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Medical Malpractice in Lackawanna County, PA

As a result of medical malpractice, a Lackawanna County, PA jury awarded a Dunmore woman $1.88 million for the cancer misdiagnosis that led to the death of her husband, 60 year old Terrence Golden.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers fight Medical Negligence

Christine Golden, wife of Terrence Golden, sued Milan J. Smolko, a urologist, Lillian Longendorfer, a pathologist, and Wayne Memorial Hospital, for failure to diagnose her husband’s bladder cancer for over a year.

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers large verdict lackawannaLongendorfer and the hospital reached a private and confidential settlement with Mrs. Golden before the trial. Dr. Smolko and his attorney are appealing the $1.88 million jury verdict.

Smolko saw Mr. Golden multiple times between September ’02 and June ’04. Mr. Golden was complaining of urinary problems, and Smolko diagnosed him with an enlarged prostate gland. In 2003, Smolko ordered a bladder biopsy and sent the results to Longendorfer at Wayne Memorial. She too failed to diagnose the cancer.

In 2004, Golden’s cancer was diagnosed by a different doctor, but the damage done at that point led to the removal of Golden’s prostate, bladder, and portions of his urethra. Sixty-year old Terrance Golden died in January, 2008, after doctors told him there was no longer anything they could do to treat his cancer.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Support Justice

Had Mr. Golden’s cancer been properly diagnosed in it’s early stages, there is a good chance he’d be alive today. Mr. Golden and his wife endured much pain in the time he spent suffering from cancer. Additionally, Mrs. Golden has now the lost not only the companionship of her husband, but all that he provided for her as well.

Mrs. Golden’s attorney, James E. Foerstner, commented on the outcome of the case:

Her husband was vindicated, but it doesn’t bring him back.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered due to the medical negligence of a physician, specialist, or hospital, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The experienced and skilled medical malpractice attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are prepared to handle your case and earn you the full and fair compensation you deserve.
You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse – Stage IV Bedsores

This post is the fourth in a series of posts dealing with the most common form of nursing home abuse – the development of bedsores and pressure ulcers.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Explain Bedsores

In our previous three posts, we discussed the types of nursing abuse that can lead to a Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III bedsore or pressure ulcer. Hopefully, those posts were helpful to anyone who has a loved one currently residing in a nursing home or long term care facility.
As a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer, I am typically called to investigate a case involving a bedsore in it’s most serious and life-threatening stage: Stage IV . Stage IV pressure ulcers and bedsores can lead to serious life threatening medical problems and wrongful death.

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has defined a Stage IV pressure ulcer as the following:

Full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle. Slough or eschar may be present on some parts of the wound bed. Often including undermining and tunneling.

In its further description, it indicates that a Stage IV pressure ulcer or bedsore varies in its depth based upon the anatomical location. Stage IV ulcers can extend into the muscles and/or supporting structures and can even cause bone infection.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Fight for Victims of Stage IV Bedsores

A Stage IV pressure ulcer is the most life-threatening type of pressure ulcer. new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers explain bedsores stage IVThese pressures ulcers and bedsores can be caused by nursing home abuse such as:

  • Improper turning and repositioning.
  • Improper skin assessments to check for pressure ulcers and bedsores.
  • Improper medical attention directed at pressure ulcers and bedsores.
  • Poor nutrition which contributes to bed sore progression.
  • Failure to immediately transfer any patient who has a Stage IV bedsore.

Residents suffering from these injuries are generally in grave danger. Bedsores of this degree are highly susceptible to infection, and that infection is often a cause of death for a patient with a stage IV bedsore.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

A bedsore that has progressed to stage IV is a sure sign of nursing home abuse and negligence. These wounds are life threatening and absolutely brought on by continued neglect. If your loved one is a resident in a nursing home, and is suffering from a bedsore at any stage, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our attorneys are exceptionally skilled in earning full and fair compensation for victims of nursing home abuse and negligence.
You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Advocate for Bedsore Victims

new jersey philadelphia nursing home attorneys advocate for bedsore victimsAs a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse attorney who represents clients with bedsores and pressure ulcers, I always advocate that patients and family members should be their own patient advocate. Certainly, if there is a nurse or another family member with medical training, those persons would be the most qualified to keep tabs on the nursing home, monitor for any nursing home abuse, and, if a pressure ulcer or bedsore develops, bring their medical expertise to insist that the nursing home or assisted living facility takes proper medical steps to treat the bedsore or pressure ulcer.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Say “PUSH”

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has developed what is known as the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (“PUSH”) tool, which they describe as a quick and reliable tool to monitor the change in pressure ulcer status over time. This pressure ulcer or bed sore tool can be found at the NPUAP website. This web site provides user-friendly information and instructions for how to use the PUSH tool to monitor the status of a pressure ulcer or a bedsore over time. Plus, the PUSH tool could be an invaluable resource in helping a New Jersey or Philadelphia nurse home abuse lawyer prove a case of nursing home abuse.

Rarely, if ever, will a nursing home abuse incident be documented in a medical chart. Frequently, by the time a pressure ulcer or a bedsore is documented in the medical chart, it has developed beyond a Stage 1 pressure ulcer or bedsore. Many nursing home patients are not informed of a Stage 2 pressure ulcer or a Stage 3 bedsore or pressure ulcer until it is too late. Why? Because nursing home facilities are typically minimally staffed, with low paid and inexperienced caregivers. That’s why families that have the PUSH tool available to them will be best positioned to help themselves or their loved ones document and recover from a bedsore caused by nursing home abuse.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse and neglect, you need to seek the counsel of a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. The NJ and PA nursing home abuse lawyers at our firm can offer you advice on what you should do in regards to the injuries your loved one sustained at their nursing home or long term care facility. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in NJ, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you deserve!

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers – How Much Do They Cost?

We are frequently asked by clients how much will it cost to hire a Depuy hip recall attorney to represent them in a lawsuit for the defective hip recall. After all, if defective hip replacement patients make the claim against DePuy themselves, they won’t have to pay attorney’s fees.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Work on a Contingency-Fee Basis

In these tough times, we know that many Depuy hip replacement patients do not have the resources to pay a lawyer to represent them in their fight to seek fair compensation for a defective hip manufactured by Depuy. new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers how much cost contingencyFortunately, the Mininno Law Office and its New Jersey and Philadelphia Depuy hip recall lawyers work on a “contingency-fee basis,” which allows you to get the best legal representation available without having to pay up front. Contingency means service now, pay later.

In addition, clients working on a contingency basis do not pay legal fees unless and until they win. Most lawyers receive between 33 and 40 percent of the gross recovery of a lawsuit. These lawyers will advance the costs of medical experts to prove your case. However, if a DePuy hip recall lawyer is unsuccessful in bringing your Depuy hip implant lawsuit, you do not have to pay any fee, or pay back any costs. In other words, as a New Jersey and Philadelphia hip recall lawyer, I work for free unless or until I am successful in your hip recall claim.

These contingency fee arrangements for our Depuy recall clients allow them to get the best hip recall legal representation without having to incur additional costs and expenses up front. As New Jersey or Philadelphia Depuy hip recall lawyers, we know it’s important that clients save their resources for medical bills, co pays and the out of pocket costs that Depuy is not agreeing to pay for up front (DePuy Distributes ‘Helpful’ Handout for Defective Implant Claims).

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have a Depuy hip implant claim, please contact a Depuy hip recall lawyer who is knowledgeable about your rights when it comes to seeking fair compensation from a defective Depuy hip replacement. The DePuy hip recall lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and skilled in earning full and fair compensation for victims of defective products. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Hits Senior Citizens Hardest

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall attorneys defense senior citizensAs a DePuy hip recall lawfirm, we have begun noticing a disturbing trend regarding the population base mainly affected by the DePuy hip recall. Not surprisingly, research shows that most hip implant patients are senior citizens. Similarly, most patients who have been affected by the DePuy hip recall are senior citizens. There are certainly many younger patients affected by the DePuy hip recall, so why are the majority of the DePuy hip recall patients senior citizens?


DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Help Senior Citizens

As our bodies age, our hip joints tends to be more susceptible to physiological conditions such as osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the hip joint, and other chronic inflammatory conditions that can lead to the breakdown of the hip joint. Many younger people do not have these chronic health conditions or, if they do, have not had these conditions long enough to develop the need for hip replacement. DePuy actively marketed its hip implant to senior citizens claiming that it would improve physical functioning and increase a senior’s ability to care for themselves. While this may be true for hip implants or hip replacement surgery in general, it certainly is not true for the DePuy hip implant.

Sadly, many senior citizens who are affected by the recall will now face yet another invasive surgery to remove the defective DePuy hip implant. Even more frightening is the fact that the hip recall surgery required to remove a defective DePuy hip implant, carries with it numerous risks such as the risk of infection, blood clots, and even death. In addition, seniors’ primary health insurance is Medicare which is funded by the United States taxpayers. So, the taxpayers through Medicare are paying for the medical bills of DePuy’s hip recall. (Do a link to the blog about who’s going to pay for medical bills)

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Want Justice for Victims

While most senior citizen advocacy groups have always recommended a hip replacement to improve the quality of life for seniors, it is likely some of those same advocacy groups are now regretting that their members are subject to the DePuy hip recall. These defective DePuy hips will ultimately adversely affect senior citizens who have a DePuy hip implant;the very population base these hip implants were intended to help.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in NJ and PA

If you are the recipient of a defective DePuy hip implant, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our experience defective product and product liability attorneys are eager to help you earn the compensation you need and deserve. The potential complications involved with the implanting of a defective DePuy implant are quite serious and should not be taken lightly. Don’t wait to contact not only your orthopaedic doctor, but an attorney as well.
You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Birth Injuries Caused by Shoulder Dystocia

Birth defects or injuries are devastating to parents and families, especially when these injuries are caused by operating room negligence or poor judgement on a doctor’s part. Birth injury lawyers are sometimes needed to gain the compensation necessary to pay for the treatment a child will have to receive for life after a birth injury.

Birth Injury Lawyers Warn About Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder Dystocia causes very a traumatic birthing process for both mother and child. Shoulder Dystocia occurs when the anterior shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone after the baby’s head enters the birth canal. There are risks for serious birth injuries to the baby when Shoulder Dystocia occurs, but there are prevalent warning signs to help the doctor predict when it could happen. new jersey philadelphia birth injury lawyers shoulder dystociaThere are also strategies to employ once healthcare professionals realize shoulder dystocia is occurring during the birth process.

There are many birth injuries that arise from shoulder dystocia. The major complications happen when the upper brachial plexus nerves of the baby are damaged from excess stress during labor. This excess stress may tear the nerve roots out from the neonatal spinal column, resulting in Klumpke Paralysis or Erb’s Palsy. Klumpke Paralysis (or Klumpke Palsy) is paralysis to the muscles of the forearm and hand and Erb’s palsy is a paralysis of the arm. The baby could also suffer death or brain damage from fetal hypoxia, which is the deprivation of sufficient oxygen supply resulting from compression of the umbilical cord within the birth canal. The injury risks are not limited to the baby alone since the mother may experience maternal post partum hemorrhage, which is internal bleeding from the added stress during delivery.

Birth Injury Lawyers Stress Prevention

Doctors must recognize the warning signs for shoulder dystocia to prevent a difficult labor and the serious birth injuries that it can cause. The warning signs include a large baby, delivery after the baby’s due date, mother’s who have had shoulder dystocia or a very large baby in a past delivery, and mother’s with gestational diabetes. The doctor must be quick to notice signs of shoulder dystocia during labor so excessive force is not used which could lead to birth injury. There are number of methods available to doctor delivering a baby with shoulder dystocia, and those methods should be utilized to prevent potentially fatal birth injuries.

Birth Injury Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you are the parent of a child who suffers from the effects of a birth injury, and you believe that injury may have been caused by delivery room negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Our birth injury lawyers are skilled in warning the full and fair compensation needed to pay for the expensive medical needs of a child living with the effects of a birth injury. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Medical Malpractice Infringes Upon Patient Rights

As humans, we are all endowed with “certain unalienable rights,” as stated in our Nation’s Decleration of Independence. As patients, we are also endowed with patient rights. Infringement upon these rights often takes place in the form of medical malpractice. As patients, we must play an active role in our medical care, and do all within our scope of power to prevent medical malpractice from occurring.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Uphold Patient Rights

The Joint Commission, an entity that provides accredation and certification for health care programs and organizations in the United States, distributes a pamphlet outlining patient rights. If you ever wondered to what, as a patient, you were entitled, the list below will be of great help.new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers patients rights

  1. You have the right to be informed about the
    care you will receive    .
  2. You have the right to get information about
    your care in your language.
  3. You have the right to make decisions about
    your care, including refusing care.
  4. You have the right to know the names of the
    caregivers who treat you.
  5. You have the right to safe care.
  6. You have the right to have your pain treated.
  7. You have the right to know when something
    goes wrong with your care    .
  8. You have the right to get an up-to-date list of
    all of your current medicines.
  9. You have the right to be listened to.
  10. You have the right to be treated with courtesy
    and respect.

Do not let a negligent medical provider get away with harms caused by medical malpractice. While most doctors are hard working and dedicated to providing safe, effective healthcare, others favor corner cutting to save time and money, regardless of the consequences to the patient. Your rights as a patient are of utmost importance, and you should know what those are when being treated.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one find that any of your aforementioned rights have been compromised, 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 at the Mininno Law Office are experienced in and dedicated to fighting for those victimized by medical negligence. Let our team earn you the full and fair compensation that you need and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse – Stage III Bedsores

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers explain bedsores stage IIIThis post is the third in a series of posts dealing with the most common form of nursing home abuse – the development of pressure ulcers and bedsores. In our previous two posts, we discussed the nursing home abuse that can lead to a Stage I bedsore followed by a Stage II bedsore. Hopefully, that nursing home abuse information was helpful to any person or family who has had a loved one suffer from a pressure ulcer or a bedsore caused by nursing home neglect. Sadly, Stage I and Stage II ulcers are not the most common types of nursing home abuse cases we handle as a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawfirm. We typically deal with cases involving Stage III and Stage IV – the most serious and life-threatening pressure ulcers.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Represent Victims of Stage III Bedsores

According to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), a Stage III pressure ulcer or bedsore is defined as:

Full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle are not exposed. Slough may be present but does not obscure the depth of the tissue loss. May include undermining and tunneling.

As we detailed in our previous posts, prevention is always the best medicine. All nursing home staff should be trained and experienced in selecting an appropriate support surface to help with redistribution, sheer reduction, and microclimate control. Typically, nursing home abuse consists of the failure of untrained, overworked, and underpaid nursing home staff to meet their legal obligations to properly perform skin assessment, and properly turn and reposition patients who are at a risk for development of pressure ulcers and bedsores. Sadly, some studies suggest that nearly 30% of all nursing home residents have a form of bedsore. When a nursing home abuse case involves a patient with a Stage III ulcer, it is always a serious medical problem, and is usually a clear sign of nursing home neglect.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

A Stage III pressure ulcer is a serious medical condition which, if not properly treated, could lead to a life-threatening Stage IV ulcer. In addition, if not properly treated, a Stage III pressure ulcer could become infected, and a nursing home patient could be at serious risk of systemic infection which can lead to wrongful death.
If you or a family member have been in a nursing home or an assisted care facility and have developed a Stage III bedsore, you should immediately 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.

Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you need a deserve.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Win Big Verdict in Massachusetts

A jury awarded an elderly couple nearly $2 million dollars in a medical malpractice case against St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Fight Hospital Negligence

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys big verdict massachusettsThe Ginisi’s (Lauren, 59 and Joseph, 63) filed suit three years ago, after Joseph suffered multiple misdiagnoses at St. Vincent’s. In 2004, Joe Ginisi called his wife Laura complaining of feeling lighted headed and dizzy. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed him with vertigo and sent him home with a prescription and an order to follow-up. By February 5, his condition had worsened. He couldn’t speak on his own, and was going blind.

Later, an MRI and a brain biopsy revealed that not only had Mr. Ginisi suffered from strokes, he was also suffering from intravascular lymphoma – a type of cancer. Even after St. Vincent’s transferred Mr. Ginisi to Massachusetts General, they did not send with him his slides and films. Treatment was again delayed.


Medical Malpractice Lawyers Fight for Full and Fair Compensation

The chemo-therapy that Mr. Ginisi finally received put his cancer in remission, but the damage had already been done. He can’t see, can’t walk, and can’t be cared for by his wife. He lives at the Millbury Health Care Center, and will likely remain there for the rest of his life. Mrs. Ginisi has lost her husband, and her husband, a relatively young man, has lost his independence. The Millbury jury awarded Joe Ginisi $1.39 million in damages, and his wife $500,000 for loss of consortium.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered from medical malpractice due to a negligent doctor, physician, specialist, or other medical provider, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are skilled in earning clients the compensation necessary to fulfill their economic commitments in light of their new struggles. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse: Stage II Bedsores

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawfirm, we think it is important to advocate for people and families who have suffered from horrible bedsores and pressure ulcers caused by nursing home abuse. In a previous post, we reviewed the bedsore and pressure ulcer classification scale which has been established by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP). We also reviewed for you the first stage in the evolution of a pressure ulcer – stage I. In this post, we will cover the secondary evolution of a pressure ulcer or a bedsore – stage II.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Protect Bedsore Victims

Hopefully, a Stage I bedsore can be promptly treated by nursing home medical staff to prevent its progression to Stage II. However, because many staff in nursing homes are poorly trained, overworked, and underpaid, many patients with a Stage I pressure ulcer will develop a Stage II pressure ulcer. We believe this development is a direct result of nursing home neglect. That is, if medical personnel and nursing home staff are doing their jobs, a Stage II bedsore should not develop.

According to the NPUAP, a Stage II bedsore is defined as

Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough. May also present as an intact or open/ ruptured serum filled blister.

In addition, a Stage II bedsore or pressure ulcer is further described as presenting as a shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or bruising.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Urge Bedsore Prevention

As a nursing home abuse lawyer, only a small amount of my cases involve Stage II pressure ulcers. When called in to investigate a nursing home abuse case involving a patient with a Stage II pressure ulcer or bedsore, I typically find that the Stage II ulcer was completely preventable and avoidable with good and proper care. Fortunately, there are some basic and well-recognized treatment care plans which will significantly reduce the risk of a Stage II pressure ulcer developing into a Stage III. Those treatment options include,

  1. Regular and proper dressing changes to observe the pressure ulcer for any change or signs or symptoms of infection;
  2. Referral of all patients with a pressure ulcer to a dietician to ensure proper nutrition, vitamins and supplements to improve healing;

    3. new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers bedsores stage II

  3. Provision of proper support surfaces, such as replacing existing mattresses with a support surface that provides better pressure redistribution, sheer reduction, and a microclimate control of the patient.
  4. Provision of positioning devices and incontinence pads that are compatible with the support surfaces which can encourage and improve offloading of weight on the Stage II pressure ulcer.
  5. Turning and repositioning frequency to continuously monitor the Stage III ulcer and, to reduce friction, pressure and sheer on the Stage II ulcer;
  6. Adequate transfer aids to reduce friction and sheer while patients are repositioning. These aids, should permit the patient to be lifted, not dragged while repositioning.
  7. Use of a pressure redistribution cushion in a chair for individuals who are able to ambulate in a wheelchair.
  8. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, repositioning of the patient is positioned to be off of the bedsore area.

All of these interventions, and more, have long been part of the standard of care for nursing homes. Unfortunately, many nursing home staff have not been adequately trained to employ these interventions and they are not utilized in patient care. The failure to employ well-known and effective medical interventions to a person in a nursing home, is nursing home abuse.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have suffered from a bedsore or pressure ulcer in a nursing home or long term care facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and skilled in holding negligent nursing homes responsible for harming their residents. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadlephia.

Let the Mininno Law Ofice team earn you the full and fair compensation that you need and deserve.