Attorneys Warn of Complications Associated with Bed Sores

new jersey philadelphia Bed Sore lawyers warn complications associatedBed sores are a debilitating and completely avoidable occurrence in a nursing home or other similar care facility. As bedsore lawyers, it is important that we alert our public of the dangers of bed sores and what their formation means for the quality of care our loved ones are receiving in nursing homes. Bed sores are not only painful, but can lead to serious complications.

Bed sores or pressure ulcers are defined as “injuries to the skin and underlying tissues that result from prolonged pressure on the skin.” Bedsores most often deveolp on skin that covers bony areas of the body such as the heel, ankles, hips or buttocks, and they occur when a patient in a nursing home or long term facility is receiving negligent care. When staff members fail to reposition bed or wheelchair ridden patients, bedsores will form. We believe it is important that we educate everyone on the dangerous complications that can arise from the development and subsequent non-treatment of bed sores and pressure ulcers.

Complications from Bed Sores

Sepsis — Sepsis occurs when bacteria gets into your blood stream through broken skin. Because bed sores are essentially open wounds, Sepsis is a real threat. Once this occurs, the bacteria moves rapidly through your body causing a life threatening condition that can lead to organ failure.

Cellulitis — Cellulitis is an acute infection of your skin’s connective tissue. It causes pain, redness, and swelling, all of which can be quite severe. Cellulitis itself can also lead to life threatening complications including sepsis and meningitis, which is an infection of the membrane and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord.

Bone and Joint Infections — Bone and joint infections occur when the infection from a bed sore goes deep into your joints and bones, limiting the function of joints and limbs. Often times, people that aquire bed sores already suffer from limited functionality, so these infections make movement all the more difficult.

Cancer — Even Cancer has been linked to bed sores. The devolpment of a certain squamous cell carcinoma can develop from non healing wounds. It is an aggressive cancer and usually requires surgery.

Bed Sore Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or someone you love has suffered from a bed sore due to the negligence of a nursing home or long term care facility, your nightmare may just be beginning. It is important that treatment begin promptly to not only heal the bedsore, but to hopefully prevent some of the possibly painful and deadly complications that can arise.
Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may alsow call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys – Unethical Juror Delays Justice

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice stated that “juror misconduct undermines the constitutional rights of plaintiffs and defendants and threatens the sanctity of our justice system,” and medical malpractice attorneys could not agree more.

This week, a New York juror in a medical malpractice lawsuit was arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe from the plaintiff. The juror, Deonarine Persaud, was charged with bribe receiving by a juror, a Class D felony, as well as first degree misdemeanor misconduct by a juror. Although it is important to put an end to this type of juror misconduct, the behavior of this one man has delayed the justice sought by the plaintiff.

Corrupt Juror could Face Seven Years in Prison

new jersey philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorneys unethical juror delays justicePersaud, a sworn juror in a medical malpractice civil trial, contacted the plaintiff and said that he had some important information about the defendant that was crucial to the lawsuit. Through a telephone conversation, Persaud spoke to the mother of the plaintiff and arranged to meet the plaintiff’s father at a local hardware store to discuss the information. The father immediately recognized the juror, who made assurances that he could sway the jury in the plaintiff’s favor in return for a five percent cut of the damages awarded. The family contacted the plaintiff’s medical malpractice attorney soon after the phone call and the news was promptly brought to the judge on Monday. The judge, in turn, contacted the DA’s Office and after a short investigation, the juror was arrested when he returned to court on Tuesday. If Persaud is convicted of all the charges that have been brought against him, he could face up to seven years in prison. Due to this gross misconduct on the behalf of the juror, medical malpractice attorneys fear that the plaintiff’s pursuit of a fair and impartial trial will be substantially delayed.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have recently been the victim of any sort of medical negligence, you most likely would like to speak to medical malpractice attorneys regarding your situation and your legal rights. 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) 5672380 in Philadelphia.

Adding Your Child’s Teacher to the Cleft Palate Care Team

The birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office would like to share with you some advice about preparing your child with a cleft lip/palate for school. There are many things you may want to communicate with your child’s teacher. First and foremost, in as tactful a way as possible, let the teacher know that your child is an individual, not a diagnosis. Other children will naturally be curious, because your child’s appearance may be different, but the teacher can make this a positive experience by respectively educating the other children about the birth defect, as well as making your child feel more welcome.

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defects Attorneys school tips children oral cleftsIt is also important to let the teacher know that your child may have hearing issues tied to the cleft palate, which should be considered if the teacher believes the child isn’t listening. Lastly, try to encourage the teacher to maintain an open line of communication, as the first years of school are most likely going to shape your child’s self-image strongly, and it should be as positive as possible. Teachers are generally compassionate people, so adding your child’s teacher to your care-team along side your doctors, birth defects attorneys, and other professionals is a great idea.

Birth Defects Attorneys In New Jersey and Philadelphia

Now that your child is getting ready for school, you may be asking yourself if you need birth defects attorneys. The simple truth is that in a great portion of cases there is no one to blame for the development of the birth defect as it was caused by natural forces. However, in some instances, there are external forces at work which may have affected your child’s development. For instance, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in the development of a cleft lip/palate by 21 times the normal rate.
If you believe that Topamax may have been a factor in the development of your child’s cleft lip/palate please do not hesitate to contact us. Our lawyers are experienced and in many cases can help achieve financial judgments that can help your family.

Contact the Mininno Law Office in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600 and in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380 for a FREE case evaluation and consultation.

Nursing Home Abuse Occurs as Fraud and Theft

Not all forms of elder and nursing home abuse are physical. Financial elder abuse is becoming more of a problem in this country. Nursing home employees and caregivers are taking advantage of the elderly and sometimes even stealing large amounts of money from them or putting themselves in charge of their finances. Banks will often issue signature stamps to their elderly and disabled customers who are not able to physically go to the bank. Some caregivers are using these stamps to steal thousands of dollars from their elderly patients.

Caregiver uses Signature Stamp to Steal from Elderly Woman

Liz Sanders is a Southern California woman who is fighting against financial elder abuse because her mother, Bette Isenberg, was taken advantage of by her caregiver. Before Bette died at the age of 82 last year, she was bedridden and required round-the-clock care. The woman charged with her care used a signature stamp to cash checks, empty her bank account, access her life insurance fund, and add herself to department store accounts by faxing over a letter that was signed with the signature stamp. Helen Wofford was convicted and sentenced to 32 months in prison. Liz sanders testified to the life-altering effects of Wofford’s actions:

“This $20 signature stamp cost my mother three-quarters of a million dollars and left her in financial ruin. This has been heartbreaking and I don’t want any other family to have to go through this.”

new jersey philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse lawyers occurs fraud theftMs. Sanders is now testifying in support of a bill authorized by Senator Fran Pavley that will enforce new regulations on the issuing of signature stamps. The bill would make it harder for caregivers with ill intentions to obtain the stamps by requiring that a bank employee witness and sign all requests for new signature stamps. Customers given the stamps will also be provided with information on the risks associated with them, in hopes that people will be more aware of the signs of theft or fraud, and also more careful of where the signature stamps are kept. The bill would also increase the punishment for financial elder abuse in California.

This is an excellent step in protecting the elderly from being taken advantage of in California. However, the rest of the country needs to be aware of this issue. Ordering signature stamps for your elderly loved ones can be risky and should be done with caution. Do not leave the stamp around where caregivers or others could potentially take possession of them. Check bank and credit card statements on a regular basis to make sure there are no mysterious charges, and report any suspicions that you may have.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is being taken advantage of financially, or you believe the care they are recieving is abusive or negligent, you should 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, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys & a Kidney Procedure Gone Bad

new jersey philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorneys negligence naval hospital jacksonvilleSeventy-two year old Christine Williams went in to Naval Hospital Jacksonville to have a mass removed from one of her kidneys. The procedure was expected to keep Ms. Williams in the hospital for three days and then allow her to resume normal activities. Those three days turned into four months. Ms. Williams then contacted medical malpractice attorneys to file a lawsuit against the hospital for a surgical error that lead to the need for additional surgery, diminished feeling in extremities, and loss of the ability to walk.

Aorta Inadvertently Stapled During Kidney Surgery

Two days after the initial kidney procedure, a CT scan was ordered by physicians which revealed a problem with her aorta. The radiologist conducting the CT scan notified the surgeon that Ms. Williams appeared to have a dissection of the aorta, a condition that called for a follow-up CT of the aorta itself. The woman’s medical malpractice attorneys said that a second CT scan did not occur for several days because it was Memorial Day weekend. When the second CT was finally done, it did show that a vascular surgeon was needed and Williams was transferred to the Mayo Clinic for emergency surgery. This additional procedure revealed that Williams’ aorta was accidentally stapled during the initial surgery.

Sean Cronin, Ms Williams’ medical malpractice attorney, stated:

“we have a surgical error that took place that was not recognized. Once it was recognized by the attending radiologist, it was not acted upon. Ms. Williams is experiencing a medical emergency. She’s unable to walk. She didn’t have pulses in her legs and people are going home and going on vacation.”

Williams has become dependent on her family and she now has to do physical therapy to try and regain some of the strength she had before surgery. Williams is taking very small steps towards recovery but she is thankful to be alive. Medical malpractice attorneys believe these types of negligence cases happen more often than most people would expect and they can cause great damage to a patient and their family.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you believe that you are suffering the effects of medical malpractice or negligence, you do have legal rights. 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys Give Insurance Advice for Cleft Lip/Palate

new jersey philadelphia Birth Defects Attorneys insurance advice cleft lip palateIf your child is suffering from a cleft palate or lip the stress involved can seem, at times, overwhelming. Dealing with your insurance carrier to get the necessary care should not, but often does, add to the stressful burden. In many instances, insurance companies will deny the claim outright initially. This can be frustrating, especially when the person making the initial denial does not have a medical background, and therefore is not intimately familiar with the issues associated with a cleft lip/palate. The attorneys at the Mininno Law Office have some practical advice to help cope with this problem.

It is important to prepare yourself for the possibility of spending considerable amounts of time on the phone speaking with various representatives from the insurance company. It is important to document every phone call, with the date, time, name of who you spoke with, and the content of the call. This serves to protect you. Essentially, you are looking for that one sympathetic person at the company that will make your life easier and help get your child the treatment that he/she deserves. In the case that your claim is denied, as a paying customer, you should consider the appeals process to have the claim looked at again.

Birth Defects Attorneys In New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many times people who have a child with a cleft palate/lip birth defect ask if they need to contact birth defects attorneys. The answer is complicated. In many instances, the birth defect was caused by natural forces and there is no one to blame. In these instances you may find yourself fighting the insurance battle described above. However, in other cases, external forces may have been in play, like Topamax (Topiramate), a drug that the FDA has recently announced increases the likelihood of cleft palate/lip by 21 times.

If you believe Topamax may have been a factor in your child’s birth defect, the birth defects attorneys at the Mininno Law Office can provide financial remedies that will alleviate the stresses associated with your child’s birth defect. Contact the Mininno Law Office in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600 and in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380 for a FREE case evaluation and consultation.

Nursing Home Neglect Can Lead to Bed Sores

Nursing home neglect is a huge cause for the development of bed sores and pressure ulcers. Nursing homes and long term patient care centers are responsible for giving good and professional care to their patients. Often, when a nursing home has a record of neglect or abuse, you will find patients that have acquired painful and often dangerous bed sores. It is important for a patient’s loved ones to know the symptoms and signs of bed sores and pressure ulcers so that they can immediately take action when stage one bed sores start to form.
When it comes to bed sores, prevention is the best medicine, but if prevention isn’t happening due to abuse or neglect on the part of the nursing home, a loved one needs to be ready to step in and take action. The best thing you can do to protect your loved one is to become familiar with the bedsore symptoms and stages so immediate help can be given.

Symptoms of Bed Sores and Pressure Ulcers

new jersey philadelphia bedsores pressure sores lawyers nursing home neglectBed sores are categorized into 4 stages. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has defined the four stages. If these stages aren’t treated, they will continue to worsen.

Stage I
Stage I bed sores are characterized by a slight may change color in the area affected. The skin is intact, but the site may also painful, firm, soft, warmer or cooler compared with the surrounding skin.

Stage II
Stage II bed sores are an open wound. The pressure ulcer may appear as a shallow wound, or it may appear as an intact or ruptured fluid blister.

Stage III
Stage III bed sores are now a deep wound. The ulcer will have a crater like appearance, the bottom of the wound my have yellowish dead tissue, and the damage may now extend beyond the primary wound.

Stage IV
Stage IV pressure ulcers show a large scale loss of tissue. The wound may now expose muscle, bone and tendons. The bottom of the wound usually contains crusty dead tissue, and the damage extends beyond the primary wound below layers of healthy skin.

Careful Skin Inspection Should be Part of Routine Nursing Home Care

It is very important that nursing homes carfully inspect the skin of all nursing home patients that are confined to a bed or wheelchair for a long period of time . Not properly inspecting these patients is a true sign of nursing home neglect. If you recognize any of these warning signs, a doctor should be contacted immediately. Bed sores are very painful, and they are also very dangerous, as they can lead to life threatening infections. Early detection of a bed sore can be the difference between life and death.

Bedsores are a Sure Sign of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

If your loved one has acquired a bed sore while in a nursing home, or has had negligent treatment of a bed sore or pressure ulcer, immediately seek further medical attention. Our lawyers are dedicated to holding nursing homes responsible. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys – Lawsuits in Pennsylvania Are Down

New rules were enacted in 2002 by the Pennsylvania high court in an attempt to limit “frivolous” medical malpractice lawsuits. In 2010, medical malpractice litigation against hospitals and doctors in Pennsylvania dropped to the lowest point since the adoption of the new guidelines. The new standards within the state are supposed to ensure that all the medical negligence cases that reach trial are legitimate, as opposed to dubious, claims. Medical malpractice attorneys believe plaintiffs will still be able to acquire just compensation for medical malpractice because more of the judicial resources will be available to the deal with stronger lawsuits.

Statewide Medical Malpractice Suits Down 45% Since Adoption of New Rules

new jersey philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorneys lawsuit pennsylvaniaThe worry among medical malpractice attorneys has been that the new rules limiting the ability of plaintiffs to bring lawsuits may place a significant obstacle in the way of patients finding justice. Medical malpractice has been a hot button issue in nearly every jurisdiction within the country, with many politicians concerned with stabilizing the costs of malpractice insurance. Medical malpractice attorneys’ chief concern is that rules that are over-expansive may keep meritorious cases from reaching a courtroom. On the other hand, many medical malpractice attorneys believe that these new rules in Pennsylvania may help those patients bringing strong negligence cases to court. Although the new standards on negligence have been put into place to limit frivolous lawsuits, those patients with strong cases will have more of the judicial resources at their disposal.

The Pennsylvania rules now require medical malpractice attorneys to file a statement by an expert in the medical field stating that the claims being brought are not frivolous. Clearly, those patients who are able to pass this standard have a legitimate case and should have a fair shot at prevailing in a court of law. The rules also require medical malpractice attorneys to file the lawsuit in the county where the health care provider’s mistake took place, in an effort to limit plaintiffs from running to a more sympathetic forum to have their case tried.

Hospitals and doctors are clearly involved in big business and have a big say in the political processes across the country. Hopefully, patients who have been harmed by medical negligence can still pursue a fair remedy in Pennsylvania.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you believe that you or a loved one have been recently treated by a negligent medical provider which is causing excess and/or unnecessary pain and discomfort, 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 Causes Dehydration and Malnutrition

Dehydration and malnutrition are the most common forms of nursing home neglect and abuse. Nursing homes have a legal obligation to make sure that the health of their residents is being taken care of; this includes sustaining proper nutrition and hydration. They are responsible for making sure each resident receives a sufficient amount of nutrients, fluids, calories, protein, vitamins and minerals. If an elderly person becomes dehydrated or malnourished, it can lead to many health problems, including weakened immune system, disorientation, weak muscles, bedsores, and even death.

The elderly are the most vulnerable to dehydration because they may not be able to tell when they are thirsty. In addition, their bodies are no longer able to conserve as much water. Their other health problems also increase the likelihood of becoming dehydrated or malnourished. People with dementia can forget to eat or drink water. Those residents that are physically unable to take care of their own basic needs must rely on the caretakers of nursing homes to do so for them.

Warning Signs and Causes

Dehydration is an excess loss of body fluids. Signs to look out for are new jersey philadelphia nursing home neglect lawyers abuse dehydration malnutrition

  • thirst
  • loss of appetite
  • dark colored urine
  • dry mouth
  • dizziness
  • dry skin
  • vomiting
  • difficulty breathing
  • seizures.
  • Malnutrition is caused from an unbalanced diet; a lack of the right nutrients or not having enough food in general. Some of the signs that your loved one is malnourished are new jersey philadelphia nursing home neglect lawyers abuse dehydration malnutrition

  • weight or muscle loss
  • fatigue
  • bloated abdomen
  • mental decline
  • decreased organ function
  • cramps
  • heat strokes
  • brain swelling
  • kidney failure
  • drop in blood pressure
  • coma or death.

With all of the physical complications present in the elderly, dehydration and malnutrition are often overlooked or attributed to other causes. In order to avoid this form of nursing home neglect caretakers need to know the signs and constantly be looking out for them in each patient. They need to know each patient’s individual needs, their physical limitations, health issues and medications so they can make the required adjustments to avoid dehydration and malnutrition.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident at a nursing home and you believe they may not be getting the proper hydration or nutrition, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call with any questions for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers seek Damages in Breast Cancer Lawsuit

In late April, Carol Renna was awarded $400,000 by a jury in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit derived from multiple visits made by the plaintiff to different doctors. Ms. Renna wanted to have two large masses in her breasts examined. Medical malpractice lawyers believe that this is an extreme case of negligence because if the problem is not properly detected, breast cancer is often deadly.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Argue the Necessity of a Follow-Up

Medical Malpractice LawyersMs. Renna originally found two masses in her breast in April of 2004. She visited her primary care physician but was soon referred to Dr. Mark Schadt. In the month following Renna’s discovery, Schadt conducted a fine-needle aspiration biopsy in an effort to determine whether cysts in the breast were cancerous. The initial results came back negative. The fine-needle aspiration biopsy is acceptable for some women in particular cases, but more extensive examinations such as a core-needle biopsy or an open biopsy are often necessary.

The following March, Renna returned and was once again given a fine-needle aspiration. Unlike her previous test however, these results came back positive for cancer. In April of 2005, the plaintiff underwent an excisional biopsy, which entails removing cysts and other surrounding area. Following the more invasive biopsy, Renna learned that she had invasive carcinoma stage III. Following this traumatic and shocking discovery, Renna was forced to undergo a simple mastectomy on her left breast and a radical mastectomy performed on her right breast. Medical malpractice laywers point out that a competent doctor should have followed up the initial fine-needle aspiration biopsy with a more complete biopsy to test a large sample of tissue.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have recently undergone a procedure and you are still in pain that you believe may be attributed to negligence, it is possible that you have questions that only medical malpractice lawyers can answer. 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.