Bed Sore Attorneys: Nursing Home Lawsuit to be Filed

Robert McLean and his guardian, Pam Dirnberger, filed a lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court, in Illinois. The lawsuit was filed against Calvin Johnson Care Center, which is also known as Eldercare Inc. McLean, a disabled man with a mental illness, was a former resident of the Calvin Johnson Care Center. Bed sore attorneys say that during his time at the healthcare center, McLean developed severe pressure ulcers all over his body. The man was left in extreme pain, and as is the case with many bed sore victims, it may have been due to nursing home neglect.

Plaintiffs Seek Over One-Hundred Thousand in this Case of Severe Bed Sores

new jersey philadelphia bed sore attorneys Robert McLean Calvin Johnson Care CenterMcLean and Dirnberger, the plaintiffs, claim that Eldercare’s neglect led to the extreme pain that was inflicted due to the bed sores. Bed sore attorneys also believe that the plaintiffs will argue that the defendants have violated the Illinois’ Nursing Home Care Act because of their failure to properly recognize and treat a man who was so clearly in need of assistance. The complaint also alleges that the defendants failed to properly care for McLean’s sores, also known as decubitus ulcers, which arose on several parts of the man’s body. Professionals say that there may be a claim because it appears that these employees were not properly caring for the pressure ulcers. They also argue that the defendants may be liable for their failure to properly train staff to adequately monitor patients in need. Although the outcome will be decided by a jury down the road, bed sore attorneys urge victims to seek help from their families or any healthcare provider because these sores can be extremely detrimental to a person’s health.

Bed Sore Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has recently suffered from a bed sore, you may have questions for our professionals regarding your legal rights for. In cases where you suspect that neglect or mistreatment played a factor in the development of the bed sore, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600, or in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380.

Elder Abuse Leads to Jail Time for Granddaughter of Victim

Elder abuse and neglect do not only happen in nursing homes and long term care facilities. Surprisingly, an alarming number of elder abuse cases are actually against friends and family of the elderly victim. These cases of abuse are harder to discover because it is often easier to hide the abuse from outside parties. When the elderly are in the car of their loved ones, it is easy and natural to assume that those family members are looking out for the best interests of the elder they care for. However, sometimes family members are unable to take on the enormous responsibility of caring for the elderly and, unfortunately, abuse and neglect occur.

Granddaughter Commits Financial and Physical Elder Abuse

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse lawyers april courtneyIn February, April Courtney, 36, pleaded guilty to burglary and elder abuse for a September 3, 2008 attack on her then 94 year old grandmother Lydia. According to police investigations, over an eight-month period of time, Courtney had allegedly withdrawn $28,000 from Lydia’s bank accounts without her consent. The women had been fighting for a while since Lydia found out about the money. On the day of the attack, Courtney tricked her grandmother into thinking she was a friend when knocking on the door. When Lydia opened the door, Courtney grabbed her cane away and began to beat her with it. Lydia was hit about 20 times in the head and body and then fell to the ground and pretended to be unconscious in hopes that Courtney would stop hitting her. Courtney then went into the house and stole documents that might be used as evidence against her in the financial abuse case. She fled to Texas and was captured a week later by federal Marshals. She was set to go to trial on charges of burglary, elder abuse, attempted murder and inflicting great bodily injury on a person over 70 years old, but worked out a last minute plea deal where the attempted murder charge was dropped. Courtney was sentenced to four years in prison.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Non-Surgical Speech Options

The idea of having a surgery to correct a cleft palate or cleft lip has been discussed in a previous blog post and, in many cases, it is the correct decision for your child’s health. However, in cases where surgery may not be the best option due to health concerns or fears that the surgery will not be successful, there are other non-surgical treatment options. Our birth defects attorneys would like to highlight some effective, nonsurgical treatment options specifically targeted to help your child develop better speech.

Speech Bulbs and Palatal Lifts

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys non surgical speech optionsOnce your child starts to grow, your doctor may want to discuss appliances that can be put in his or her mouth, to make speech easier. The speech bulb may be suggested, which is a plastic ball that fits into the velopharyngeal space, which is then attached to a plastic plate fitted to the roof of the mouth and held in place by wire clasps. The size of the bulb will vary depending on the size of the velopharyngeal space. The bulbs function is to stop air and sound from escaping the nose during speech. It is removed at night before bed.

Another appliance that may be suggested is a palatal lift. This is similar to a speech bulb, but is a wider, plastic paddle that extends back into the mouth and lifts the soft palate up, closing the velopharyngeal space. Your child’s care team should be consulted to see which, if any, of these appliances is appropriate.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many parents who have children with a cleft lip or cleft palate are often overwhelmed and, in some instances, confused about their legal rights and whether or not birth defects attorneys would even be needed. In some cases, there have been improper actions that may have lead to your child’s birth defect and contacting birth defects attorneys is beneficial to your family’s physical and financial health. For example, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate), taken during pregnancy or during child-bearing years, has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and cleft palates. We are able to assist parents dealing with these issues. 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Velopharyngeal Dysfunction

After your child has a palate repair surgery, most people would think that they are out of the woods and nothing else will have to be done. Unfortunately, approximately 15-25% of children born with a cleft palate will develop Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD). Our birth defects attorneys think that parents should be informed about the possibilities that may affect their child, and be able to react in a well-informed manner.

What is Velopharyngeal dysfunction?

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Velopharyngeal DysfunctionVelopharyngeal dysfunction occurs when the open space between the back wall of the throat and the soft palate cannot be properly closed during speech. Unfortunately, this results in an unwanted escape of air or sound through the nose during speech. Essentially, this dysfunction may result in what is called hyper-nasal speech. The sounds that create speech come from both the nose and the mouth. When we speak, the majority of those sounds should come from the mouth alone. Closing the velopharyngeal space allows people to build pressure in the mouth and make the appropriate speech sounds. When a VPD is present, air comes through the nose that should not, and speech becomes too nasal.

In many cases, after surgery has been completed, or if surgery is not going to be undertaken, there are other options that can be explore. There are appliances that your doctor may recommend that can help alleviate these issues and eliminate the hyper-nasal speech problem.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Giving birth to a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate begs the question,”Do I need the assistance of birth defects attorneys?They are necessary when a birth defect is caused by a deviation in the standard of care. For example, contacting our experienced professionals would be beneficial to you and your child if Topamax (Topiramate) was taken during pregnancy. The FDA has recently announced that Topamax has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates. 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Give Anti-Bullying Advice

new jersey philadephia birth defects attorneys anti bullying adviceYour child has a cleft lip and is about to start school and you are nervous that he or she may be the victim of a school bully. Our caring birth defects attorneys want to help you get ready for this. It is in any parent’s nature to want to nurture their child for as long as possible and shield them from the cruel outside world. Now that your child is school aged, this is less and less an option and you should be focusing and preparing your child for school and the social interactions that comes with it. As we all know from our school experiences, children can be cruel (although we are not suggesting that all children are). It is not to say that bullying will happen, just that it can happen, and you should take steps to prepare your child to deal with it in a positive way. We wish you and your child a happy school year and want it be as successful as possible.

Helping Your Child Understand Their Situation

It is important for your child to understand his or her condition in a way that helps them communicate to others what is different about them, as curious children may ask. Explaining this in a way that children can understand will be beneficial to your child and expose other children to the differences in people. Take the opportunity to make your child feel special and help him or her understand what is different (and special) about them.

It may go without saying, but taking photographs as your child matures is helpful so they can see their physical history and see it as “normal.” These photos document changes and help children have an opportunity to ask questions about their condition in a non-threatening environment.

In the case of a negative social interaction with another student, many parents get angry and want to confront the other child’s parents right away. Before you do, ask your child to express his or her feelings about it and try to understand what happened. Use this is a segue to discuss the birth defect in a positive way and ask how your child would like to proceed. Obviously, there are going to be situations where confronting the other parents is necessary, even if your child does not want to. But in some situations, letting kids work out their own differences, with a little adult help, can be beneficial.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

In many cases, parents of a child with a cleft lip or palate ask if they need the services of birth defects attorneys. Due to the nature of the birth defect, lawyers would do little good. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lip/palates. If you believe that Topamax may be involved with your child’s cleft palate/lip 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.

Nursing Home Abuse: Kentucky Granted $3 Million Federal Grant

The state of Kentucky was given a federal grant of $3 million to help reduce nursing home abuse occurrences within the state. The money will be used to buy equipment needed to take digital fingerprints for criminal background checks on prospective employees. This will allow the state to better screen those applying for jobs that provide direct care to residents at the long-term care facilities. Governor Steve Beshear ordered last year that the state make changes to reduce nursing home abuse. Reports found that only seven of 107 serious citations issued at Kentucky nursing homes in a three-year period were prosecuted as crimes and most nursing home abuse cases go unreported. “This falls directly in line with our ongoing work to address elder abuse and improve patient care in long-term care facilities,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement announcing Kentucky had received the grant.

Kentucky Hoping to Create Stricter Background Check Laws for Nursing Home Employees

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers kentucky granted millions federal grantRight now, Kentucky state law only requires nursing homes and long-term care facilities to conduct name-based background checks for prospective direct care employees. With the grant and the new digital fingerprint scanning equipment, more in-depth criminal background checks will be available. Kentucky state law also does not order that the employees submit fingerprint checks, but the facilities will be expected to voluntarily participate in the grant program and officials are expecting high involvement. According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman Jill Midkiff, the cabinet intends to pursue legislation that would require the fingerprint checks for caregivers employed in long-term care facilities.

This is a great step in protecting the residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities from abuse and neglect. By doing more in-depth background checks on potential direct care workers, they will hopefully be able to lower the chances of violent or abusive people coming into contact with the elderly and disabled. Hopefully this will also lead to more background checks for other workers who come into contact with residents, such as custodians and food service workers.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys in NJ and PA

If your loved one is currently a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility, pay close attention to the staff and the kind of care they receive. Your attentiveness is crucial to their continued safety at a nursing home. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is indeed negligent or abusive, 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Cleft Lip Dental Options

Unfortunately, when a child is afflicted with a birth defect like a cleft palate or cleft lip, there are other physical manifestations of the birth defect that must be dealt with. One of the major physical issues confronting children with cleft lip/palates is that they may need serious dental attention. The cleft usually occurs between the cuspid (eye tooth) and the lateral incisor. Possible dental issues include: a missing lateral incisor, two lateral incisors on both sides of the cleft, poorly formed teeth (with misshapen crowns and/or roots), and displaced teeth. We want you to be informed about the potential issues related to your child’s unfortunate birth defect and be able to take the appropriate actions.

Your Child’s Dentistry Needs

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys topamax cleft lip dental optionsAlthough this may seem overwhelming, children born with a cleft lip/palate can still have healthy teeth. Proper cleaning, good nutrition, and fluoride treatment is necessary. The teeth should be cleaned with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush, as soon as the teeth are visible. Early evaluation is critical, with many dentists recommending the first visit being scheduled at one year of age, or in some cases, even sooner. What dental work your child needs will be determined by the dentist, which can be as simple as preventative care, or can be extensive including dental surgery.

It may be necessary for orthodontic care to be sought, even before the child has any teeth. This is to assess facial growth and plan for the child’s short and long term dental needs. If the teeth do not fit together correctly, braces will most likely be necessary.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Parents who have children with a cleft lip or palate are often confused about their legal rights and whether or not birth defects attorneys are necessary. In many cases, birth defects attorneys are not necessary, because the cause is usually natural. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates. In this situation, it would be beneficial to contact the Mininno Law Office: Our experienced and caring birth defects attorneys off a free case evaluation and consultation. You may call 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Rate in New Jersey is one of the Highest in the U.S.

elder abuse in NJ and PAWith a growing elderly population, we are seeing an increase in elder abuse. In 2010, there was a total of over 1 million reported cases of some form elder or nursing home abuse or neglect. According to the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), every five seconds, an elder is abused. What is worse is the number of elder and nursing home abuse cases in this country tht go unreported. For every reported case, there are five unreported cases. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates between 1 and 2 million people over 65 are being abused, exploited, neglected or mistreated by someone who is in charge of their care.

New Jersey has one of the highest percentages of elder abuse in relation to their senior population. With 1.6 million seniors, which makes up 17% of the total population for the state, and 176,000 reported abuse cases in 2010, New Jersey has an 11% abuse level which is one of the highest in the nation.

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse

Financial abuse: Change in accounts, altered wills and trusts, frequent or unusual bank withdrawals, and checks written to cash or as ‘loans’ or ‘gifts’.

Physical abuse: Unexplained bruises, slap marks, broken bones, bedsores, and burns or blisters.

Emotional Abuse: Unexplained and sudden changes in alertness or other unusual behavioral changes and frequent arguments between the elderly person and a caregiver.

Sexual abuse: Bruises around the breasts or genital area and unexplained sexually transmitted diseases.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Insurance “Gate Keeping”

birth defects attorneys in nj and paAs experienced birth defects attorneys, the Mininno Law Office has significant experience dealing with insurance companies. To you, it seems simple: your child has a medical issue (like a cleft palate), you have valid insurance for which you’ve paid your premium, and your child should receive medical care. As you may have unfortunately found out by now, it is not always this simple. A seemingly unwritten tool in many insurance companies’ belt is “gate keeping.” Ultimately, even if your claim has merit, the insurance company denies and delays treatment in the hopes that you become frustrated and go away. This is done in many ways, including excessive forms to fill out, waiting for confirmations, and outright denials. If you have dealt with insurance companies before, this frustration is probably no surprise.

Protecting Yourself From Gate Keeping

We’ve all heard the cliche “Knowledge is Power.” This is an absolute truth when it comes to fighting to get what you need from insurance companies.

First, you should make an effort to stay abreast with the relevant laws. This may seem difficult, as they change often, but being able to quote a law can be very helpful when talking with an insurance officer. Sometimes, representation by birth defects attorneys can be useful, but more often, a little research goes a long way.

Second, you should know your policy inside and out. Many times, the insurance representative is making an educated (and usually good natured) guess as to what the company will allow. If you know your policy, you can tell them exactly what you have paid for and what they should provide. It is inevitable to get rejected in some cases, but never accept a “No” without appealing. Carefully word your responses to indicate the medical necessity of the procedure.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia?

There are many factors that influence whether you need the services of birth defects attorneys. In many cases, the cause of the birth defect is natural, and there is little birth defects attorneys can do for you. In other cases, there are external factors involved in the development of your child’s birth defect and the experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office can be of assistance. For example, the FDA just announced that the drug Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lip/palates.

If you believe that Topamax may have contributed to your child’s development of a cleft lip or palate contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation and consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys Provide Questions for Your Surgeon

Surgery can be a scary proposition, especially if performed on your child. However, there are certain questions that can ground your expectations of surgery, and help glean information regarding the qualifications of your surgeon. The caring and experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office would like to offer a list of basic questions that you can ask your surgeon in the event that you are uncertain about the procedure and have not yet made a decision to have your child undergo it. While surgery is no small matter, it is important to realize that this step is greatly beneficial for your child and his or her overall well being.

What to Ask your Surgeon Regarding Oral Cleft Repair Procedures

nj and pa birth defects attorneysYou may want to ask some of the following questions to get a better feel for the procedure your child will undergo, as well as the knowledge and capabilities of your surgeon.

  1. How many cleft lip/palate corrective procedures has your surgeon performed?
  2. What are the risks and complications associated with the procedure?
  3. How are these complications handled?
  4. What options are available if the surgery is unsuccessful?
  5. What kind of results can you expect? Are there before and after photos that you can look at?  

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many people who have a child born with a cleft lip or palate are confused about the cause of the birth defect and their legal rights. Most cleft lip/palate defects are believed to be caused through genetics and environmental factors. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates.

If you believe that your child’s cleft lip/palate may have been influenced by your use of Topamax, it is important to act now and contact the experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office. Contact the Mininno Law Office in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600 or in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380 for a free consultation and case evaluation.