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DePuy Hip Recall Design Flaw Still A Mystery

This DePuy Hip Recall article is one in a series of posts designed to provide DePuy hip implant patients with information regarding the hip implant recall.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Answer Questions

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys defective design flawsOne of the questions patients have asked is, “What is the defect that is causing these implants to fail?” Not surprisingly, DePuy Orthopaedics is not telling its DePuy hip implant patients anything of substance regarding why these DePuy hip implants are failing and why they have issued this hip recall. But, DePuy won’t be able to keep its secrets for long. Ultimately, because of the lawsuits, DePuy representatives will have to testify, under oath, about the hip recall. Then, DePuy hip implant patients will finally learn the truth.

Also, DePuy hip recall lawyers will hire experts on behalf of the hip recall patients who will get a chance to look at DePuy’s engineering data and specification to determine what is causing the defect that has so dramatically affected so many hip recall patients. Until then, both DePuy hip recall lawyers and hip patients can only speculate about the true nature of the hip implant defect.

What is known is that the pain and symptoms associated with the DePuy hip implant system involve the loosening of the cup, unusual wear and tear in the hip joint, and the shedding of metal debris into the surrounding tissues causing osteolysis. Ultimately, as the litigation progresses, New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy Hip Recall lawyers will get more information about why this defect occurred and how it will affect the entire 93,000 DePuy hip implant patients.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have received a defective DePuy hip implant and are not sure about your next step, you should seek out the assistance of a DePuy hip recall lawyer. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Medical Malpractice Verdict of $23 Million Awarded to Woman Who Aquired Brain Damage

Medical malpractice attorneys in Florida helped Lanette Gervato earn $23 million in compensation after medical malpractice in the operating room mistake led to her brain damage and partial paralysis.

Brain Procedure Gone Wrong

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys 23 million verdict brain damage caseLanette Gervato was 35 years old when she was suffering from, along with unexplained headaches, a multitude of symptoms. She visited the University of Florida’s Shands Teaching Hospital for treatment. After testing, it was determined that Gervato was suffering from a non-bleeding aneurysm in her brain. A Shands neurosurgeon would perform a procedure in which coils would be inserted into the aneurysm.

However, during the surgery, one of the arteries was unknowingly perforated. Gervato’s post-operative recovery period included many stroke symptoms. Her nurse, Rebecca Boone, observed the symptoms, but did nothing. By the time doctors finally realized that Gervato was in danger, the damage had already been done. Her brain was filled with blood and significant brain damage had occured.

Medical Malpractice Effects on Lanette Gervato

Gervato’s life has been permanently affected. She is now paralyzed on one side, suffers from impaired vision, experiences constant pain, and has lost much of her cognitive reasoning skills. Her husband has had to stop working in order to provide constant care, and their four children have had to be placed with other family members to get the attention and care that they need.

The verdict will afford the Gervatos round the clock care so that they can, as their attorney put it, “return to as much normalcy as possible”.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered at the hands of a negligent medical provider, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to earning victimized patients the compensation they need to pay past, present, and future medical bills. If you prefer, you may call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Help Yourself Avoid Medical Malpractice Caused by ER Wait Times

CNN.com recently published an article on the Jeffers family and the medical malpractice that occurred during their visit to Methodist Hospital emergency room in Sacramento, California.

Malyia Jeffers Waited Too Long

The article tells the story of 2 year old Malayia Jeffers. When her fever spiked to 101 degrees and her parents noticed a bruise like spot on her cheek, Leah and Ryan Jeffers decided to take their daughter to the emergency room. A triage nurse working the ER looked at the Jeffers’ daughter and said she probably had a virus and a rash.

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys malyia jeffersMalyia’s condition persistently worsened during the near 5 hours that she and her parents waited to be seen by a doctor. Finally, Ryan Jeffers bypassed the nurses station and pushed through the doors behind them. He approached a different nurse and asked her
“Does this look like a rash?” She responded with “no” and gave the Jeffers a room immediately.

Malyia was eventually diagnosed with Group A Strep, otherwise known as the flesh-eating bacteria. She was transferred to an area hospital that specialized in pediatric care. Unfortunately, it had been too long, and in order to save her life, doctors had to amputate her left hand, a few fingers on her right hand, and both legs below the knee.

Emergency Room Wait Times a Serious Problem

A study performed in 2009 by the Government Accountability Office found that ER wait times are often more than double the medically recommended time. Press Ganey Associates research tells that in 2009, patients waited an average of six hours in the emergency room. Over 400,000 patients waited 24 hours or more. These wait times can prove permanently detrimental, and in some unfortunate cases, even fatal.

Tips to Avoid ER Wait Times

The CNN article also offered a few tips for readers to avoid long and potentially dangerous waits in the emergency room.

#1: Check for wait time posts. Many hospitals are beginning to post ER wait times on their website. You should check all of your area hospitals to inform yourself of the potential wait.

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys ER wait times#2: Avoid High Traffic Periods. It seems that because patients try to avoid spending their whole weekend in the ER, Monday is the busiest emergency room day. If you start noticing symptoms on Saturday, don’t wait until Monday to see a doctor. The delay could end up causing much harm.

#3: Alert your primary care physician that you are going to the ER. Getting an opinion from your PCP that you then offer to the ER nurses could help and possibly expedite your care.

#4: Once you’ve arrived, don’t leave. If you thought you were sick enough to visit the ER, then you are sick enough to wait to be seen. You should be persistent. Not rude, but persistent.

#5: Alert ER personnel of any changes. If you notice changes in your condition, make sure to tell someone. That change might be the reason you require immediate attention.

#6: Ask for the Charge Nurse. If you believe your condition has worsened and the situation has become urgent, seek out the charge nurse or supervisor, and alert him/her that you believe your medical condition requires immediate evaluation.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in NJ and PA

Medical malpractice occurs day in and day out in doctor’s offices and hospitals around the world. Many times it has nothing to do with a doctor’s abilities, but with the poor programs and policies their instutions have in place. It is important to take a firm role in your own medical care.

If you or a loved one have suffered due to medical malpractice or negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our team is experienced and skilled in earning victims of medical negligence the full and fair compensation that they need and deserve.
You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers With Tip#5 For Bedsore Prevention

Recently, as a New Jersey and Pennsylvania nursing home abuse lawyers, we have been writing nursing home abuse posts including tips to help a patient prevent bedsores and pressure ulcers while in a long term care facility. As stated in all of our previous bedsore and pressure ulcer postings, prevention is always the best medicine when it comes to preventing bedsores and pressure ulcers.

Tip #5 for Preventing Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse attorneys fifth tip prevent bedsores incontinenceThe fifth tip nursing home abuse lawyers offer in preventing bedsores is to establish a bowel or bladder program for any nursing home patient who may have incontinence. Many patients are incontinent or have other bowel or bladder issues. When a patient is admitted into the nursing home, the staff should assess whether or not the patient has a bowel or bladder problem and design a plan to minimize any potential risk this may pose in developing a pressure ulcer or bedsore. These residents should be on a regular toileting schedule to ensure that those needs are being met on a regular basis.

In addition, nursing home staff should always anticipate and expect that a nursing home patients’ incontinence may be not be controllable by that patient. As such, in order to minimize that patients’ risk of developing a bedsore, it is important for the staff to clean the skin as soon as it is soiled and use a topical barrier to protect the skin consistent with the tips provided earlier.

Finally, it is important that the nursing home staff provide underpads or absorbent briefs that provide a quick drying surface to the skin. These measures have been proven to prevent bedsores and pressure ulcers in patients. While some residents may object to wearing underpads or briefs (i.e., an adult diaper), a staff member should speak with the patient’s family to ensure that their loved one understands that these measures are safe, effective, and proven to protect them from a serious and perhaps life threatening bedsore or pressure ulcer.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has suffered from severe bedsores or pressure ulcers in a nursing home or long-term care facility, you will need to contact nursing home abuse lawyers: contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Lists 4 Things Patients Should Know

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys things you should knowIf you are a victim of the DePuy hip recall, there are few things you should know:

1. Not all DePuy hip implants are being recalled.

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyer, I get many telephone calls and emails from patients who have had hip replacements. As we posted on December 2, 2010, only certain DePuy hip implants are subject to the recall. Please click on the next link to read whether or not your hip implant is part of the DePuy hip recall.

2. Your implant will need to be replaced whether or not you are having symptoms.

We are often asked, “Do I need to have my DePuy hip implant replaced if I’m not experiencing symptoms?” Yes. Because of the unusually high wear and tear, and because of the metallic shed rate in DePuy implants, medical research has predicted that nearly all of the DePuy hip implants will fail within ten years of use whether or not you are experiencing symptoms. See our November 18th post for more information about the ASR replacements.

3. Do not feel obligated to speak with DePuy Orthopaedics or Johnson & Johnson representatives or claims adjusters.

We are strongly encouraging any patient to contact a lawyer to represent them. As we posted previously, DePuy is not offering fair compensation and is passing on the cost of its defect on to patients and their insurance carriers. These claims adjusters on behalf of DePuy are not looking out for your best interests and you may lose your rights by dealing with them: click to read about Johnson & Johnson tactics.

4. Patients should insist on blood tests to determine if their hip implant is releasing metals into their blood system.

We are often told that “DePuy hip replacement patients’ x-rays look fine,” and therefore will likely not need surgery. Medical research shows that x-rays are the least effective way to determine if your hip implant is failing. You should insist on blood tests that specifically identify the release of cobalt and chromium into your body. You should consult with an infectious disease doctor to see whether or not you are experiencing any signs or symptoms related to a depuy hip implant failure.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you are the recipient of a DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Illinois Takes Big Step to Prevent Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice attorneys are happy to hear about new steps being taken in Illinois to help prevent medical malpractice.
The Patients’ Right to Know Act was just passed by the Illinois House of Representatives and is currently awaiting Senate approval. The act, which would be a wonderful addition to all state legislation, would make available medical practitioner histories to past, current, and possible future patients. The histories would include firings, criminal convictions, and medical malpractice

Medical Malpractice and Doctor Profiles

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers pursuit full disclosure doctor historiesMany argue that making this information available is unfair to medical providers, but in actuality, it’s keeping this information from unsuspecting patients that is unfair. Choosing a doctor, in some cases, can be a life and death situation. It is more fair to leave up to the patient’s discretion whether or not they will let that doctor provide them treatment, having already been informed about any malpractice or legal trouble that doctor has been in.

Patients in Illinois already know how valuable the information is, as these history profiles were available once before when the Illinois Supreme Court released them at the same time that they capped medical malpractice payments. But when the caps were declared unconstitutional, doctors saw to it that the profiles were prohibited from public consumption. The profiles, while they were available, earned about 130,000 clicks a week.

The Illinois State Medical Society is currently doing everything in it’s power to keep the Patients’ Right to Know Act from becoming law. They have been successful in thwarting past efforts to do similar things. Hopefully this time around, patient advocacy will triumph.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered at the hands of a negligent medical provider, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are skilled and experienced in earning victims full and fair compensation for damages aquired from medical malpractice. If you prefer, you may call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation that you need and deserve.

Nursing Homes Not Elderly Adults Only Choice Today

Nursing home abuse has affected millions of people in the United States because, for such a long time, nursing homes were the only option a family had when their loved one’s physical state required additional help. However, according to census data, only 7.4% of elderly Americans are living in nursing homes, a number that has fallen from the 8.1% in 1990. Many elderly people and their families, especially those 85 years and older, are now turning not to traditional nursing homes, but instead to long term care assistance at home, in-home care, and other options. This is great for the families that can afford to maintain other types of care for their loved ones. But for the 1.8 million people that still live in nursing homes, care should be adequate, training should be provided, and abuse should be prevented.

Nursing Home Care Must Be Improved

The quality of care a patient receives should not depend on how much money they have to spend, but unfortunately, nowadays, that seems to be the case. If nursing home administrators and medical providers spent more of their efforts on improving the quality of care in nursing homes and less of their efforts on their bottom lines, other unneccessary costs would be non existent. Bedsore treatment or litigation costs can be astronomical, but providing adequate and focused care can avoid the need for such spending.
              
Click for more information on nursing home alternatives

Nursing Home Abuse Laywers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you feel that your loved ones have been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The nursing home abuse abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and very skilled in earning victims of nursing home abuse the full and fair compensation that they need and deserve. Be sure to act promptly, as a statue of limitations could run out on your claim.

You may also call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the Mininno Law Office work to earn justice for you and your family.

Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Not Being Covered for Military Victims

traumatic brain injury lawyers in new jersey and philadelphiaMilitary healthcare officials are collectively refusing to pay for a new treatment to rehabilitate traumatic brain injury victims, despite widespread support from doctors and lawmakers

Traumatic Brain Injury and Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy

While Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, may bring on significant physical limitiations, it can also cause cognitive limitations. Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) aims to repair those limitations. It addresses concentration, language skills, learning, memory, reasoning, judgement, and social skills. Through various techniques and learning exercises, therapists and neuropsychologists help patients regain the cognitive abilities they lost after sustaining a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic Brian Injury Treatment and the Military

Military health officials have recently decided to disallow coverage for CRT because it has yet to be scientifically proven. Tricare Management Agency, an insurance company covering uniformed service members, retirees, and their families, said of the TBI treatment:traumatic brain injury lawyers in nj and pa

“There is insufficient, evidence-based research available to conclude that cognitive rehabilitation therapy is beneficial in treating traumatic brain injury.”

Tricare has said that CRT can be covered if it is bundled with other forms of treatment, such as speech or behavioral therapy, but can not be submitted for coverage as it’s own medical service.

Many doctors and medical providers believe that the real reason for withholding coverage is cost. CRT can be very expensive, costing as much as $50,000 for only four months of treatment. Dr. James Malec, research director at the Rehabilition Hospital in Indiana, commented:

“It seems to me this is motivated by an effort to control costs, that anything quote-unquote ‘new’ is going to be denied.”

Dr. Malec was asked to review Tricare’s study of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy and, upon doing so, opposed their decision to deny coverage. Tricare denied that cost played any part in their decision to deny coverage, saying that they base their decisions on “safety and efficacy of…treatment.”

Lawmakers’ Response to Denial of Treatment

traumatic brain injury lawyers in nj and pa

In 2008, Defense Secretary Robert Gates received a letter from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, urging that he push Tricare to provide coverage for the cognitive treatment. They even formed a Congressional Brain Injury Taskforce to continue the efforts of getting CRT covered. The task force, in a 2009 letter, wrote:

“Study after study has shown the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitative therapy in improving the health and functionality of TBI patients.”

Tricare has said that the formal policy on CRT coverage remains under review.

Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Men and women in the military sacrifice their bodies, their minds, and their lives to fight for our freedoms, and for the freedoms of the disenfranchised. Today, violence in Iraq and Afghanistan is claiming the cognitive abilities of many soldiers, and they are returning home to find that the treatment they need is being denied them. The effects of traumatic brain injury, be they mild or severe, can change one’s life forever if the correct therapy and treatment is not promptly provided. Hopefully, Tricare will reconsider and change their position on coverage of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy.

If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another, and you are now facing cognitive and/or physical limitations, as well as medical bills, that you aren’t prepared to handle, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The traumatic brain injury lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and skilled in earning victims the full and fair compensation that they need and deserve. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office work for you.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers File Suit in New York for Stillbirth

An Oneida obstetrician, Dr. Geoffrey Lucas, was recently arrested on felony charges and now faces more trouble as he is being sued for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice attorneys claim that Dr. Lucas was

reckless, egregious, grossly negligent, wanton and with absolute disregard for human life.

Negligence and Disregard Lead to Tragedy

new jersey philadelphia medical malpracitce lawyers suit new york stillbirthMelissa Halladay had been a patient of Women’s Health Associates since 1995, and Dr. Lucas was her primary caregiver throughout her 2009 pregnancy. In her third trimester, Melissa was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which was monitored and controlled with insulin.

Nearly 40 weeks into her pregnancy, Melissa noticed troubling discharges and visited Oneida Healthcare. A urinalysis showed extremely high blood sugar levels. Dr. Lucas was notified over the phone and, without ever examining Melissa, advised her to return home, drink more water, and keep her feet up.

Melissa went home and for six days, experienced the same heavy discharge. She continually called Oneida Healthcare about her symptoms but was told by a nurse that everything was normal, and that she should should continue to drink more water and keep her feet up.

On October 15, 2009, after starting to experience contractions, Melissa and Morris Halladay went to the emergency room at Oneida Healthcare Center. There, no nurse or physician could find a fetal heartbeat. Dr. Lucas was notified, arrived over an hour later, and confirmed that the baby had no heartbeat. Melissa Halladay would deliver a full-term, stillborn baby.

The delivery was excruciating and took hours. The suit claims that the infant’s body was “mangled,” and that the baby was left inside the Halladay’s hospital room for “an extended period of time.”
The OHC relations director declined to comment on the lawsuit, but did say that what happened was:

an extremely tragic and devastating situation for the family and everyone involved

Meanwhile, Dr. Lucas faces two felony counts of criminal sale of a prescription for controlled substances, and 1 felony count of first-degree identity theft.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in NJ and PA

The Halladays were put through a horrific ordeal when losing their baby. The negligent behavior of Dr. Lucas and the Oneida Healthcare Center cost a couple their child. Dr. Lucas’ blatant lack of concern for the well-being of his patients or his role as a doctor is detestable. No medical provider with such a clear disregard for patient health and safety should be able to practice medicine.

If you or a loved one have suffered due the negligence of a medical provider, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free case evaluation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
The medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are dedicated to earning victims of medical malpractice and negligence full and fair compensation. Let us earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Links Between MMR Vaccine and Autism Allegedly Fabricated

This medical malpractice post will discuss a report published this week by the British Medical Journal that denounces a 1998 study performed by Dr. Andrew Wakefield. The study, printed by The Lancet, links Autism with the MMR vaccination, and has now been labeled as nothing more than an “elaborate fraud.”

Autism Study a Fraud?

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers falsified report linking MMR vaccines with Autism Dr. Andrew Wakefield caused a significant decrease in MMR vaccinations since the publishing of his study in 1998 that claimed that the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccination was, in fact, causing “regressive autism“. Regressive autism is a form of the disorder that starts to develop after a child has displayed no symptoms, and has led, up until that point, a “normal” life.

Investigative reporter from the British Medical Journal, Brian Deer, analyzed for 6 years the results of Wakefield’s “study“, and found that Wakefield deliberately misrepresented facts and lied about the conditions of his subjects. The study was based on 12 children with autistic symptoms after they received the MMR vaccine. The study consistently lies about when symptoms developed, what those symptoms were, how they affected the child, and what they meant for their diagnosis. This blatent falsification of facts has led to a decline in MMR vaccines, and a rise in the contraction of Measles. In England, the Measles virus is now described as an endemic.

While Dr. Wakefield still believes in his study and it’s results, he hasn’t acted on offers to replicate his findings. The BMJ article says:

Instead, although now disgraced and stripped of his clinical and academic credentials, he continues to push his views. Meanwhile the damage to public health continues.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in NJ and PA

Dr. Andrew Wakefield acted against his purpose as a doctor to heal and protect patients, and instead grossly misreported data to publish a false report. Why? One can only conculde that his motive was personal gain. Why lie about the effects of a sometimes life saving vaccination? Children likely have died after not being vaccinated for measles, mumps, or rubella, and for no reason.
The kind of negligence Dr. Wakefield acted with is irreprehensible. And while he did so outside of the operating or emergency room, other medical providers act with the same negligence inside the operating or emergency room.

If you or a loved one have been injured by medical malpractice or negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let our team earn you the full and fair compensation you need a deserve.