Medical Malpractice Lawyers Win $3 Million Verdict in New York

A New york Jury has recently awarded a $3 million verdict to 18 year old Marlayna Kineke, a young woman who suffered a serious brain injury due to medical malpractice during her childbirth 18 years ago.

Negligent Doctor Causes Permanent Injury

new jersey philadelphia Medical malpractice lawyers big verdict new yorkDr. Stephen Serlin was summoned at 5am on February 24th, 1993 to perform an emergency C-section for Marlayna’s mother, Dawn Kineke. He did not arrive at the hospital until 7am, and the procedure didn’t begin until 8:14am. In that time, Marlayna suffered fetal asphyxia from umbilical cord compression within the womb, which caused cerebral palsy and a host of additional developmental issues.

Serlin ordered the C-Section the day before, February 24th, after labor was ineffectively induced. However, he and his mid-wife left the hospital for more than four hours, which is against hospital policy, especially while they had a patient in a certain level of distress.

The verdict is meant to cover pain and suffering, medical bills, and rehab costs, and the remainder will be placed in trust and used for Marlayna’s care. “It sounds like a lot of money, but it has to pay for her care for the rest of her life,” her attorney said.

Serlin’s insurance company can cover $2 million, and he may have to pay the Kineke’s $1 million on his own.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Marlayna’s life was forever effected when Dr. Serlin negligently delayed her delivery. Had Dawn not waited so long for the procedure, perhaps fetal asphyxia would never have affected Marlayna’s brain. She will need to receive special care for the rest of her life, care that is not cheap.

If you or a loved one are victims of 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 the medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office earn you the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.

Medical Malpractice After the Hospital Also A Problem

During a football game, when a player drops the ball or fumbles a hand-off, the team could lose a couple yards, turn over the ball for an interception, or simply return to the line of scrimmage to re-do the play. But in the world of medicine, when a doctor drops the ball, consequences are much more severe. Lives could be lost or irreversibly changed for the worse. That is why patient hand-offs must be handled with the greatest of care.

Research to Improve Post-Hospitalization Treatment

medical malpractice lawyers in nj and paMartin Chieng Were, M.D., M.S., a Regenstrief Institute investigator and assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, has received a $420,000 award from the Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation®. The grant is aimed to help further Were’s research into improving, with health information technology, patient care after their discharge from the hospital. Specifically, he is focused on the handling of patients who leave the hospital with pending test results.

Post-hospitalization patient management is often riddled with poor communication. Were’s previous research demonstrated a surprising lack of adequacy in hospital discharge summaries, which can lead to serious medical errors during continuing treatment down the road. The study reported that out of 2,927 tests with pending results, only 16% were mentioned in discharge summaries. And further, only 67% of discharge summaries mentioned which physician would be taking on the patient’s remaining care.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Handing off patients should not be a dangerous and risky practice. Medical providers should have sufficient and effective systems in place to not only ease transitions for both doctor and patient, but to ensure that the proper treatment is being provided. Dropping the ball is not an option when lives are on the line.

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, 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 full and fair compensation that you need and deserve.

Medical Malpractice: Surgeon Who Killed Patient is Reinstated for Duty

A doctor in northern New Jersey, found guilty of medical malpractice, lying, and altering records, has been reinstated to perform surgery at the Hoboken University Medical Center (HUMC).

An Irreversible Mistake Takes An Irreplaceable Life

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers richard flaggOn August 29, 2000, Richard Flagg was admitted to Meadowlands Hospital to have portions of his left lung removed due to a cancerous tumor. His surgeon was Dr. Santusht Perera. When Richard awoke, Dr. Perera informed him that during surgery he found an even larger tumor on his right lung, and that by removing portions of that lung instead, he had saved his life.

Several months later, Flagg picked up his medical records from the hospital. He began reading the pathology report. The report showed that there was no evidence of any tumor in the right lung. And due to the large portions of the lung that were removed, it had become impossible to remove any of the left lung. Flagg’s brother Kenneth recalls the day that Richard called to tell him what he found, “Kenny, they just killed me.”

Richard Flagg, Vietnam War vet, 8 year Air Force pilot, and hardworking Captain in the Merchant Marines, died on September 8, 2003 at age 63.

Dr. Perera; Punished?

The State Board of Medical Examiners fined Perera $80,000 and sentenced him to a 6 month suspension of his medical license. At the end of his suspension he was put on probabtion, but permitted to practice medicine.

Flagg’s long-time girl, Edith Bickoff, was not thrilled about the news that Perera would be operating again.

“It doesn’t surprise me that the butcher is back. They (Perera and the hospital) got a little, little, little slap on the wrist. And Richie suffered, that last year he suffered. He was in the hospital more than he was out, and then he drowned in his own blood.”

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Richard Flagg was yet another victim of medical malpractice. But Dr. Perera’s actions in covering up his mistake, instead of trying all that he could to save the life of his patient, could be considered a greater tragedy. We trust our doctors with our lives in hopes that they will do all they can to make us well. But when they do all they can to save their careers instead, where does that leave us?

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. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office fight for your right to full and fair compensation.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Verdict of 19.2 Million Awarded in Florida

In Lee County, Florida, medical malpractice attorneys won a $19.2 million verdict in a medical malpractice suit regarding now 3.5 year-old Kiarra Smith.

Medical Malpractice at HealthPark Medical Center

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers florida kiarra smithKiarra Smith was born 3 months pre-mature and weighed only one and half pounds. Life began as a struggle for the tiny infant. Fifteen days after her birth, Kiarra was given an extreme dosage of nutrients, over 100 times her prescribed dose. The error led to cardiac arrest and other severe complications, including blindness.

Kiarra is permanently injured as a result of the overdose, and will spend the rest of her life in need of constant care. The Lee Memorial Health System commented on the the tragedy, saying:

“We acknowledge that a serious error occurred. Medical experts who reviewed the matter at our request believe that the child’s condition is a result of complications related to her extreme prematurity because she was born three months early and weighed one-and-a-half pounds.”

A Lee County circuit court awarded the Smith family $19.2 million in damages, but due to current malpractice reform caps in Florida, as well as sovereign immunity, the award could be diminished to only $200,000.

Hopefully, Kiarra and her family will receive their due compensation and justice will ultimately be done. Kiarra’s life will surely be one involving special and expensive medical treatment; treatment that $200,000 is never going to cover.

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 or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Our medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to earning compensation for patients who have been seriousley injured by negligent medicine.

Medical Malpractice Appeal Unsuccessful – License Revoked

medical malpractice attorneys new jersey philadelphia license revokedDr. Richard Glunk recently lost his appeal of a $20.5 million dollar medical malpractice verdict awarded to the family of his patient, 18 year old Amy Fledderman, who died in 2001 from complications during a liposuction procedure. In addition to losing his appeal, Dr. Glunk temporarily lost his license to practice medicine, and was ordered to pay a $5,000 civil penalty and take classes in ethics or professionalism.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Fight Negligence and Apathy

Amy Fledderman was not Glunk’s only patient to suffer from complications during liposuction. Two additional patients were hospitalized after a procedure, with whom Dr. Glunk settled out of court. Glunk punctured the bowel of one of those patients, and nearly killed another just days before Amy Fledderman’s procedure. It is also speculated that Dr. Glunk was using “donations” to bribe medical board hearing examiner, Rabbi Solomon Isaacson. Glunk vehemently denied using money to bribe Rabbi Isaacson, and mentioned a “decent chance” that his license would not be revoked.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Necessary to Obtain Justice

The Fledderman’s were awarded $15 million in punitive damages from a Philadelphia jury in 2008. Without a medical malpractice attorney, the Fledderman’s would not have been able to obtain such an award, and Dr. Glunk would have gotten away with carrying on a negligent and dangerous medical practice. Often, punitive damages are the only way to effectively punish a negligent medical provider. If Dr. Glunk was simply able to settle out of court a third time, he would have suffered no consequences of his actions, and would have been able to continue practicing negligent medicine.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered due to medical malpractice, you’ll need the help of a medical malpractice attorney. An attorney will be able to review your medical records and decide exactly what your case is worth, and proceed in fighting for your full and fair compensation. 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 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!

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.

Medical Malpractice Events Not Decreasing, According to New England Journal of Medicine

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published research executed by Harvard Medical School that shows that the number of medical malpractice events (referred to in the article as patient harms) has not decreased in the last 6 years, despite numerous prevention efforts.

Medical Malpractice Study by Harvard Medical School

medical malpractice and negligence attorneys in nj and paResearchers examined 6 years worth of medical records from 10 different North Carolina hospitals. Over 2,300 admissions records were examined from 2002 thru 2007. Records were chosen at random and reviewed by teams of nurse reviewers. The study found 588 patient harms, including surgical errors, medicinal errors, and nosocomial (hospital-aquired) infections. Of those 588 medical errors, 84.4% were reported as “short-lived” and “not serious.” Fifty, however, were classifed as life threatening, with 14 resulting in death, and 17 resulting in permanent injury. Of the errors, 63.1% of them were abolsutely avoidable.

Harvard Medical School researchers explained that they chose North Carolina hospitals because of the state’s pristine history, as well as it’s dedication to preventing medical malpractice and promoting patient safety. Authors of the study said of the results:

“Though disappointing, the absence of apparent improvement is not entirely surprising.”

It seems that while certain preventative measures have been taken, there still exists an alarming lack of free-standing programs that help deter diagnostic and surgical errors. Much of the medical malpractice occurs when patients are transferred from one physician or facility to another. Patient and information transfers must be handled with meticulous attention and sometimes, in the hustle and commotion of an Emergency Room, that kind of attention is impossible to give. That is why programs and protocol should be put into place to assist in these transfers.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

John Mininno, Esq. is a dedicated and hard working medical malpractice attorney practicing in New Jersey and Philadelphia. He is experienced in many different areas of medical malpractice, and is skilled at earning significant recoveries for victims of medical negligence. If you or a loved one have been victimized by neglience in an emergency or operating room, 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 Causes Quadriplegia for Police Officer

17.7 million dollars was awarded to George Nissen after severe medical malpractice changed his life forever. medical malpractice and negligence attorneys in new jersey and philadelphia

Forty-seven year old George Nissen of Melrose Park, Illinois worked as a Stone Park Police Officer. On February 13, 2005, he responded to a complaint of a disturbance outside a town bar. While trying to dispurse the crowd and restore order to the area, Nissen was thrown over the hood of a car by one of the unruly crowd members. He struck his head on the curb. Nissen was quick to his feet, and none of his fellow officers suspected that any real damage or injury had occurred. A day later, Nissen was rushed to the hospital after having suffered a stroke, seemingly from injuries he sustained after the blow to the head.

Medical Malpractice at the University of Illinois Medical Center

He was admitted to the University of Illinois Medical Center to have an external ventricular drain inserted to drain the excess fluid on Nissen’s brain. The presence of the drain calls for close monitoring of intracranial pressure, which Nissen did not receive. His pressure levels rose to dangerous highs overnight and nurses failed to recognize or alert doctors of the complication, resulting in brain damage.

Today, Nissen is a quadriplegic, and can only communicate through eye or head movements. The University of Illinois has agreed to pay Nissen 16.2 million dollars, and an additional 1.5 million is being paid by an independant nursing agency that employed the negligent nurses.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one are victims of medical malpractice or negligence, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our medical malpractice attorneys are experienced and knowledgable in all areas of medical law, and are prepared to work hard and 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. The Mininno Law Office team is here for you.

Medical Malpractice at Parkland Memorial Hospital Part II

medical malpractice new jersey philadelphia attorneys negligence parkland memorial hospitalJessie Mae Ned was 51 when she decided to undergo a knee replacement at Parkland Memorial Hospital. She had been working at Parkland for 28 years as part of the cleaning staff. Most of her time was spent scrubbing floors and toilets before she attained supervisor status. At 51, arthritis had rendered her left knee useless. Ned’s primary care physician, a doctor at the Parkland employee clinic, referred her to Dr. Frank Gottschalk, a University of Texas Southwestern Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Parkland specialist in joint reconstruction and amputation. The doctor scheduled the procedure for the last Friday of August in 2008.

Medical Malpractice wasn’t even a thought on Jessie Mae Ned’s mind. She was born at Parkland, had been receiving their care most of her adult life, and had only heard good things about Dr. Gottschalk. Unfortunately, nothing went as planned.

Medical Malpractice: Where is My Doctor?

On the day of her surgery, Dr. Christopher Espinoza-Ervin, a second year resident working under Dr. Gottschalk, entered her room and told her he would be performing her procedure. She simply responded “You’re not my doctor,” before the anesthesia kicked in and she was asleep on the operating table. Yes, Jessie knew it was a teaching hospital, but to her understanding, that meant that residents and students could be present for or assist in a procedure, not perform them unsupervised. Her consent form was even ambiguous. It states that it is “anticipated” that Gottschalk would be her surgeon and that “this may change at the time of surgery, depending on the availability of Residents with the necessary competence and training.” The bottom of the form contains a signature line for the surgeon who performed the procedure; no one signed.

Medical Malpractice: Something Isn’t Right

Ned’s surgery began just before 8am and was complete 74 minutes later; old knee out and new knee in. She was released to her recovery room complaining of a “burning sensation” in the knee. A nurse charted “notified MD.” A number of med students, residents, and attending physicians came in and out of her room in the following days, misdiagnosing her condition time and time again, and failing to properly update or mark her chart. Ned told one med student that she could not feel her bottom left leg, flex her ankle, or wiggle her toes. Experts say these symptoms should have been immediately addressed. The student attributed the numbness to the lasting effects of a femoral nerve block. This anesthesia is supposed to wear off 12-18 hours after surgery. The misdiagnosis was made 25 hours after surgery.

Despite complaints of excruciating pain and a swollen and purplish limb, nurses and providers at Parkland did nothing but prescribe more pain meds. “Just push your pain pump,” said one nurse. It was 3 days later, after Ned became delirious, that a vascular surgeon finally deduced that a surgical injury to the artery behind her left knee was causing ischemia (loss of blodd supply) in the lower left leg. Two emergency surgeries were performed to help relieve the swelling and return blood flow to the leg, as well as a number of other procedures to clean wounds and remove tissue damage. She was released.

Medical Malpractice: Infections Rage

November came with an onslaught of life threatening issues. Ned’s leg became infected with staph and strep, and more surgeries followed. One procedure involved sewing antibiotic beads inside her leg. Another planted a tube into her chest that pumped antibiotics throughout her body. A third surgery in March of 2009 removed her artificial knee in hopes that it’s removal would stop the spread of bacteria. This went on for months as Ned’s body tried, unsuccessfully, to fight off the bacteria. Further complications arose when an infection caused uncontrollable vomiting for Jessie Mae Ned. Yet another surgery was required to remove an abdominal hernia that formed because of the vomiting.

Medical Malpractice: More Surgical Errors and Infection

August 2009, almost a year after the first knee replacement, Ned received a second artificial knee, and endured another surgical injury. This time around, it was a ruptured knee tendon. The incision did not heal correctly and infections plagued Ned once again. Ned was hospitalized for 2 months and underwent another 9 surgeries. In December of 2009, doctors told Ned her situation was hopeless. Her leg was amputated in two surgeries later that month. medical malpractice new jersey philadelphia attorneys negligence parkland memorial hospital

Ned’s ordeal with Parkland Memorial is truly heartbreaking. She went in for a simple knee replacement procedure, and a year and 26 surgeries later, she was an amputee. The medical malpractice and negligence that occured inside Parkland Memorial with regard to Ned’s treatment is shocking! Dr. Gottschalk seems to have failed on numerous occasions to see that his patient was receiving the proper care. And what’s even more apalling is that Jessie Mae Ned was one of their own; an employee of the same facility for 28 years. If this is how they treat their own co-workers, how do they treat people they don’t know?

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered due to medical malpractice or negligence in New Jersey or Philadelphia, 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.

Our legal team are experienced enough to handle even the toughest of cases. Let us earn you the compensation you need and deserve.