DePuy Hip Implants RECALLED

new jersey philadelphia defective products attorneys depuy hip replacements implants DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has recently recalled it’s line of ASR hip implant systems used in hip replacement surgeries.
It seems the implants are defective products, malfunctioning in a few different ways.

Sometimes, the DePuy Hip Replacements are loosening, meaning that the implant is no longer attached to the bone in the right position. In other instances, the implants are dislocating, and the two parts of the system that move together are no longer aligned.
Metal particles are wearing off of the ball socket components of the implants that rub together, and, over time, can cause fluid build-up in the muscles surrounding the joint. These metal particles could potentially cause significant harm the muscles, bones, and nerves around the hip.

Have you Recently Undergone Hip Replacement Surgery?

If you have recently received a hip implant, and find that you are suffering through pain that exceeds the expected recovery period, you may have received a defective implant from DePuy Orthopaedics.
Contact your orthopaedic surgeon to find out who manufactured your implant, and then contact a defective products attorney at the Mininno Law Office: we will work hard to fight for you, and earn you the compensation you deserve.

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 Neglect Brings Criminal Charges to Facility Owner and Employee

In a shocking and rare turn of events, nursing home abuse has put an assisted living facility caretaker in jail for 31 months following the death of a resident.

Nursing Home Neglect in a Washington State Facility

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse attorney nursing home neglect jean rudolph houghton lakeview — Jean Rudolph died in 2008 at age 87 due to infection caused by three stage 4 bedsores that went untreated.

Jean Rudolph, 87, was a resident at the Houghton Lakeview adult home in Kirkland, Washington. She suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as varied heart problems. She was virtually bedridden and had extreme difficulty verbalizing any complaints she may have had regarding pain or discomfort.

When Jean died, she weighed 68 lbs, and was being ravaged by infections caused by three untreated, stage 4 bedsores that had burrowed to her bones. A pressure ulcer on her hip revealed a hip joint jutting out of her body.
When her son was notified of the bedsores, after almost a month of severe neglect, he rushed his mother to the hospital where she died three weeks later.

Her caretaker, Effie Tutor, was sentenced to 31 months in jail for a felony count of first-degree criminal mistreatment. Nursing Home owner, Patricia Goodwill, plead guilty to second-degree criminal mistreatment. Prosecutor Page Ulrey has asked for a one year jail sentence.

Unbeknownst to Rudolph or her family, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) had previously cited Houghton Lakeview with a number of serious health and safety violations. After Rudolph’s death, the facility was closed down. Investigators are looking into another nursing facility that Goodwill owns in Washington. The DSHS is currently reviewing her conviction to determine whether or not she should be stripped of her license to run the other facility.

Are You a Victim of Elder Abuse or Nursing Home Neglect?

Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect are a serious epidemic in today’s long term care industry. It’s a good thing that law enforcement and juries are seeing these as criminal offenses, and forcing punishments upon offenders.
If you or a loved one have suffered in any way due to elder abuse and/or nursing home neglect in a nursing home or long term care facility, please 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.

DePuy Hip Implants Release Toxic Metallic Debris Into Bloodstream

Recently, there has been a lot of news surrounding the recall of the DePuy Orthopaedics defective hip implant system. The product recall occurred after a medical study in Great Britain revealed that this hip implant had up to a 13% failure rate within the first five years of surgery.
And, as if early hip replacement failure and the necessity of additonal surgery wasn’t bad enough, the wear and tear from these defective hip implants is resulting in the flow of metallic debris throughout the bloodstream.

What are these metals?

depuy hip implant recall new jersey mininno law office Chromium and Cobalt. These metals are not found in your local vitamin store: Chromium is a chemical element found on the periodic table under atomic number 24. It is used to make stainless steel and all of the shiny parts called “chrome” on automobiles.
While it may look pretty on a “tricked out” automobile, when it circulates in the bloodstream, it has been associated with numerous health problems.

depuy hip implant recall nj and pa attorneys mininno law office Similarly, Cobalt is also a chemical element found on the periodic table under atomic number 27. Since ancient times, it has been used as a blue pigment to tint glass, jewelry, and furniture.
However, when it is released into your bloodstream as a result of wear and tear of a defective hip implant, it can also cause serious health problems. It is considered a carcinogen by healthcare professionals. It is definately not a substance that a patient wants circulating through his or her bloodstream.

In selecting these metals, especially with the knowledge of their potential side effects, DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, was hoping to create a better hip implant. Instead, the research is starting to show that they have in fact created a defective product which not only results in pain, suffering, and additional surgery, but exposes patients to harmful chemical elements in the bloodstream.

Have a DePuy Implant? NJ and PA DePuy Recall Attorneys

If you have a DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant, you should be aware that these implants have been recalled. You should consult with your family doctor and orthopaedist to determine whether or not you have been exposed to chromium or cobalt metals, and whether you have any symptoms associated with these chemicals.
If you would like more information about the recall, please 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.

Are all DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants Defective?

Recently, we have been asked if ALL DePuy hip implants are defective. Currently, there is no real answer because it is simply too soon to interperet the data on these defective DePuy hip implants.

new jersey philadelphia depuy orthopaedics lawyers implants recalled What is known is that the recall affects the ASR XL Acetabular System, which is used for total hip replacements, as well as the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, which is used in a newer kind of procedure involving bone conservation.
The ASR Hip Resurfacing System has not yet been approved in the United States, but according to Johnson & Johnson, some patients may have gotten these implants through a clinical trial when the company was seeking FDA approval for the hip implants.

Therefore, one of the first things a patient needs to determine is whether or not they have a total DePuy Orthopaedics hip replacement system, or the DePuy ASR hip resurfacing system. A combined total of about 93,000 of the total hip replacement system devices have been implanted worldwide. Presently, the data shows that only 1 in about 8 of these hip replacements have caused patients symptoms, and have required correction.
However, since the symptoms of a defective hip implant may mimic other symptoms, many patients do not yet know whether or not their implant is defective. Many patients are insisting that they get corrective surgery now, before these defective implants cause signs and symptoms, to prevent future problems such as microscopic metal particles in the bloodstream.

So, while the data does not suggest that all DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants are defective, it simply is too soon to come to a final conclusion about the number of patients who will have symptoms related to these defective implants.

NJ and PA DePuy Orthopaedics Defective Hip Implant Attorneys

If you have any concerns regarding a DePuy Orthopaedics implant, you should contact your orthopaedic surgeon or family doctor.
If you want to know what your rights are regarding these recalled hip implants, contact the Mininno Law Office. Our NJ and PA DePuy Hip Implant Recall Lawyers are prepared to answer your questions and earn you any and all compensation that you deserve. You may call the Mininno Law Office for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Hip Replacement Recall: Is a New Hip Worth the Risk?

depuy orthopaedics Recall Attorneys hip implant replacement New Jersey Philadelphia With the recent news about the DePuy Orthopaedics hip replacement recalls, many people are asking, “Is a hip replacement worth the risk?” Each year there are nearly ¼ of a million hip replacement surgeries performed. Many hospitals and surgeons boast of how simple, safe, and effective hip replacement surgeries are. Afterall, a hip replacement surgery only takes about 1-3 hours and, many times, patients are up and about and returning to work as early as one week after surgery.

However, the decision to have a hip replacement should be one that is made only as a last resort.

When is it Time for a Hip Replacement?

Prior to a hip replacement, you should get at lease 2 opinions from 2 different orthopaedists who have reviewed your x-rays, performed physical examinations to evaluate your condition, and who know how your hip problems are interfering with your activities or quality of life. Mild pain or symptoms that make things a little more difficult should not be sufficient reasons to schedule a hip replacement surgery. For most patients, a hip replacement surgery should only be considered if they have been having signifcant pain for at least 4 years before their surgery.
In additon, the hip should be replaced only if there is severe joint stiffness after exertion, and a significant reduction of the range of motion in the hip joint. Hip replacement surgery is major surgery which carries with it all of the risks associated with surgery (e.g., infection, surgical errors, worsening of the condition, hardware failure, anesthesia risks, and even wrongful death).

Not only that, but you will forever set off the metal detectors at airport security screenings!

If those risks and consequences were not enough, the recent recall of DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants should give all potential hip replacement patients reason to think twice before agreeing to this procedure.

DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implant Recall Attorneys

At the Mininno Law Office, we work to gain recoveries for those who have been wronged. If you are the recipient of a DePuy Hip Implant, you may be eligable for compensation. If you have recently undergone a hip replacement, contact your orthopaedic surgeon immediately to find out if your implant was manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics.
If so, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implant Recalled Due to Metal on Metal Complications

The recent DePuy Orthapaedics Hip Implant recall should not come as any surprise to most people. Within the last several years, DePuy hip implants, employing a metal on metal function, were used in about 90,000 hip replacements performed in the United States.

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DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implant Complications

DePuy hip implants mimic our traditional bone structure by creating a ball and socket joint out of metal; specifically, chromium and cobalt. DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant manufacturers believed the elements would be stronger and last longer than conventional hip implant materials.
The problems with the hip implants arise from friction in between the head at the top of the thigh bone and the cup which is placed into the hip socket. These two metals rub together and ultimately cause wear and tear on the materials. Friction on a car tire, results in rubber particles being slowly dispersed on our roadyways. Friction on a metal implant results in metal particles being dispersed inside a human body. These particles and metallic debris can cause signifcant damage to tissue and bone surrounding the hip joint.

Some of these particles even enter the blood stream and can become lodged in other parts of the body. Such patients will have high metal content in their blood streams which can be diagnosed using standard radiological studies that will show the metal dispersed throughout the body.
Unfortunately, orthopaedic surgeons using DePuy hip implants were not alerted of these complications until recently. In the meantime, it appears that nearly 95,000 of these defective hip implants could be in the population today.

NJ and PA DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys

If you have a DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant, do not wait until you are experiencing signs or symptoms of metallic debris in your body. You should immediately consult with your family doctor and orthopaedic surgeon to get properly tested and continue to be tested for any problems associated with this defective implant.
If you wish to know your legal rights, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Defective DePuy Hip Implants: Signs and Symptoms

DePuy Orthopaedics has recently recalled it’s defective ASR Hip Implant System, however, not every DePuy hip implant has failed. If you are a recipient of the DePuy hip replacement, you should look for any of the following signs and symptoms:

Hip Pain (with or without activity) – All patients who have had hip replacement surgery will experience some pain at first. However, the symptoms are supposed to improve and, eventually, go away. If your symptoms have gone away and have now returned, or never did go away at all, it may be a sign of a defective hip implant.
Hip Swelling – Swelling is normal in the immediate post operative period following a hip replacement. However, if you have a new onset of hip swelling following a DePuy hip implant, this may be another sign that the metal components are wearing out and causing the swelling.
Problems Walking – Finally, some patients who have been discovered to have received defective hip replacements complain of problems walking. This problem is usually caused by the body’s reactions to the metallic particles which have worn away from the DePuy hip implant. This may be one of the most serious signs or symptoms, because this could mean that the metal particles have caused damage to the muscles, tissue, bones, and nerves surrounding the hip joint.

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Depuy Recall Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

If you are experiencing any of the above signs or symptoms, please contact the Mininno Law Office for more information and a free case evaluation.
In fact, even if you have not yet experienced the symptoms and want more information about what you should do if you have a DePuy hip replacement, call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Surgical Errors: Do You Really Need Surgery to Cure a Stomach Virus?

new jersey surgical errors complications attorneys tech surgery stomach virus A recent research study by the University of Washington revealed that sixteen percent of appendectomies are performed on hospital patients who don’t need them. Medical tests can determine if the patient has a stomach virus or inflamed lymph nodes that mimic the symptoms of appendicitis.
Although appendicitis can be a serious illness (and if untreated potentially result in wrongful death), many hospitals are too quick to operate and remove the appendix when this organ is not causing the patient’s symptoms: sixteen out of every one hundred hospital patients will be subjected to this surgical errors and complications.

How Can This Surgical Error be Reduced?

A patient should ask the hospital for a CAT Scan of the stomach if a patient’s white-cell count is over 10,000 cells per microliter. This medical test should always be done before appendix surgery to confirm the correct medical diagnosis to determine f the appendix surgery truly must be performed. Otherwise, an unnecessary surgery can expose a patient to many surgical risks such as infection, bleeding and wrong site surgery. These surgical risks can be more deadly to a patient then appendicitis.

Surgical Errors Lawyers in New Jersey & Philadelphia

Surgical errors are a very common form of hospital negligence: Medical Malpractice victimizes hundreds of thousands of patients each year. 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: (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

The surgical errors lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and equipped enough to handle the toughest malpractice cases. Do not hesitate to contact our team, and let us earn you the compensation you deserve.

Defective Product Recall: Over Two Million Nissans

new jersey philadelphia defective products attorneys nissan recall over two million vehicles Nissan has pro-actively recalled more than two million cars and trucks worldwide for what they have described as an “ignition problem.” The Japanese automobile manufacturer explains that an ignition part, called a relay, could potentially malfunction which would cause a vehicle to stall. The issue can be fixed in less than an hour by simply reprogramming the vehicle.

Defective Products: Nissans being recalled include any 2003 through 2006 model of the Nissan Titan, Armada, Frontier, Xterra, and infiniti QX56. Smaller models liked the March, Micra, Cube, and Note are also included. Most of the recalls are happening in Japan, with 825,000 units. The United States and Canada have a combined 726,000. Countries in Europe and Asia account for the numbers as well.

Fortunately, no accidents resulting from the ignition malfunction have been reported. Nissan is taking preventative steps by issuing this recall. Drivers who may be unsure about their model can drive into their Nissan dealership to see if theirs is on the list of recalled vehicles.

Defective Product Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Nissan has done what so many companies fail to do. It recognized a problem and acted swiftly to solve it. Many times, companies will knowingly sell a product that is dangerous and defective, and not think twice. Nissan may have saved lives by issuing this recall.
If you or a loved one have been affected by a Defective Product of any kind, 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 NJ and PA defective product attorneys at the Mininno Law Office work hard to get you the compensation that you deserve.

Defective Product Sales Cost GlaxoSmithKline $750 Million

new jersey philadelphia defective products attorneys glaxosmithkline medicines tagamet avandia corteg An article published by the New York Times speaks of the $750 million settlement the British drug company GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay to end a number of civil and criminal complaints regarding knowingly defective medicines they put on store shelves for years. Such defective products include contaminated diaper cream, and an inaffective antidepressant. Twenty other medicines were sold with “questionable safety,” including the diabetes drug Avandia, the heart drug Corteg, and the acid reflux drug Tagamet.

The article goes on to say:

“[New lawsuits] have asserted that drug makers misled patients and defrauded federal and state governments that, through Medicare and Medicaid, pay for much of health care. Using claims from industry insiders, federal prosecutors are not only demanding record fines but are hinting at more severe actions”

Fortunately, no patients were known to be sickened by the defective medicines, however, that does not mean that none were. The cases would be very difficult to trace. Glaxo’s offenses were exposed when former quality assurance manager Cheryl Eckerd came forward with knowledge of the company’s wrongdoings. Thanks to laws that encourage this “whistleblowing,” Eckerd could receive as much as $96 million dollars from the federal portion of the settlement.

NJ and PA Defective Products Attorneys

Glaxo wronged millions upon millions of consumers by knowingly putting defective and potentially dangerous products on the market. Unfortunately, they are not the only company to indulge in this kind of business practice.
If you or a loved one have been affected by a defective product of any kind, 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 New Jersey and Pennsylvania defective product attorneys are prepared to work for you and get you the compensation you are owed.