New Jersey attorney Archives - Page 17 of 24 - New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Nursing Home Abuse: Kentucky Granted $3 Million Federal Grant

The state of Kentucky was given a federal grant of $3 million to help reduce nursing home abuse occurrences within the state. The money will be used to buy equipment needed to take digital fingerprints for criminal background checks on prospective employees. This will allow the state to better screen those applying for jobs that provide direct care to residents at the long-term care facilities. Governor Steve Beshear ordered last year that the state make changes to reduce nursing home abuse. Reports found that only seven of 107 serious citations issued at Kentucky nursing homes in a three-year period were prosecuted as crimes and most nursing home abuse cases go unreported. “This falls directly in line with our ongoing work to address elder abuse and improve patient care in long-term care facilities,” Gov. Beshear said in a statement announcing Kentucky had received the grant.

Kentucky Hoping to Create Stricter Background Check Laws for Nursing Home Employees

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers kentucky granted millions federal grant Right now, Kentucky state law only requires nursing homes and long-term care facilities to conduct name-based background checks for prospective direct care employees. With the grant and the new digital fingerprint scanning equipment, more in-depth criminal background checks will be available. Kentucky state law also does not order that the employees submit fingerprint checks, but the facilities will be expected to voluntarily participate in the grant program and officials are expecting high involvement. According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman Jill Midkiff, the cabinet intends to pursue legislation that would require the fingerprint checks for caregivers employed in long-term care facilities.

This is a great step in protecting the residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities from abuse and neglect. By doing more in-depth background checks on potential direct care workers, they will hopefully be able to lower the chances of violent or abusive people coming into contact with the elderly and disabled. Hopefully this will also lead to more background checks for other workers who come into contact with residents, such as custodians and food service workers.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys in NJ and PA

If your loved one is currently a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility, pay close attention to the staff and the kind of care they receive. Your attentiveness is crucial to their continued safety at a nursing home. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is indeed negligent or abusive, 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Cleft Lip Dental Options

Unfortunately, when a child is afflicted with a birth defect like a cleft palate or cleft lip, there are other physical manifestations of the birth defect that must be dealt with. One of the major physical issues confronting children with cleft lip/palates is that they may need serious dental attention. The cleft usually occurs between the cuspid (eye tooth) and the lateral incisor. Possible dental issues include: a missing lateral incisor, two lateral incisors on both sides of the cleft, poorly formed teeth (with misshapen crowns and/or roots), and displaced teeth. We want you to be informed about the potential issues related to your child’s unfortunate birth defect and be able to take the appropriate actions.

Your Child’s Dentistry Needs

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys topamax cleft lip dental options Although this may seem overwhelming, children born with a cleft lip/palate can still have healthy teeth. Proper cleaning, good nutrition, and fluoride treatment is necessary. The teeth should be cleaned with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush, as soon as the teeth are visible. Early evaluation is critical, with many dentists recommending the first visit being scheduled at one year of age, or in some cases, even sooner. What dental work your child needs will be determined by the dentist, which can be as simple as preventative care, or can be extensive including dental surgery.

It may be necessary for orthodontic care to be sought, even before the child has any teeth. This is to assess facial growth and plan for the child’s short and long term dental needs. If the teeth do not fit together correctly, braces will most likely be necessary.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Parents who have children with a cleft lip or palate are often confused about their legal rights and whether or not birth defects attorneys are necessary. In many cases, birth defects attorneys are not necessary, because the cause is usually natural. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates. In this situation, it would be beneficial to contact the Mininno Law Office: Our experienced and caring birth defects attorneys off a free case evaluation and consultation. You may call 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse Rate in New Jersey is one of the Highest in the U.S.

elder abuse in NJ and PA With a growing elderly population, we are seeing an increase in elder abuse. In 2010, there was a total of over 1 million reported cases of some form elder or nursing home abuse or neglect. According to the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), every five seconds, an elder is abused. What is worse is the number of elder and nursing home abuse cases in this country tht go unreported. For every reported case, there are five unreported cases. The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates between 1 and 2 million people over 65 are being abused, exploited, neglected or mistreated by someone who is in charge of their care.

New Jersey has one of the highest percentages of elder abuse in relation to their senior population. With 1.6 million seniors, which makes up 17% of the total population for the state, and 176,000 reported abuse cases in 2010, New Jersey has an 11% abuse level which is one of the highest in the nation.

Warning Signs of Elder Abuse

Financial abuse: Change in accounts, altered wills and trusts, frequent or unusual bank withdrawals, and checks written to cash or as ‘loans’ or ‘gifts’.

Physical abuse: Unexplained bruises, slap marks, broken bones, bedsores, and burns or blisters.

Emotional Abuse: Unexplained and sudden changes in alertness or other unusual behavioral changes and frequent arguments between the elderly person and a caregiver.

Sexual abuse: Bruises around the breasts or genital area and unexplained sexually transmitted diseases.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently under the care of an individual 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Insurance “Gate Keeping”

As experienced birth defects attorneys, the Mininno Law Office has significant experience dealing with insurance companies. To you, it seems simple: your child has a medical issue (like a cleft palate), you have valid insurance for which you’ve paid your premium, and your child should receive medical care. As you may have unfortunately found out by now, it is not always this simple. A seemingly unwritten tool in many insurance companies’ belt is “gate keeping.” Ultimately, even if your claim has merit, the insurance company denies and delays treatment in the hopes that you become frustrated and go away. This is done in many ways, including excessive forms to fill out, waiting for confirmations, and outright denials. If you have dealt with insurance companies before, this frustration is probably no surprise.

Protecting Yourself From Gate Keeping

We’ve all heard the cliche “Knowledge is Power.” This is an absolute truth when it comes to fighting to get what you need from insurance companies.

First, you should make an effort to stay abreast with the relevant laws. This may seem difficult, as they change often, but being able to quote a law can be very helpful when talking with an insurance officer. Sometimes, representation by birth defects attorneys can be useful, but more often, a little research goes a long way.

Second, you should know your policy inside and out. Many times, the insurance representative is making an educated (and usually good natured) guess as to what the company will allow. If you know your policy, you can tell them exactly what you have paid for and what they should provide. It is inevitable to get rejected in some cases, but never accept a “No” without appealing. Carefully word your responses to indicate the medical necessity of the procedure.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia?

There are many factors that influence whether you need the services of birth defects attorneys. In many cases, the cause of the birth defect is natural, and there is little birth defects attorneys can do for you. In other cases, there are external factors involved in the development of your child’s birth defect and the experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office can be of assistance. For example, the FDA just announced that the drug Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lip/palates.

If you believe that Topamax may have contributed to your child’s development of a cleft lip or palate contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation and consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Elder Abuse – Woman Blames Sister for Mother’s Death

Our parents spend a good portion of their lives taking care of us, so when they reach the age where they can no longer take care of themselves, we want to return the favor. Unfortunately, despite our best intentions, sometimes we are unable to take on the enormous responsibility of caring for the elderly. With all of the horror stories of elder abuse and neglect, many people think they can do a better job caring for their loved one than strangers could, but sometimes it becomes too much and they need to realize that they need help before it is too late.

Unsanitary Living Conditions and Bedsores Lead to Woman’s Death

elder abuse in NJ and PA Carmella Saldana, of Oklahoma City, was arrested on June 6, 2011 on a felony abuse and neglect by a caretaker charge. Saldana’s mother, Deborah Gay Ramirez, suffered a stroke in 2006 that left the right side of her body paralyzed. In 2009 she suffered a mini-stroke that left her completely paralyzed and bedridden. According to Saldana’s sister Christa Ramirez, Saldana took a more active role in their mother’s care after her stroke. But after their mother died on August 7, 2010 at the age of 57, Christa is accusing her sister of elder abuse and wants her to pay for the way she treated their mother.

The house where Saldana lived with Deborah Ramirez was gravely unsanitary, having been infested with animal feces and roaches. Ramirez died of health complications and while no autopsy was performed, Christa believes that the bedsores that her mother developed while living with Saldana added to her failing health. A couple months before she died, a doctor found five bone-depth bedsores on her body. After finding the bedsores, a health care worker reported the elder abuse and living conditions in Saldana’s home to Adult Protective Services. According to court documents, hospice employees had set up appointments in the past to teach Saldana the proper way to care for her mother, but on one occasion Saldana refused to let them in the home. Investigators also found old, dried food in her feeding tube. On another occasion, an 18-year-old girl drinking wine coolers was found caring for Ramirez. According to Christa, Deborah developed an infection and was placed on a breathing machine while in the hospital, “She wasn’t clean and her wounds were infected,” Christa Ramirez said. “My mother was suffering.”

Many adult children have the best intentions when they decide to become the caregiver for their elderly loved ones, but some become overwhelmed and begin to abuse or neglect them. Caring for a disabled or elderly person all by yourself can be an incredible amount of work. This is something that you need to become aware of before making this commitment.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Birth Defects Attorneys Provide Questions for Your Surgeon

Surgery can be a scary proposition, especially if performed on your child. However, there are certain questions that can ground your expectations of surgery, and help glean information regarding the qualifications of your surgeon. The caring and experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office would like to offer a list of basic questions that you can ask your surgeon in the event that you are uncertain about the procedure and have not yet made a decision to have your child undergo it. While surgery is no small matter, it is important to realize that this step is greatly beneficial for your child and his or her overall well being.

What to Ask your Surgeon Regarding Oral Cleft Repair Procedures

You may want to ask some of the following questions to get a better feel for the procedure your child will undergo, as well as the knowledge and capabilities of your surgeon.

How many cleft lip/palate corrective procedures has your surgeon performed?
What are the risks and complications associated with the procedure?
How are these complications handled?
What options are available if the surgery is unsuccessful?
What kind of results can you expect? Are there before and after photos that you can look at?

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many people who have a child born with a cleft lip or palate are confused about the cause of the birth defect and their legal rights. Most cleft lip/palate defects are believed to be caused through genetics and environmental factors. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates.

If you believe that your child’s cleft lip/palate may have been influenced by your use of Topamax, it is important to act now and contact the experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office. Contact the Mininno Law Office in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600 or in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380 for a free consultation and case evaluation.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Cleft Palate Surgery Steps

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

Anesthesia,
Incision, and
Closing Incision.

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

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

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

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

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

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

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

Nursing Home Abuse Discovered from Praised Employees

Putting your loved one into a nursing home is a scary time because of all of the unknown worries. You are giving up control of the care of this vulnerable person to a group of strangers. We give advice for picking facilities and tell stories of nursing home abuse and neglect that we hope you learn from, but sometimes even doing everything right when picking a facility is not enough.

Son Captures Abuse of Mother on Hidden Camera

nursing home abuse in NJ and PA Prentiss Center for Skilled Nursing Care, a MetroHealth nursing home in Cleveland, has been in the news recently because Steve Piskor captured the abuse of his 78 year old mother, Esther, on a hidden camera. The videos, which have led to both criminal charges and regulatory investigations, show nurse’s aides Virgen Caraballo and Giselle Nelson striking the patient’s face, violently throwing her into her bed and wheelchair, pushing her face into the wall, and repeatedly spraying her face with an unknown liquid that was later identified as perfume.

The facility has apologized for the nursing home abuse and hired an outside firm to investigate what has happened. The investigation will also look into the home’s policies and procedures to make sure this does not happen again. The facility has fired both Caraballo and Nelson and suspended nurse’s aide Jamiescha Whitlow for five days for failing to report patient abuse she witnessed.

The scary part about this story is that both of these employees have been praised for their work performance in the past, showing that abuse can come from any of these caregivers. It was noted that Caraballo received high marks on her past evaluations. In February 2010, supervisors said that she “maintains a safe environment for her residents” and that she is “very conscientious with the care she gives.” A few months ago, she was called “attentive to residents needs and very thorough.” The other nurse’s aid in the video, seen spraying the patient with perfume, was recently named the nurse’s aid of the year, an award that is based on nominations from residents, staff and families.

Since this story came out, a MetroHealth employee has said that she reported potential nursing home abuse similar to this story but the facility’s administrators repeatedly ignored her complaints.

“Many a time I’ve reported different things that didn’t look right – scratches, bruises – and it’s pretty much like ‘I don’t want to hear it.’ My heart breaks to see that happening like that …Everything I’ve seen is uncalled for.”

Susan Christopher, a spokeswoman for Metrohealth, said the hospital has no record of any employee coming forward with these complaints. She told reporters, “We encourage our employees to report any inappropriate behavior and we will continue to do so … we have steps in place to ensure patients are safe.”

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, we encourage you to visit frequently and be very observant of any scratches, bruises or anything that does not look right. If 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.

Nursing Home Neglect of Medications Leads to Patient Death

By the time the elderly are placed in nursing homes or long term care facilities, they are in fragile health and need to be carefully monitored. They are vulnerable and the slightest change in diet or medication can have fatal consequences. Medication is incredibly important to keeping the health of the elderly strong and the staff of these facilities needs to make sure that each patient is receiving all of the medication that is being prescribed to them by their doctor. When nursing homes fail to provide residents with the medication their doctors prescribe them, they are guilty of Nursing home neglect.

Resident Dies After Missing 26 Doses of Medication

nursing home neglect in NJ and PA A woman entered the Lake Ridge Care Center in Buffalo, Minnesota on January 14, 2010 with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and low potassium. She was prescribed two tablets of potassium three times a day to help keep her blood pumping through her heart. On January 23, 2010, the resident was sent to the emergency room because she was found unresponsive. Treaters in the emergency found a severely abnormal heart rhythm and extremely low potassium levels. The woman died later that afternoon. Her official cause of death was cardiac arrest.

After an investigation by the state Health Department, it was discovered that the woman missed 26 of her potassium doses over more than eight days. The report stated that the nursing home provided “inadequate medication administration.” The investigation also found that the facility mishandled other medications, not only for this woman, but for other residents.

This woman’s death was preventable and her condition maintainable. Her doctor provided a substantial and adequate treatment, and her nursing home neglected failed to administer it, causing her health to deteriorate very quickly.

Some nursing home residents are able to remember on their own to take their medications, but others need the facility to be on top of their medicine schedule. Sometimes, when residents are new to a facility, the staff is not familiar with the patient yet and certain things like medication can fall through the cracks. It is very important if you have a loved one in a nursing home that you communicate all of their needs to the staff. This case shows us how important every prescription is to the heath of the elderly.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that they are not receiving their medication, or 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Cleft Palate Surgery Risks

The decision to allow your child to undergo a cleft palate surgery is extremely personal and should be made with the consultation of your child’s doctors. The experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office would like to inform you of some possible risks associated with cleft lip/palate surgeries in order to make you more informed about your choices. It is important to remember that cleft lip/palates can be corrected through surgery and it may be the best choice for your child’s health and well being.

There are some risks associated with cleft lip/palate surgery that the birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office think you should know about before surgery. A good surgeon will discuss these risks with you before surgery, but educating yourself is essential. It is possible for there to be bleeding and infection. In some cases, poor or irregular healing of incisions may take place, which may create a puckering effect. There are anesthesia risks that you should discuss also. More seriously, there is the possibility of damaging deeper structures, such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs, which can be temporary or permanent.

Ultimately, it is essentially to discuss the risks and benefits of surgery with your child’s care team. Usually, a cleft lip/palate can be corrected and your child can live a happy life, free of oral malformations. However, the possibility of risks is a reality.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many people that have children with a cleft lip or cleft palate birth defect have questions about their legal rights. In many situations, there is little that can be done because the birth defect is genetic or caused by environmental factors. However, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has increased the likelihood of the development of a cleft lip/palate. If you believe that Topamax may have contributed to your child’s cleft palate act now and contact the Mininno Law Office birth defects attorneys 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.