Tag: free case evaluation

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Necessary to Exposing Nursing Home Abuse

nursing home abuse lawyers new jersey philadelphia exposedAccording to a recent report by the American Association for Justice, civil lawsuits help uncover nursing home abuse and insurance company offenses. “Where regulatory and legislative bodies have been unable to cope with this distressing rise of neglect and abuse of our elderly, the civil justice system has stepped into the breach,” said AAJ President Gibson Vance.This statement is contained in the report, Standing Up For Seniors: How the Civil Justice System Protects Elderly Americans. The report outlines how, through litigation, trial attorneys across the country have uncovered evidence of corporate programs aimed at terminating seniors’ benefits as well as evidence of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers are Champions of Neglected Seniors

As a New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyer, Donald Browne agrees with the report’s identification of a common theme of “abuse by insurance companies taking advantage of senior citizens.” Mr. Vance noted that “[c]orporate nursing homes and insurance companies have continually chosen to put profits ahead of the well-being of our most vulnerable population and that because governmental oversight of these problems was simply not feasible in all or even most cases, the civil justice system and trial lawyers have stepped in to fill the gaps“.

At the Mininno Law Office, we have spoken with hundreds of families distressed about the care their loved one receives at a nursing home. The families are upset about the lack of professionalism and lack of compassion. The attitudes of nursing home staff starts at the top and makes its way down to nursing home employees responsible for the most basic of human needs – nutrition, hydration, hygiene, and comfort. Donald Browne has questioned countless nursing home employees under oath – including owners, medical directors, administrators, directors of nursing, nursing supervisors, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, social workers, dieticians and physical therapists. The culture of the nursing home commonly starts with a corporate policy of maximizing profits, even to the detriment of the residents for which the nursing home promised good care.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Donald Browne

Donald Browne agrees with the AAJ report that laws passed to protect nursing home residents and government investigators hired to protect nursing home residents are not enough to prevent nursing homes from carelessly injuring our loved ones for their own financial gain. In many cases, our client’s injuries seem to be treated as a “cost of doing business.”

Donnie Browne sees the following types of injuries to nursing home residents, despite the promises of nursing homes to take care of those people whose families can no longer safely care for:

1. Burns and Scalding nursing home abuse lawyers new jersey philadelphia donnie browne
2. Dehydration and Malnutrition
3. Avoidable Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
4. Fluid Overload
5. Aspiration Pneumonia
6. Septic Shock
7. Broken Hips, Pelvises & Bones from Avoidable Falls
8. Physical Abuse from Staff and Other Residents
9. Mental Abuse from Staff
10. Verbal Abuse from Staff
11. Sexual Abuse from Staff and Other Residents
12. Inappropriate Medications and Medication Errors
13. Inappropriate Sedation
14. Physical Restraints
15. Choking and Strangulation
16. Gangrene & Sepsis
17. Poor Hygiene
18. Contracture
19. Wandering and Elopement
20. Wrongful Death

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

These injuries are not what families pay for or expect when they trust a nursing home or long term care facility with the lives of their loved ones. If your loved one was neglected or abused at a nursing home or long term care facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Donald Browne is experienced in the toughest of nursing home cases and will work hard to earn you full and fair compensation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall: What Should DePuy Pay For?

As a New Jersey DePuy hip replacement recall attorney, I am often asked why it would be unfair for DePuy to pay only for out of pocket medical costs and wage loss, and not to pay for other compensatory damages such as pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment. Many believe that the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary did not intentionally design, manufacture, market, and sell a defective hip implant. The argument goes that since the company did not act intentionally, it should not have to pay full compensatory damages. This argument is one that is made in all types of case, not just defective product cases involving medical devices. As a trial lawyer, I hear this argument every day in the courtroom. It’s also something that has been debated by civilization for nearly thousands of years; what should be done when people with excessive money, power, and influence, break the rules of society and end up hurting other people? What should our civil justice system do to make sure that corporations pay for the harm the cause?

DePuy Hip Implant Recall; Who Pays?

In the first legal code, the Code of Hammurabi, the authors were very much concerned about restitution for breaking the rules and hurting someone. That code is similar to the Old Testament code, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. In fact, some civilizations today still use that code for their civil justice system. depuy hip implant recall attorneys New Jersey PhiladelphiaJust last year, an Iranian court sentenced someone to the surgical removal of their eye after their actions caused the loss of another man’s eye. That “eye for an eye” justice system is still very much a part of “civil justice” in some parts of the world.

Here, in the United States, we would never consider that justice. But what are injured parties allowed to ask for here in the United States? What we’re allowed to ask for is that a jury require a corporation like DePuy to pay a fair price on all of the harm that was caused by manufacturing, marketing and selling a defective hip implant. In some instances, it’s easy to figure out what that fair price should be. Wage loss and medical bills, things that DePuy has already “generously” offered, are things that any court or jury would find them liable for. However, what about the other things – intangibles such as pain, suffering and other compensatory damages. Our system of civil justice requires that corporations like DePuy pay for these intangible damages.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall – Intangible Damages

If a DePuy hip implant causes someone to have to undergo years of physical pain in the hip joint, then our law requires that DePuy pay damages to make up for those years of physical pain. After all, it is the company’s defective hip implant that caused that pain, just like it caused medical bills and wage losses. In addition, if one of DePuy’s hip implant patients must undergo another surgery to remove a defective hip implant and reimplant a nondefective hip implant, DePuy must pay for the pain, suffering, and the time lost in preparation of and recovery from that surgery. Again, this is because our civil justice system requires corporations to pay for the full amount of the harm they cause, not just part of the harm they cause. Ironically, in its recall notice and claims forms, the Johnson & Johnson sunsidiary does not accept full responsibility for its own defective hip implant. They are looking to pay for only part of the harm they caused, not the full extent of the harm caused. That’s why it is important for anyone with a recalled hip implant to contact an attorney to seek full damages for all harm caused.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one received a defective implant and are now unsure of what to do, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our DePuy hip implant recall lawyers want to earn you fair compensation for damages caused by the defective design of DePuy’s ASR XL Acetabular Hip Implant System. 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 team work to earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Medical Malpractice in Baltimore; Medically Unnecessary Heart Stents

Dr. Mark Midei was a highly sought after cardiologist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Towson, Maryland. Today, Dr. Midei faces countelss medical malpractice lawsuits, and possibly the end of his career, after allegations surfaced that he has implanted over 500 unnecessary stents in patients from 2007 to 2009.

Medical Malpractice for Money

medical malpractice attorneys new jersey philadelphia unnecessary heart stentsMedicare and Medicaid paid $3.8 million out of the $6.6 million dollars charged for 585 stent procedures performed by Dr. Midei that may not have been medically necessary. Hospitals like St. Joseph’s stand to make up to $10,000 per procedure. Abbott Laboratories, the pharmaceutical distributor of the stents that Dr. Midei used, stood to make even more money. Perhaps thats why part of their 2008 business plan included supplying the doctor with research money and VIP trips! Doctors are offered kickbacks to prescribe medications or provide referrals on an unfortunately regular basis, but to earn those kickbacks at the expense of patient safety is surely corrupt.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys vs. Negligent Medical Providers

Dr. Steve Nissen, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said:

“What was going on in Baltimore is going on right now in every city in America. We’re spending a fortune as a country on procedures that people don’t need.”

Why? So doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical giants can watch the money roll in. Stent procedures can be very dangerous and cause life threatening side effects that clinicians, like Dr. Midei, seem to callously overlook while recommending their patients undergo them. Stent patients face the risk of blood clot, heart attack, or stroke, once a stent is implanted. To decrease these risks, patients are put on blood thinners, which bring with them a wholr new list of risks and possible complications.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one feel that you’ve been wronged by a medical provider, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our NJ and PA medical malpractice attorneys are experienced and prepared in medical malpractice cases, and can fight to earn you fair and necessary compensation. 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 team work for you!

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Fight Bedsores

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawfirm, many people come to us after their loved ones have developed bedsores while residents at a nursing home or an assisted care facility.

Nursing Home Abuse and Bedsores

Medically speaking, a bedsore is more accurately referred to as a pressure sore or pressure ulcer. new jersey philadelphia lawyers against bedsoresThe Mayo Clinic defines these as areas of damaged or dying tissue in skin that results when pressure restricts or cuts off the blood supply to vulnerable parts of a patient’s body such as the skin of the buttocks, the lower back, the hips, the heels, and the toes. If blood flow is compromised and there is not adequate oxygen from the compromised blood flow, the skin and tissue in this area ulcerates and eventually dies resulting in a bedsore. Bedsores can be superficial or they can be gaping wounds that go to the bone.

Bedsores are a huge risk when living in a nursing home. Research shows from 5 to almost 30% of patients in nursing homes and assisted care living facilities may have bedsores. That’s just an amazing statistic given the numbers of seniors living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Without question, bad nursing homes will cause bedsores and pressure ulcers.

How does Nursing Home Abuse Cause Bedsores?

Why are patients in nursing homes much more likely to develop a bedsore than patients who are hospitalized or remain at home? The answer is simple. Because many Corporate Nursing homes put their shareholder’s profit over the very people they are supposed to be providing care for. How?
1. By hiring the lowest paid caregivers who, many times, are inexperienced and do not have adequate training; and
2. By also cutting back on a number of staff members who provide care.

Although laws require nursing homes to provide an adequate number of staff members to provide for the needs of the nursing home patients, many nursing homes or long term care facilities only hire the minimum number of staff required by state law where they are operating. This number is not related to patient needs, but just enough to meet state requirement. That’s like bragging about getting a D on an exam – it may meet the minimum standards, but it’s not good.

Nursing Home Abuse Prevention

Because being in a nursing home is one of the most significant risk factors in whether or not your loved one will or will not develop a bed sore, it is important that families be proactive with nursing homes and become a “patient advocate.” It takes a team effort to fight back against nursing home abuse. If possible, family members should visit their loved one on a daily basis and come at different times to ensure that the nursing staff is not just giving “face time” when they know family members will be present. Family members should do skin checks of their loved ones to see whether or not there is any redness or swelling which could be indicative of a developing pressure ulcer. Families should immediately, in writing, document any signs or symptoms of pressure ulcers. A copy of the documentation should be given to the nurse, the nursing home administrator, and the nursing home physician. Families should demand that the nursing home provide a care plan to address any potential bedsore. If the nursing home does not respond immediately to a potential developing pressure ulcer or bedsore, you should report this nursing home abuse to the ombudsman in your area.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in NJ and PA

If your loved one is receiving inadequate, abusive, or negligent care at a nursing home or long term care facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are skilled in handling these cases, and earning victims and their families fair and necessary compensation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Report Nursing Home Abuse in New Jersey
Report Nursing Home Abuse in Pennsylvania

DePuy Hip Implant Recall – Johnson & Johnson Knew of Complications

As a New Jersey DePuy Hip Implant recall lawyer, I have been providing potential recall claimants with information about the DePuy hip implant recall. As we have written, in August in 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of giant pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, recalled two of its orthopaedic products; the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System.

DePuy ASR Hip Resurafacing System

The ASR Hip Resurfacing System was first introduced worldwide in 2003 and was only approved for use outside of the United States. The ASR hip resurfacing system was a partial hip replacement that involved placing a metal chromium or cobalt cap on the ball of the patient’s existing femur. depuy hip implant recall attorneys in nj and pa Since it was a partial replacement of just the cap, DePuy marketed it as a less invasise hip replacement. The problem with the ASR Hip Resurfacing System system, according to DePuy’s website, is that the independent national joint registry of England and Wales showed a five year failure and revision rate of approximately twelve percent – that’s 1 out of every 8 patients.

DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System

Similarly, the same publication showed a five-year revision rate of 13%for the ASR XL Acetabular System which was widely available here in the United States. The ASR XL Acetabular System was the more traditional total hip socket replacement. depuy hip implant recall attorneys in nj and pa

DePuy Hip Implant Patients Suffer Complications

According to DePuy, there are approximately 93,000 patients who have received one of the recalled hip ASR hip implant systems. Given the shockingly large number of patients who have potentially defective hip implants, there have been patients who have already experienced medical problems. As a result, there already have been several lawsuits filed by patients who have had pain, swelling, and damage to surrounding structures and tissues. These lawsuits claim that DePuy’s billion dollar parent company, Johnson & Johnson, knew for years that many of the 93,000 patients with these defective implants required corrective surgery more frequently than the traditional implants. More lawsuits are pending as additional information becomes known about what executives at DePuy Orthopaedics and Johnson & Johnson knew about this product defect. Ironically, these very same DePuy Orthopaedic ASR hip system continue to be listed on the Johnson & Johnson website, listing their subsidiary as a maker of “innovative implants and technologies for the treatment of joint and spine conditions can get you back to an active, pain-free daily routine.”

Similarly, Johnson and Johnson’s website further states that promotes DePuy and states “your doctor can use a product from DePuy to help build an ankle, elbow, hand/finger, hip, knee or wrist as well as arthroscopy products for shoulders, and put you on the road to recovery everyday.” Finally, the Johnson & Johnson website lists recalled hip implant under “sports medicine and trauma” wherein it states “enjoy an active life again with products for the surgical treatment of knees, as well as soft tissue and shoulder repair.”

DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys in NJ and PA

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia DePuy hip recall lawyer, we have fielded many questions about these potentially defective devices. Although some 93,000 patients now have a potentially defective hip implant that has been the subject of a recall and litigation, Johnson & Johnson continues to promote their subsidiary as a trusted hip implant maker for patients. It is no wonder that patients who have trusted and relied upon Johnson & Johnson to manufacture a safe and longstanding hip implant are seeking recourse in the courts. 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.

Medical Malpractice Averted by New Medication Management System

medical malpractice and negligence attorneys in nj and paMedical Malpractice in the form of medication errors has met a fierce contender in CareFusion’s Pyxis Medication Management System. CareFusion is a leading supplier of medical devices globally and, next week, will highlight their Pyxis medication management sytem at the 45th Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in Anaheim, California.

Medical Malpractive vs. Pyxis Medication Management

The new Pyxis technology has helped hospitals who have utilized the system reduce medicinal errors by up to 33%. One 300 bed facility was able to cut medicinal errors by 93%! The technology works by simplifying the process of medication and supply management between hospital and patient. It also provides support for caregivers when it comes to prescription decisions. The Pyxis system helps facilities save time and money, while improving the quality of patient care.

Medical Malpractice Consequences

Approximately 1.5 million Americans suffer from a medication error every year. Of that 1.5 million, 7,000 will die. In addition to the cost of human life, the financial cost of medical errors is staggering at $3.5 billion in annual costs to the national health care system. Medicare and Medicaid are instituting new payment models, limiting cost reimbursements to facilities with poor histories regarding medication management.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadlephia

It’s a good sign that steps are being taken to reduce medicinal errors. It’s an even better sign that steps are being taken to enstate monetary punishments for those facilities that fail to meet certain standards regarding medicinal errors. Medical malpractice and negligence can seriousley injure or even kill patients. If you or a loved one have been negatively affected by medical malpractice by a surgeon, physician, or specialist, 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 Mininno Law Office Team earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse – Does My Family Have a Case?

nursing home abuse and negeligence attorneys in nj and pa At the Mininno Law Office, we know from experience that it can be a difficult for a family to decide whether or not to investigate if a nursing home should be held responsible for injuries to a loved one. Furthermore, it can be quite disheartening at a later time when the law firm a family finally trusted to perform an investigation sends a letter indicating their disinterest. Based upon the experience of New Jersey nursing home abuse attorney Donald Browne, experienced personal injury attorneys and their law firms commonly reject claims of nursing home abuse that do have merit. Nursing home abuse and neglect cases have different characteristics and dynamics than other claims for personal injuries. Law firms either don’t understand how to analyze these cases, or decide they are too complicated to justify all of the necessary work and expense. However, an experienced nursing home abuse attorney like Donald Browne of the Mininno Law Office eagerly accepts the challenge.

Nursing Home Abuse Claims and the Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is a legal deadline by which a lawsuit must be filed. If a lawsuit is not filed by this deadline, an otherwise valid claim could be dismissed by the court. The statute for personal injury is generally two years from the date you knew, or should have known, that the nursing home’s conduct caused an injury. It can be a shorter or longer time period, depending upon what type of case you are pursuing, and in which court you are pursuing it.

Another issue with the statute is the “discovery rule.” Although it may be easy to figure out when it begins for an auto accident because the actual crash happened on a date that is easily identifiable, it is not always as easy to identify when it would begin and end for a nursing home abuse or neglect case. This is true because often times it is not one event that creates liability against a nursing home, but rather a series of mistakes that result in serious injuries to your loved one. Since the statue of limitations in any particular case is so fact specific, the best advice for any individual or family considering a lawsuit is to immediately contact a nursing home abuse attorney. After listening to the facts, the attorney should be able to advise as to the likelihood of a valid case, and when the statute would expire.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorney; Why Act Quickly?

Without specifically reviewing and analyzing the facts of your case, it is impossible to determine when the statue of limitations would expire. However, regardless of when the deadline to file a lawsuit may be, if you feel your family may have a lawsuit against a nursing home, you should contact Donald Browne immediately. There is a tremendous amount of information that needs to be collected, and the old adage “the sooner the better” certainly applies!

One example of important evidence that needs to be immediately collected in support of nursing home abuse and neglect case – photographs. Photographs are very important and should be taken immediately.

The earlier your family calls Donald Browne, the earlier your family and the Mininno Law Office can begin to work together and devise a plan to obtain all of the necessary information needed to start building your case. The only mistake your family can make is waiting too long to call and ask.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered at the hands of negligent or abusive staff members at a nursing home or long term care facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Donald Browne is an experienced and hard working nursing home abuse attorney prepared to help you earn the compensation you and your loved one are entitled to. You may also call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Hip Implant – Was Yours Recalled?

As a New Jersey and Pennsylvania DePuy Hip Implant Recall lawyer, I receive many telephone calls from hip replacement patients. Many of these folks have done their own independent internet research and have seen numerous websites discussin different hip implants that have been recalled over the years. The most recent hip implant recall involves Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. DePuy Orthopaedics is a fully owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that designs, manufactures, and markets orthopaedic and reconstructive hardware for the spine, knee, shoulders, and other joints. Not all of DePuy’s products are being recalled. At this stage, the only DePuy Hip Implant which is subject to the recall in the United States is the ASR XL Acetabular hip system. These hip replacement systems first became available in the summer of 2003 and were in use for approximately seven (7) years.

DePuy Hip Implant – How Will I Know If Mine is a Recalled Implant?

If you have had hip surgery before July 2003, then your hip implant is not part of the DePuy Hip Implant recall. However, if you have had surgery after July 2003 and your surgeon utilized a DePuy ASR XL Acetabular hip system, then your hip is subject to the DePuy hip implant recall. Many patients have already received information from Johnson & Johnson and DePuy regarding these recalled hip implants. However, the information provided by Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Orthopaedics does not provide the full scope of the remedies available to DePuy Hip Implant patients. In fact, as of this blog, neither Johnson & Johnson nor DePuy have made any commitment to paying compensation for pain & suffering, or the common compensatory damages that most defective product manufacturers are required to pay when they make, market, and/or sell a defective product.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall Lawyers in NJ and PA

The only way to know all of your rights is to contact a DePuy Hip Implant recall lawyer in New Jersey or Pennsylvania who can answer your questions free of charge. 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 Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you deserve.

New Jersey and PA Nursing Home Abuse and OBRA Regulations

As a New Jersey nursing home abuse law firm, we constantly speak with nursing home abuse victims and/or their families. Many ask if Congress has been actively involved in the prevention of nursing home abuse. While the answer is indeed YES, more work is needed.

Nursing Home Abuse Regulations through OBRA

nursing home abuse attonreys in new jersey and philadelphiaAs far back as 1987, the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging held hearings to determine the scope of abuse that was occurring in nursing homes. The federal government deemed the nature and extent of the abuse occurring in nursing homes to be such a serious concern that at the same time, the United States Office of Inspector General further began an investigation designed to uncover whether or not nursing home abuse was widespread throughout this country’s long term care system. As a result of the Senate and the Inspector General’s investigations, Congress then enacted in the Ombudsman’s Reconciliation Act of 1987, or OBRA .

The act consisted of specific federal laws designed to protect the rights of nursing home patients. These regulations set forth patients’ rights to include an absolute right not to be abused physically or mentally by a nursing home staff. The nursing home guidelines in OBRA further sets specific nursing home guidelines that required nursing homes to set out medical policies, procedures, and practices to minimize patient injuries such as bedsores, malnutrition, falls, and other signs of neglect. Under OBRA, states are required to establish state nursing home departments where patients and their families can file complaints. These state nursing home regulatory agencies are also required to perform prompt investigations of any allegations of nursing home abuse, bed sores, pressure ulcers, bedsores, nursing home negligence and other nursing home quality-of-care issues.

Nursing Home Abuse Should be Reported Promptly!

As a New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyer, we typically advise our New Jersey nursing home law clients to file their complaints with the “Office of the Ombudsman for the Institutionalized Elderly”. This office investigates allegations of bed sores, abuse and neglect of seniors, age 60 and older, who are living in nursing homes and other long-term healthcare facilities. Under New Jersey law, callers are entitled to anonymity, and the abuse investigation files are not open to the public. To file a complaint, you can call the 24 hour toll-free hotline at 1-877-582-6992, or email at ombudsman@advocate.state.nj.us.

As a Pennsylvania nursing abuse lawyer, we advise our Pennsylvania nursing home law clients to file or report any allegation of abuse or neglect with the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Pennsylvania Department of Aging, 555 Walnut Street, Fifth Floor, P.O. Box 1089, Harrisburg, PA 17101, Phone (717) 783-7427, Fax (717) 772-3382 or the 24 hour state-wide elder abuse hotline at 1-800-490-8505.

Though Congress’s OBRA protection laws have been around for over 25 years, it appears that Nursing Home abuse is still a systemic problem that continues to plague the quality of life of all seniors. As a nursing home abuse lawyer and advocate, we encourage Congress and States to continue to enact protections for the prevention of nursing home abuse.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered extensively due to the abusive or negligent actions of a nursing home or long term care facility, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The NJ and PA nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are prepared to handle even the toughest cases, in order to earn you the compensation you need and deserve. You may also call for a free consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

See More about Nursing Home abuse at nursing home abuse

Don’t wait as the statute of limitations may be running out on your claim!

DePuy Defective Hip Implants; How Were They Approved?

A common question among consumers who suddenly find themselves affected by a product recall is, “What is the process for FDA approval?” As a DePuy Hip Implant Recall attorney, I hear the question quite often. Surprisingly, the process is rather simple for products such as hip, knee, and shoulder replacements and parts.

DePuy Hip Implant Approval Process

depuy hip implant recall attorneys in new jersey and philadelphiaAccording to the FDA, DePuy’s first step towards FDA approval is the successfull completion of a number of clinical testing procedures set up by the FDA. However, in this instance, DePuy was able to avoid FDA scrutiny and it’s screening process by using a legal ‘back door,” which allowed it to circumvent the normal approval channels. This legal backdoor is known as a “510(k),” which permits pharmaceutical companies like DePuy (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), to avoid the normal screening process by claiming that their hip implants would be a “substantial equivalent” to other implant devices that have already been approved by the FDA. By claiming that their product was the “substantial equivalent,” DePuy was able to gain quick approval by the FDA to market and sell it’s ASR XL Acetabular hip implant system within the United States.

Unfortunately, the United States does not have an effective hip implant registry system to determine what the failure rates were for DePuy ASR hip implants and other substantially equivalent implants. This data had to come from the United Kingdom and Australia. Those hip implant registries demonstrated their ability to prevent patient harm. In both the United Kingdom and Australia, the registries were so successful in revealing data that showed the early and unacceptable failure rate of the DePuy hip implant system, DePuy phased out the hip implants long before the American recall. Now, given the debacle over the DePuy hip implant recall, the United States and the FDA are considering creating their own registry for implants, so that potential defects and patient harms can be identified sooner rather than later.

DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

By cutting corners and dodging red tape, DePuy was able to skirt their responsibilities to their consumers. Had those implants been properly tested and assessed by the FDA, approval would have been halted and kinks worked out before patients could be harmed. If you or a loved one have been affected by a defective DePut 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.

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