Tag: FDA

As 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.

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

You 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.

If your child was born with a cleft lip or palate, you most likely have considered the option of surgery to correct the birth defect. However, many people talk about surgery but do not know what it actually entails. The caring and experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office believe that knowledge of a procedure is essential to an informed decision. There are three essential steps to a cleft palate surgery;

1. Anesthesia,
2. Incision, and
3. Closing Incision.

Elaborating on the Three Essential Steps of Cleft Lip/Palate Surgery

First, your child is given anesthesia for his or her comfort during the surgery. There are choices between intravenous sedation and general anesthesia, and your doctor will recommend the best choice for your child.

Second, for a cleft lip surgery, the doctor attempts to close the lip, to provide a more normal function and structure. Incisions are made on the lip and the tissue is drawn together and stitched to close the cleft. The repair of a cleft palate requires repositioning of tissues and muscles to close the cleft and rebuild the roof of the mouth, which is then stitched at the midline of the roof and allows for normal feeding and speech development.

The third step, closing the incisions, is done in such a way that the scar lines up with the normal ridge of the lip. This helps prevent the scar from standing out and helps it appear completely normal.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Parents of children born with a cleft palate birth defect are sure to have questions about their legal rights. In many situations, there is little that can be done because the birth defect is genetic or caused by environmental factors. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has increased the likelihood of the development of a cleft lip/palate.

If you believe that your use of Topamax may have contributed to your child’s cleft palate, act now and contact the Mininno Law Office. The experienced birth defect attorneys of the Mininno Law Office can be reached at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia for a free consultation or case evaluation.

Our birth defects attorneys would like to present some information about treatment of your child’s cleft palate before the performance of surgery to correct the issue. Often times, children with oral clefts and malformations will have breathing difficulties because a cleft palate can obstruct the airway. This is frightening, and in some very rare emergency cases, a tracheotomy is necessary. However, in most cases, when correct and adequate breathing is compromised, oxygen can be provided through tubes to the child. Additionally, because of the difficulty involved with sucking and swallowing, special feeding techniques will be necessary. Because this makes the acquisition of nutrients harder than usual, it his important to monitor the nutrition and hydration levels of children suffering from these facial birth defects.

In preparation for the surgery that will attempt to (and most often does) correct the cleft palate, a child may have to wear dental supports immediately after birth or within the first two to three weeks. The function of these supports, which are made from plastic or metal molds, is to reshape an infant’s tissues. Ultimately, the end goal is a surgical correction and these tips help make that possible.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many people who have a child with a cleft lip/palate ask themselves what caused it. More often than not, the answer to this question doesn’t have an exact answer. However, the FDA recently announced that the drug Topamax (topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of a cleft palate/lip. It is important to contact our experienced professionals now in order to protect your legal rights. Do not hesitate to contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600, and in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380.