Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Get Las Vegas Facility Closed

As nursing home abuse lawyers, our goal is to get justice for the victims and loved ones of elder and nursing home abuse. We also want to see that the correct punishment is brought to the facility and/or the individuals responsible. Revoking an operating license is the most severe punishment that state officials give to nursing home facilities who fail to meet inspection requirements. Fines and follow up inspections are utilized before the state revokes a license, but if conditions are not improved, licenses will be lost.

Repeat Citations and Abuse Leads to Loss of License for Home

nursing home abuse lawyers in NJ and PAAfter an investigation by the state of Nevada, the Las Vegas Home Sweet Home had its license revoked and was forced to close in August. All of the residents were removed and placed in different facilities.

The most recent investigation that led to the closure was prompted by a witness a caregiver yelling at an elderly woman. The abuse continued as the caregiver dragged the resident down the hallway by her ankles. During their investigation, state officials also found that caregivers at the home were depositing residents’ social security checks into their personal bank accounts. Staff members were also taking more money than necessary for small grocery trips for the residents, and then pocketing the change afterwards.

These were not the first violations for “Home Sweet Home.” The facility has been fined and investigated frequently over the years for various citations that made the home unsafe for the residents. The state became aggravated with the home’s failure to adhere to regulations and decided to shut it down.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed any questionable 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.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Fight for Parents of Stillborn Babies

Stillbirths are perhaps the worst tragedy to befall expectant parents. Not only do they have to endure the pain associated with the death of a child, but a mother will have to endure the entire delivery process, only to hold the body of her lifeless baby in the end. Often, stillbirths occur naturally, through no fault of doctor or patient. However, other on other occasions, medical negligence is to blame. It is for these cases that medical malpractice lawyers believe parents are due compensation.

$1 Million Awarded for Pain and Suffering

medical malpractice lawyers in NJ and PAIn 2004, New York’s highest court ruled that women can sue for emotional suffering if their stillbirth is a result of medical malpractice. There have now been a couple cases moving through the legal system that are determining what is justified compensation.

Lucia Ferreira was awarded $1 million in a New York court in February for pain and suffering after she lost her baby during a home labor. During her last three visits to the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, she complained of abdominal pain but was only given painkillers and sent home.

After the Ferreira case, lawyer Jeff Korek is fighting for more money for his client Vivian Acevedo. He is trying to reason that $1 million should be the standard for medical malpractice stillborn cases. The Acevedo case is against Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center for a delayed emergency Caesarean that caused the child to be stillborn. Lincoln Medical offered $500,000 but she turned it down.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member has recently suffered a stillbirth or has been the victim of medical negligence, and you would like to speak to someone about your legal options 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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Maine Supreme Court Makes Landmark Ruling

medical malpractice attorneys in nj and paMedical malpractice attorneys believe that a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Maine will now, for the first time, allow patients to bring medical malpractice lawsuits that extend beyond the statute of limitations period. This could have a dramatic impact on cases that involve misdiagnosis or treatment by doctors who continue to see patients over a long period of time. Unlike a botched surgery, where the statute of limitations begins running almost immediately, when a doctor negligently diagnoses and treats a patient over a period of time, the limitations period to bring a lawsuit is now extended.

Sustained Medical Negligence in Treatment and Testing Leads to Prostate Cancer

Phillip Baker was a regular patient of his primary care physician Dr. Merrill Farrand Jr. Baker saw this physician for twenty years and he was regularly screened for a prostate specific antigen known as PSA. These tests can reveal risks and evidence of cancer. Baker’s results were high but it took five years of similar results for Farrand to refer Baker to a urologist. Medical malpractice attorneys say that when Baker went to visit the urologist and had a biopsy completed, it was revealed that he had prostate cancer. The biggest disappointment of this revelation was that the most important period of time to treat this cancer was more than three years in the past. Now, because of the Maine Supreme Court ruling, the “Continuing Negligent Treatment Doctrine” will be used and Baker can assert that there was not a single negligent act, but rather this medical malpractice continued between 2002 and 2006. Baker’s medical malpractice attorneys stated,

“the issue that has always lurked in the background is the situation in which a patient is told to have a test, gets that test and for one reason or another the test is abnormal but the doctor doesn’t act on it…That doctor continues to treat the patient for a period of years, seeing the patient each year, seeing the abnormal test each year but continuing not to act on it.”

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 Neglect Leads to Homicide and Arson

Nursing home neglect and abuse are not always suffered at the hands of facility staff and administrators. Other residents can also pose a threat to your loved ones in nursing homes. It is the responsibility of the facility to provide enough staff to ensure the safety of all patients. Conflict is common when large groups of people are living and working in a confined area, but the staff needs to control the nursing home population from physically harming each other.

Man Dies From Burns Suffered During Argument With Other Resident

nursing home neglect in NJ and PAAccording to the New Orleans Police Department, a 42-year-old man died after suffering second and third degree burns at the St. Charles Health Care Center. Around 9 p.m. on August 2, 2011, the man, who was wrapped in gauze for treatment, entered into an argument with another resident, 72-year-old Joann Everett, when his dressing ignited in flames. The nursing home staff extinguished the fire before the firefighters arrived on the scene. The victim was taken to Baton Rouge General Medical Center where he was treated for the burns that covered 80 percent of his body. The man died the next day as a direct result of the burns he sustained. The New Orleans Parish coroner determined the death a homicide. Everett is in custody at a local hospital and will be arrested and charged with homicide and aggravated arson. Police have not stated what started the argument, how the man’s gauze caught fire, or the victim’s name.

The facility obviously could not control an argument between these two residents, but they should have stopped Everett from assaulting the man. If these two had a history of fighting, they should have had limited contact with each other. Although it is currently unknown to the public how Everett started the fire, she clearly possessed something dangerous that the home should have taken from her.

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 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: Recognizing the Warning Signs

Today in the United States, there are more than one million elderly individuals living in nursing home establishments. Most families resort to nursing homes because their loved ones require moderate to extensive assistance with basic needs and medical care; care that they can no longer provide. The biggest problem in nursing homes, however, is neglect. These basic needs and medical care that should be provided consistently and in conjunction with a doctor’s orders are neglected, or not carried out correctly. Annually, there are over 20,000 complaints of nursing home neglect, which represents only a fraction of the total instances, as recent data shows that only 1 of 14 nursing home incidents is reported.

Be on the Look Out for Falls, Poor Nutrition, and Bed Sores

nursing home neglect in nj and paFalls: Residents of nursing homes, depending on their conditions, are usually very susceptible to falls. Falls can be very dangerous to an ailing elderly person. Broken hips and ribs and/or head injuries often result from nursing home falls. Residents who are more likely to fall are usually marked with bracelets, citing them as fall risks to the entire nursing home staff. If one of these patients is to fall, it is a clear sign of inadequate supervision or, even worse, no supervision at all. Severe injuries suffered from only a single fall could lead to paralysis or even death.

Poor Nutrition: Nursing homes are required to provide proper fluids and food to residents. When a patient becomes sick from malnutrition, it is most certainly because A.) the nursing home is not providing proper nutrition to the resident, or B.) the nursing home is not providing supplemental nourishment in the case of a resident refusing to eat. Nutrition is first and foremost in a list of needs for a patient, and malnourishment is an unacceptable form of nursing home neglect.

Bed Sores: Bedridden or wheelchair ridden patients are to be rotated every 2 hours to prevent the development of bedsores. Although bed sores are certainly treatable when caught early, neglect of a patient can lead to stage III and stage IV bedsores, which can be extremely painful and quickly fatal. When bed sores progress to levels three and four without proper treatment, it is evident that adequate medical attention is not being provided.

Nursing Home Neglect in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you believe that a loved one, residing in a nursing home or long term care facility, is receiving negligent, abusive, or inadequate care, it is possible that you have some questions regarding nursing home neglect. 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.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers File Claim Against Negligent Dentist in West Virginia

medical malpractice lawyer in NJ and PALinda Johnson saw Dr. Ernest N. Pennington in January 2008 for impressions of her mouth that were being used as preparation for a bridge that she was having placed. According to the complaint that was filed by her medical malpractice lawyer , Christopher J. Heavens, on June 25, 2010 in Kanawha Circuit Court, West Virginia, the material that was used to make the molds caused an infection in her gums. The infection led to the bridge fitting improperly, roots being exposed and severe pain. The complications caused Mrs. Johnson to have teeth removed and several other painful and expensive procedures. She is suing Charleston Dental Associates and Dr. Pennington for the poor care. Mrs. Johnson started seeing Dr. Richard Smith on February 19, 2009 to correct the complications from Dr. Pennington. Before seeing Dr. Smith, she believed that the problems were unavoidable, but he explained to her that the treatment “may have constituted medical malpractice.”

Dental Medical Malpractice is Preventable

Unlike other forms of medical malpractice, complications from dental procedures are often accepted by the patients as unpreventable. This is not always the case. Often, errors made by doctors or nurses create serious complications that can lead to painful and drawn out recoveries. Dental medical malpractice should be taken seriously and considered a violation of the standard of care that is expected from all medical professionals.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member has recently suffered severe dental complications or has been the victim of medical negligence, and you would like to speak to someone about your legal options 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys: Popular Migraine Med Effective but Dangerous

Topamax is a very popular pharmaceutical drug that is used in treating migraines and epilepsy. Although it has been shown to be extremely effective, birth defects attorneys warn that pregnant women should steer clear of its use. Recent studies have reported that use of Topamax during pregnancy has led to an increased chance of babies born with birth defects, such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

Why has Topamax been so Popular in Treating Migraines?

birth defects attorneys in nj and paTopamax is not like many other migraine medications and this may shed light on its popularity. As opposed to taking the medicine as soon as headache pain begins, Topamax is taken daily which helps avoid migraines all together. Topamax begins limiting the frequency of migraines after only one month. But when women begin to heavily rely on it, a problem may arise. Many studies have shown that Topamax is successful in limiting headaches, but unfortunately, women need to prioritize once they become pregnant. Although headaches can have a devastating effect on daily activities, birth defects attorneys believe that the risk to newborn babies is far worse. Topamax has been widely available in the United States since 1996, but the true dangers of potential birth defects have only recently been realized. Expectant mothers should speak with a medical professional and seek an alternative medication while pregnant to limit the potential of birth defects.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many parents who have children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are often overwhelmed and, in some instances, confused about their legal rights. They are especially confused about whether or not the services of birth defects attorneys would be needed. In some cases, there have been improper actions that may have led to your child’s birth defect and contacting our professionals is beneficial to your family’s physical and financial health. 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 Leads to Medication Error After Staffing Cuts

nursing home neglect in NJ and PABishops Corner Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation in West Hartford, Connecticut is facing a $710 fine for failing to properly administer antibiotic medications that were prescribed by a doctor to a severely demented patient who was experiencing wheezing accompanied by a cough. According to the facility’s nursing director, the medication was “not available in the medication cart and the nurses failed to check with their supervisor.” In another incident of nursing home neglect, two nurses’ aides improperly used a mechanical Hoyer lift to move a patient and the resident slid out of the sling, fell on the floor, and bumped the back of his head, suffering a hemorrhage. After the incident, the staff was retrained on how to properly use the lift.

Parent Company Starts Large Round of Layoffs

These two incidents occurred after a large round of layoffs for the facility. In the beginning of August, Bishops Corner Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation’s parent company, Omega Healthcare Investors, laid off 81 employees from their several nursing home facilities in Connecticut. This was the first round of 575 employees that are to lose their jobs. With the bad economy, layoffs are inevitable, but facility administrators need to make sure that care does not suffer as a result. It is clear that this nursing home neglect could have been prevented if the staff was trained properly and had not been spread so thin.

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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Doctor Fired After Lawsuit is Filed

medical malpractice attorneys in nj and paDoctor James Stillerman was recently fired from his position as a general surgeon at Lewis County General Hospital after he was named as a defendant in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The New York surgeon was one of five doctors to be named as defendants in the suit that was filed by Kevin Muncy and Wanda Bush-Muncy. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that the hospital elected to cut ties with its former employee around the same time that the lawsuit was submitted.

Former Patient Seeks Damages

The Muncy’s have filed the lawsuit in hopes of receiving a variety of damages. The couple is looking for damages and legal fees for pain and suffering, loss of income, and loss of enjoyment of life for Mr. Muncy, and loss of care, compassion and consortium for his wife, Wanda. Medical malpractice attorneys say that the couple accuses Dr. Stillerman of failing to properly assess, treat, and provide follow-up care for cellulitis and an abscess of the big toe. Furthermore, the couple’s medical malpractice attorneys claim that the remaining defendants failed to provide the necessary medical care, inform Kevin Muncy of the dangers associated with surgery, follow specific protocols that relate to diabetic patients, or obtain an opinion from a physician who was board certified in surgery. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that these acts of medical negligence, if proven in a court of law, could have led to the severe and permanent injuries that Mr. Muncy still lives with today.

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 Neglect: Woman Died While Tied to a Toilet for Two Hours

89-year old Gwendoline Gleeson died as a result of nursing home neglect in August 2010 while a resident of the Barrabill House nursing home in Seymour, Australia where she had lived for ten years. Mrs. Gleeson was put in a restraining belt and placed on the toilet. She was then forgotten until the staff found her two hours later dead from a heart attack. Mrs. Gleeson was placed on the toilet about 2:45pm by staff from the morning shift. A staff change occurred around 3pm and the afternoon staff was unaware that she was left alone. No one found Gleeson  until 4:40pm. Mrs. Gleeson had previous heart problems, was diabetic, and had early dementia, but there was no physical reason she needed the restraints while using the bathroom. The staff used the restraints so they did not have to supervise her and could go and do other tasks.

Son Outraged He Was Not Given Details of Mother’s Death

nursing home neglect in NJ and PAJames Gleeson, Gwendoline’s son, is very upset because he just recently found out the details of nursing home neglect involved in his mother’s death. He had previously assumed that she was left alone for a few minutes, not two hours. “I don’t want this to happen again to anybody … mum has passed away and I find out 12 months later what has happened and she was left tied to a toilet,” Mr. Gleeson said. He is angry with the facility for keeping him in the dark about the whole situation. He was unaware that restraining belts were even used on his mother. The care plan that was made for Mrs. Gleeson had no authorization for the restraints and stated that she needed to be supervised while on the toilet.

It is very important that you make frequent and unannounced visits to  your loved ones in nursing homes in order to ensure that their care plan is being carried out. If you notice anything strange or below your standard of care you need to bring it to the attention of the nursing staff. Mrs. Gleeson’s death may have been able to be prevented if the staff had gotten her to a hospital right away. There was no reason for her to be left alone for that long. Communication between the morning and afternoon shifts needs to be better handled.

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, 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.