Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Physician Becomes Victim of Malpractice

Kevin Parsons was a successful physician practicing in the fields of geriatric and internal medicine. Tragically, Parsons was diagnosed with Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS), an extremely rare autoimmune disorder. Medical malpractice attorneys have found that the disorder is so uncommon that it only affects 300 people on the face of the earth. Parsons devoted the next twenty years of his life researching and writing on LEMS as well as advising others with this terrible disorder. Through his far-reaching research, Parsons determined that a stem cell transplant might be a potential cure for LEMS, so he traveled to Chicago to undergo the procedure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Unrelated Malpractice Ends Parson’s Search for a Cure

medical malpractice attorneys in nj and pa While at the hospital awaiting his transplant, an unrelated instance of medical negligence led to serious medical issues for Dr. Parsons. Parsons was accidentally given a dose of insulin from a nurse who failed to read a note that specifically stated that no insulin be administered. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that the insulin led Parsons into a diabetic coma and eventually caused his death only three weeks later. That’s when medical malpractice attorneys took on the case of Parson’s widow and family to seek justice for the alleged malpractice. The case never reached trial, which allowed the parties to avoid a lengthy litigation process. The two parties agreed to settle for a sum of approximately $5 million earlier this month. It appears that nurses had previously complained to higher-ups that the healthcare providers, on the floor Parsons was located, were overworked and given far too many patients.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. 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.

Elder Abuse Lawyers Warn of the “Grandparent Scam”

It is always disheartening to hear stories about the elderly and disabled being scammed or taken advantage of for their money. The elderly can be vulnerable and more trusting of others, so those with bad intentions prey on them as easy targets. As elder abuse lawyers, we strongly urge you to be careful of who you trust and to be wary of where you leave financial documents and account numbers – do not leave them where strangers can access them.

Elderly Scammed Out of Thousands Over the Phone

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA A very popular scam in recent years has been to call elderly adults pretending to be a grandchild, asking for money to be wired due to some emergency. This Grandparent Scam has cost people thousands of dollars all over the country. The scam has been around for several years, but it has gotten more elaborate lately. Originally, scammers would call and slowly get details from the victim through the conversation. Now-a-days, the caller will already know detailed information before they make the call. They will immediately identify themselves as a grandchild by name and give other details about their lives in order to increase credibility. Officials are warning everyone, especially the elderly, to never send money to family members or loved ones unless you can be certain you are sending it to the right person. It is easy for predators to access personal information so you must ask more than just basic information.

Floyd Adcock, a 78-year-old man from California, was conned out of almost $3,000 from a man pretending to be his grandson. On November 3 at 10:30 a.m., Adcock answered a phone call from a man saying that he had been in an accident in Mexico and needed $2,900 wired to him. Thinking it was his grandson, Adcock wired the money, costing him $2,988. After the money went through, the elderly man found out that his grandson had never been to Mexico and that he had been scammed out of the money.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of financially, or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Argue Many Cases in NYC

The country’s largest metropolitan area, New York City, was home to an enormous amount of medical malpractice lawsuits stemming from the actions of healthcare providers at public hospitals. Medical malpractice attorneys point out that much of the money paid out in damages came directly from taxpayers. Due to the negligence and malpractice of healthcare providers, 246 cases were completed in 2011 and the damage amounts are startling. The total number of payouts in New York City was up 5% to $135 million, $7 million more than the 2010 totals.

Two Shocking Cases from 2011

medical malpractice attorneys in nj and pa First, Damian Saul, 43, suffered a massive stroke while he waited for hours to see a physician at a city hospital. Upon his arrival, Saul informed a nurse that he was having trouble with his sight in one eye. This should have been recognized by the nurse as an initial sign of a stroke. The ensuing stroke left him almost completely paralyzed and he was unable to speak clearly. His medical malpractice attorneys reached a settlement of $5.5 million. His medical malpractice attorneyswere quoted as saying,

they did nothing, whoever was doing the triage was incompetent, they just weren’t listening to him.

Next, a 38 year old woman, who wished to remain anonymous, went to see a dentist to have her abscess drained. Unfortunately, her physician allowed her to be discharged from the hospital before requesting a culture test of the infected tissue. Had this test been requested, he would have recognized she suffered from an infection known as MRSA. Today, that cheek infection has led to her paralysis. The woman’s attorney, Sam Rosmarin, stated,

The tragedy here is that this could have been avoided. Her complete dependence on others as a result of someone’s negligence is a horribly unfair existence.”

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. 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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Girl Reaches Settlement with Hospital

The long and troubled journey of Malyia Jeffers now has found closure following a settlement between her family and Methodist Hospital, in California. The Sacramento girl was forced to wait five hours in an emergency room for medical attention regarding an infection. The girl was running a fever and was weakened due to a strep infection. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that due to the long wait she endured at Methodist Hospital, she lost her feet, her left hand, and part of her right hand. Once she finally did receive medical assistance, she was immediately flown to Stanford University where she was diagnosed with septic shock.

Damage Award Necessary for Child to Survive

medical malpractice attorneys in nj and pa Jeffers’ family agreed to a settlement with Methodist Hospital and emergency room workers in the amount of $10 million. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that $9 million will come from the hospital while the remainder will be paid by Emergency Physicians Medical Group of Sacramento, resulting in one of the largest awards in California history. Some of the money will go towards current expenses and the remainder will be given to young Malyia, beginning in 2026 on her 18th birthday, at $16,000 per month. Although California has a damage cap in place at a quarter of a million dollars, this only limits damages related to “pain and suffering”. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that this settlement was properly designed to avoid the cap and attribute the amounts of money to different types of damages. Hopefully, this amount of money will help the young girl adapt to her new life after this devastating case of malpractice and will allow her to lead a normal life.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. 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.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers: Facility Ignores Doctor’s Orders

Our nursing home neglect lawyers want to remind you that when you have a family member or loved one in a nursing home or long term care facility, it is incredibly important to make frequent and unannounced visits and to ask the nurses questions about your loved one’s care. With high turnover rates and a large number of residents, certain elements of proper care do slip through the cracks and mentioning to the nurses things that are unique to your loved one could end up being the difference between life and death. Dietary restrictions and allergies are things that you should mention multiple times.

Man Supposed to be on Restricted Pureed Diet Chokes to Death

nursing home neglect lawyers in NJ and PA After a state Health Department investigation, a Minnesota nursing home is being held responsible for the death of 82-year-old Keith H. Johnson. The nursing home served Johnson a tuna sandwich on December 13, 2010 which was in violation of his doctor’s orders to only eat pureed food because of his history of eating too fast and choking. The man, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, was then left unsupervised and began to choke on the sandwich. An employee noticed that he was trying to cough and then became unresponsive and was not breathing. There were two failed Heimlich maneuver attempts to restore his breathing before Johnson was taken to the hospital. He died six days later from lack of oxygen to his brain and cardiac arrest.

The state is saying that the facility failed to instruct their staff about Johnson’s dietary requirements and offered little or no supervision for him and the other residents who are at a high risk of choking. The state also claims that it is this negligence that caused Johnson’s death. One of the staff members that was involved in the incident told officials that she had seen Johnson eating sold foods in the pastso she thought the resident could eat regular consistency food.”

Rachel Tuenge, the facility’s director of nursing, said “We regret the tragic incident that occurred. We investigated the incident fully on the day it happened and made the necessary changes in our policies.” The home has improved their supervision of high choking risk residents while eating and has educated their staff on the procedures and acceptable foods for these residents.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, pay attention to the quality of equipment and nursing staff. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, one of our professional nursing home neglect lawyers can help. 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.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Woman Found in her Own Waste Fused to Chair

Caring for an elderly parent is an incredibly difficult task. As elder abuse lawyers, we see far too many cases of abuse and neglect that involve an adult child disregarding the needs of their vulnerable parent. If your mother or father is being cared for by another sibling, it is very important to check up on them just as you would if the parent was in a nursing home or under the care of another aide.

Son Neglects Mother While Telling His Sister She is Fine

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA At the end of October the police went to the son of 74-year-old Carol Brown’s home to find her unresponsive and living in deplorable conditions. The paramedics rushed Brown to the hospital but she died several days later. According to the officers who entered the home, they described Brown as a rotting corpse that was still breathing.” The rescue crews had to pry her from the leather recliner because her legs had become fused to the chair. Court documents also revealed that she was sitting in her own bodily fluids and waste with a swollen ankle wound with maggots inside. According to Brown’s daughter Laura Sanders, the doctors told her “There were sores on her back the size of a man’s fist.”

Sanders told officials that her brother, James Owens, had been caring for their mother for the past two years. “I know he neglected her,” Sanders said. “He had not fed her in a week. He left her in her own waste. How can you do that to your mother?” She said that she did not check on her mother because her brother always insisted that she was fine. She continued by saying “Knowing that she died and it may have been prevented? … I’m so far passed crying. I am just real mad! I’m beyond mad!” Owens has not yet been charged. The police are waiting for the autopsy results before getting prosecutors involved.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual or care facility and you have witnessed them being abused, you have noticed strange bruises, scratches or sores, or you fear that the care they are receiving may be considered negligent or abusive, our professional elder abuse lawyers can address your questions and concerns. 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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: New Technology Beneficial?

The Institute of Medicine recently released a study entitled “Health IT and Patient Safety: Building Safer Systems for Better Care” which discussed the benefits of electronic recording systems of medicine. However, this report also uncovered the potential risks of medical malpractice that may arise as these systems are developed. The report calls for new plans to be utilized which would help with patient safety when dealing with electronic medical records. Medical malpractice attorneys believe this could eventually lead to possible FDA regulations regarding electronic medical records.

The Issues Facing the Move to the Future

medical malpractice attorney in nj and pa Medical malpractice attorneys have traditionally believed that the use of electronic medical records would actually decrease the number of medical mistakes and other prescription errors. With the increase in technology, medical malpractice attorneys thought that doctors and nurses would be better equipped to avoid preventable mistakes and injuries and reduce the potential for civil lawsuits. It is easy to see why people thought that better technology would help healthcare providers avoid unnecessary medical malpractice. Doctors, who are notorious for poor handwriting, would not have the same problems communicating data to others in patient charts, the equipment could monitor drug prescriptions to avoid dangerous mixtures, and hospital workers could be alerted easily of particular patient conditions without the hassle of digging through charts. However, many studies are now showing that the expected benefits of the new healthcare technology are not coming to fruition as fast as expected, if at all. The Institute of Medicine has also highlighted numerous dangers that could lead to malpractice and cause patients severe injuries. The report stated “although the magnitude of the risk associated with health IT is not known, some examples illustrate the concerns. . . Dosing errors, failure to detect life-threatening illnesses, and delaying treatment due to poor human-computer interactions or loss of data have led to serious injury and death.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. 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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Canadian Man Dies Awaiting Treatment

Brian Sinclair passed away after he waited 34 long hours in an emergency room awaiting treatment, and now his relatives have filed a medical malpractice lawsuit. The Province of Manitoba is arguing that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms does not guarantee a right to life, liberty and security, which has been the focus of the medical malpractice attorneys for Sinclair’s family. The province is arguing that the charter “guarantees a right not to be deprived of life, liberty, and security of the person in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” The province also argues that the government was not negligent in the man’s death because there was no personal duty to care for him under the Canada Health Act.

Can Canada Look Away while a Man Dies Without Any Obligations?

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys canada health act
The lawyers for Sinclair’s family found these arguments to be both offensive and perverse. They believe that if the charter were to be read in this way, the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed to all citizens of Canada would slowly deteriorate. Sinclair was a double amputee and he died from a treatable bladder infection in the emergency room at age 45. His medical malpractice attorneys stated “imperiling the safety of the public in such a way that someone as vulnerable as Brian Sinclair arbitrarily would not get any medical treatment or attention as he waited in a Manitoba hospital emergency room for 34 hours, in pain, vomiting, and dying, is not in accordance with any conceivable principle of fundamental justice”. Security tape showed that when Sinclair showed up he spoke to an aide, wheeled himself into a waiting room, and a long 33 hours later he was discovered by an individual who told a security guard it appeared the man was dead.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our professionals. 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.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Warn of Medication Theft

The elderly often have a long list of medications that they need to maintain good health and live comfortably. They also depend on the staff of their nursing home to distribute and monitor their medications properly. As nursing home abuse lawyers, we know that most elder abuse and neglect is most of the time an abuse of power. We have seen many cases where caretakers or nursing home staff takes advantage of their access to medications and medical supplies for their own benefit or drug habit. Stealing medications that were intended for the elderly or disabled is both a criminal act and neglect of the patients who need those medications. These caretakers are abusing their position for their own gain, which cannot be tolerated.

Care Worker Steals and Uses Pain Medication While on Duty

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers warning medication theftPeggy Ballinger, a 55-year-old former care provider at the Alois Alzheimer Center, is facing charges after being accused of stealing pain medications from her Alzheimer’s patients. She is being charged with two counts of theft, two counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug and two counts of illegal processing of drug documents. She falsified the facility’s drug logs, used a preprinted blank prescription, and stole Percocet and Vicodin. Ballinger is even being accused by a co-worker of consuming the drugs and being high while on duty at the care facility. She was arrested late on Monday, November 21 and is scheduled for an arraignment this week.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is being taken advantage of, not given the medications they need, or you believe the care they are receiving is abusive or negligent, you should contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation with one of our nursing home abuse lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers: New Owners Try to Fix Up Facility

The Central Coast Nursing Center, a Santa Barbara, California area nursing home, faces hard times after state officials have discovered an array of health and safety violations. Additionally, two former employees have been arrested on sexual battery and elder abuse charges. The facility has recently changed owners in an effort to fix old problems and rebuild their reputation as a quality facility. As nursing home abuse lawyers, we see facilities change ownership frequently. Sometimes, this causes crucial elements of care to slip through the cracks, allowing residents to suffer. But, as is often the case, change can also be for the best, and new owners committed to fixing the problems in a negligent nursing home is definitely for the best of the residents and their families.

Former CNAs Arrested for Sexual and Physical Abuse

nursing home abuse lawyers in NJ and PA Brian Watt, a 29-year-old sex offender and former certified nursing assistant at the facility, was arrested on September 9. He was charged with felony lewd act upon a dependent adult, felony sexual battery on an institutionalized victim, and misdemeanor dependent adult abuse for an incident that occurred on September 4, 2010. If he is convicted on all of these counts, he may face up to six years in jail. The other former employee of Central Coast facing charges is 32 year-old Hugo Rendon, who was arrested on October 6 and charged with four misdemeanor counts of battering an elder for two separate incidents that occurred on May 13 and May 17, 2011.

Compass Health, Inc. took over control of Central Coast Nursing Center on September 1, 2011. The new parent company operates six other nursing homes and has a very good record. Their challenge now is to clean up the facility’s problems and establish a new reputation through high quality service. Compass Health’s Chief Operating Officer Darren Smith explained that the problem with the old owner was that they were “not consistent” and there was “little experience or understanding” among the officials. “We want to create an atmosphere of respect and appreciation for the business that’s being operated here,” said Smith.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed any questionable conditions or abusive behavior in a nursing home, directed towards your loved one or even another resident, 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.