).
After 8 weeks of waiting, still at work, "work cover" excepted my claim and I had the operation on my right hand. Two months later I had the operation on my left hand. It has now been seven months since my first operation and five months since my 2nd. I have just been told that my nerves were so badly compressed that I now have permanent nerve damage in both hands and unfortunately, I still have all the same
symptoms as before, but now with the addition of permanent numbness.
The company has basically told me if I cannot do the job I will be fired. My lawyers need to find out if there are any other cases of CTS related to casino dealing, as there has only been a couple of cases in Australia that we could find. I have already emailed the NFGE and asked if they had any information on this but as yet I have not received any reply. I was hoping to get a reply ASAP as I need the information to pursue my case. Any information you may have would be greatly appreciated. My email is brett_jenny@austarnet.com.au . What worries me the most is how many more dealers are out there that have this problem and do not even know it.
I woke one morning with a sore neck and saw my GP. Luckily for me he put my other symptoms and put them together (which prior to this, I took no notice of), and sent me to the best orthopedic surgeon, who then requested EMG's. It's worrying because we have not been given information about the connection with our jobs and the symptoms we are experiencing. Additionally, the company's position is that the work is not repetitive and is not caused by the job. They do not want to accept any responsibility for the job-induced CTS and simply deny that it is related to the repetitive motion required while dealing. At any rate my hands are hurting me from all this typing. Hoping to hear from you soon.
THANKS,
BRETT SHARLAND
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Subj: Re: attn: MR JACK LIPSMAN Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-Dealers
Date: 06/29/2001
To: brett_jenny@austarnet.com.au
From: Jack Lipsman - NFGE
Brett:
I did receive your e-mail and in fact I'm sitting here at my computer with a copy of it right now.
The sad fact is that we here in the U.S. are up against the same
hypocrisy and double-dealing that you people are facing down there. The casinos know that if they keep the condition as non-job related, they will save gobs of money. So they deny it and fight against any dealer who tries to claim the injury.
Because of this, there are no supporting statistics which could help you. According to them, there is no problem. And we all know that's just bullshit. But until we get some doctors that have enough guts to stand up to the powerful casinos, nothing will change.
You see, the medical set-up here is that each hotel has their own health plan, either self-insured, with administration of the program run by an outside firm, or they just contract a health policy with an insurance company.
In any case, they set up a provider list, which is simply a list of doctors that are approved for use by the plan members. If a doctor were to be deleted from that list he would lose a lot of patients, and of course, a lot of money. So, that's how they get leverage over the doctors. Then they let them know how regrettable it would be if they were to classify these injuries as job related.
Of course, the problem is...try and prove it.
So, what I'm trying to say is that we're in no better position than you are. We are constantly looking for a disenchanted doctor or an ex-casino executive who could give evidence of collusion or a conspiracy. We have already been to the FBI with our suspicions and they said they would be glad to investigate if we were able to give them concrete evidence, something more than just our gut feeling of casino wrongdoing.
So there you have it. If there were some way to help you, we would. But, essentially, we are in the same boat as you are.
Rest Assured, if anything breaks, or if we come across anything that will help you we will contact you right away.
Until then, good luck and keep in touch.
Warmest regards,
Jack Lipsman
NFGE
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
* * *
(Back
to Index)
|
