Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Report: Haverford Facility’s License Restored

In the past two months we have been writing about the Quadrangle nursing home facility in Delaware County, PA and the alleged nursing home abuse of one of their resident, 78-year-old Lois McCallister. The facility lost their license from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) last month when officials found out about an incident where three orderlies were mocking and abusing the dementia patient, forcing her to walk about her room naked while they laughed at her. Lois McAllister’s family caught the abuse on tape, and the staff members involved were arrested and charged.

Quadrangle’s License Restored by DPW for Six Months

The Quadrangle’s parent company Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. issued a press release on Thursday, May 26, 2011 stating that the facility has its license restored. The press release says:

Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW), under which Sunrise’s license to operate the personal care home that is part of its Quadrangle Continuing Care Retirement Community in Haverford, Pennsylvania, has been reinstated after it had been revoked on April 29, 2011, following an isolated incident at the community.

new jersey philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse lawyers Haverford Facility License RestoredQuadrangle’s license has been restored for the next six months. Under the terms of the agreement, the facility has to make some major changes to their operations. They have to have a manager for each shift responsible for the dementia care unit, the managers must take a leadership training course, all staff members of the dementia care unit must receive performance evaluations to assess their skills and empathy towards the patients, and when hiring new employees they must be evaluated for experience, skills and empathy.

This agreement will allow Sunrise to operate the Quadrangle under continued monitoring. The DPW has the right to revoke the provisional license if they feel the facility is at any point not following the agreement. The press release did not state how Quadrangle’s license was restored or of requirements placed on the facility by DPW. Hopefully these restrictions and monitoring will be enough for the Quadrangle to improve their care. This case of nursing home abuse is inexcusable and this facility should not be given any more chances.

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 their condition 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 with Post-Op Concerns for Cleft Palate/Lip Surgery

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys post-op concerns cleft lip surgeryThe birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office would like to share some important post-operative tips for caring for your child after his or her surgery. After the surgery, your child’s mouth will need to fully heal. For a young child, this time can be difficult for both himself and his parents, as children tend to want to put whatever they want into their mouths. Many parents choose to use use arm restraints, or “no-no’s,” to prevent their child from putting fingers or toys into their mouths, thereby damaging the repair. This may seem cruel, but this may be necessary to allow the surgery to fully correct the issue.

Additionally, your child’s diet should be limited to liquids and soft foods that don’t require chewing. The use of bottles and sippy-cups should be limited too, because the nipples can hit the palate and cause damage to the work done during the surgery. Spoons and other utensils should be avoided for the same reason. A normal diet can most likely be resumed in two weeks time, depending, of course, on the extent of the surgery. Oral hygiene is also a concern, and parents should rinse the mouth with clean water. Tooth brushing, carefully, may resume in about a weeks time, and hydrogen peroxide should be avoided because it may inhibit healing.

Birth Defects Attorneys In New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you’ve made it to this page, you’re most likely researching your child’s cleft lip/palate birth defect. You probably have questions about your legal rights as well. The FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to an increase in cleft lips/palates by 21 times the normal rate.
If you believe that your child’s cleft lip/palate has been affected by Topamax, do not hesitate to contact the Mininno Law Office to get help for your child. There is a general consensus that the sooner surgery is completed, the better it is for your child, so contact our fast-acting birth defects attorneys in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600 and in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380 for a FREE case evaluation and consultation.

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.

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 Homes Not Elderly Adults Only Choice Today

Nursing home abuse has affected millions of people in the United States because, for such a long time, nursing homes were the only option a family had when their loved one’s physical state required additional help. However, according to census data, only 7.4% of elderly Americans are living in nursing homes, a number that has fallen from the 8.1% in 1990. Many elderly people and their families, especially those 85 years and older, are now turning not to traditional nursing homes, but instead to long term care assistance at home, in-home care, and other options. This is great for the families that can afford to maintain other types of care for their loved ones. But for the 1.8 million people that still live in nursing homes, care should be adequate, training should be provided, and abuse should be prevented.

Nursing Home Care Must Be Improved

The quality of care a patient receives should not depend on how much money they have to spend, but unfortunately, nowadays, that seems to be the case. If nursing home administrators and medical providers spent more of their efforts on improving the quality of care in nursing homes and less of their efforts on their bottom lines, other unneccessary costs would be non existent. Bedsore treatment or litigation costs can be astronomical, but providing adequate and focused care can avoid the need for such spending.
              
Click for more information on nursing home alternatives

Nursing Home Abuse Laywers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you feel that your loved ones have been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. The nursing home abuse abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced and very skilled in earning victims of nursing home abuse the full and fair compensation that they need and deserve. Be sure to act promptly, as a statue of limitations could run out on your claim.

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 work to earn justice for you and your family.

Baby Einstein Scam:Not a Good Teaching Substitute

We have all heard the “Baby Einstein” commercials and seen the colorful, bright characters. We also have all heard and seen these videos promise that it will make our toddlers and children brighter, smarter, and help them learn faster. It turns out this is not true and this is just turning out to be a “Baby Einstein” scam.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics children under two should stay away from the television.  According to a study from the Campaign from Commercial-Free Childhood, there is a link between early television watching and problems with a child’s attention span later in life. These videos promised that our children would learn more, be brighter, and smarter later in life, not have attention and other school related problems, clearly Baby Einstein is a scam. This has led to Disney offering a refund to parents that bought Baby Einstein videos and other baby Einstein products and “teaching substitutes”.

                Clearly, this baby Einstein scam has become a wakeup call for many parents who have yet again realized that television and other technology products are not always a good teaching substitute and parents should always supervise their children and help them as they learn and grow to be an active part of their learning process. Yes, the Baby Einstein scam is bad and should not have happened especially since it affects children and their education now and in the future, but maybe this will again reinforce that these products as well as others are never good parenting or teaching substitutes and parents still need to look out for their children’s education and their needs. A child’s education is very important and should not just be looked over by having them watch Baby Einstein videos or other products. Children’s education should also include active learning with both the child and the parent.

                For more information on the baby Einstein scam and other children’s educational products, you may visit: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-great-baby-einstein-scam-531147/

If you feel that you and your child have been mistreated because of improper warning labels due to the baby Einstein scam, you should contact a defective product attorney right away. They will help you advocate for your rights and those of your child.

New Malpractice Idea: Will it Help or Hurt Patients?

President Barrack Obama is willing to consider alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits by replacing them with such alternatives like appointing neutral experts for both political parties to look at medical appeals and allegations. The goal for this new idea seems to be to address medical liability and to cut malpractice insurance premiums for doctors. Okay, maybe it is a long process to go through a jury trial with a lawyer but weren’t the courts and justice system created for just that purpose to bring justice to the party that has the injury or suffered from medical malpractice. It seems to be that this new idea is only favoring doctors who are afraid of being sued later. All trial lawyers are trying to do is see that their clients, who are former patients of these doctors received the proper care possible. Once again this new idea seems to be in favor of only saving money and not actually helping the patients who need proper medical care. If so many doctors worried less about how much money everything was costing and focused more on proper medical care for all their patients then they would not have to worry about medical malpractice lawsuits. If though however, a medical error or problem does occur then in this country by law that person or patient is entitled to a trial and entitled to justice being done for them and their families. This new idea seems to be taking away trial rights in favor of saving money for doctors and insurance. People should continue to come first; money needs to stop doing all the talking.

For additional information on this new malpractice idea and the health care debate, you may visit this link

 

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a medical error, please contact a medical malpractice attorney right away. They will help make sure your case is heard and you get the medical care you deserve.

Lasik Eye Surgery may help you see more clearly, but how safe is it really?

The Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday October 15, 2009 that it will start looking into the negative effects associated with corrective laser eye surgery. Some of these negative effects may include blurred vision and dry eyes. The FDA is going to work with the National Eye Institute and the Department of Defense to investigate the amount of people that experience negative side effects after having this corrective eye surgery. This research will include patient questionnaires and clinical trials to help keep track of patients who have had the surgery. These procedures by the FDA will hopefully help in be able to better understand the effects of laser eye surgery and its long term safety, because it is still unknown. Approximately six million Americans have had this Lasik eye corrective surgery which reshapes the cornea, but the long term safety has been unknown. It is good that the FDA is investigating the negative side effects that people could experience, but it may have been better if they would have done this before six million people have had the surgery. There were years of complaints from patients and the FDA just now decided to step in and look at the problems. Part of this reason seems to be because these types of surgeries cost between a thousand to five thousand dollars to perform. It seems like yet again, money is put before patient care and safety. This is not the way it should be. Maybe the FDA should take a better look at its policies too. Patients should always come first.

For additional information on the effects of corrective laser eye surgery you may visit: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/LASIK/default.htm

If you or a loved one has experienced negative side effects due to laser corrective eye surgery, contact a medical malpractice attorney right away. They will help you advocate for the medical care you deserve.

Animal Safety Tips to help protect your Children

Animals are a wonderful thing and can be very good for children. They can teach them how to be responsible, how to be gentle, how to be calmer and not yell around the animals or scare them. Finally, it can be a really rewarding learning experience for the whole family. Too often though, children do not know to behave around animals and they end up getting diseases or bites from animals. Due to these problems the Center for Disease Control or CDC has recommended some basic safety tips for parents and children for good animal care for them and the animals. These tips include:

  • Children under five years need to always be supervised while with animals
  • Do not allow children to kiss animals or put their hands near their mouth or eyes after touching animals
  • Make sure children wash their hands well with soap and water after touching animals
  • Animals such as snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and other similar animals should be handled with special care around children due to the spread of disease

So many children and other family members get bite by animals and get other diseases due to lack of knowledge about animal safety. These simple tips can help prevent these situations now and in the future.

For more information on animal safety tips and recommendations, you may visit: http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/child.htm

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to an animal, please contact a personal injury attorney right away. They can help you get the medical care you and your family deserve.

Bayer Warned by FDA for YAZ Testing Problems

The birth control Yasmin or Yaz has caused much controversy and concerns since it was first brought on the market back in March. Many people are concerned about the serious side effects of the pill and how Bayer seemed to have made these side effects not seem as serious as they are. Another thing that Bayer was warned about by the Food and Drug Administration or the FDA that they did not think was a serious problem was the testing of the quality of the pills. It measured the quality of its ingredients based on an average of several samples instead of reporting the individual test results of each sample like they should. Bayer then continued to ship eight batches of pills tested using this unapproved method to the U.S. The drug patches were reviewed after the FDA’s warning to Bayer, but Bayer says the batches shipped between 2007-2009 were not affected by this unapproved testing method. Since this warning, the FDA now requires that Bayer provide a full list of the shipments to the U.S. that may have used this average testing method and to require Bayer to come up with a plan to prevent the problem from happening again.  Bayer has produced many important medications that many people use and depend on daily. Maybe this method has not caused any real problems, but when it comes to the medicines we give ourselves as well as those we love, double checking does not hurt. It seems like this time Bayer may have gotten overwhelmed by the money they were making that they overlooked some safety measures. Safety however always needs to and should come first each and every time.

For more information on the Bayer testing methods for Yasmin, you may visit: http://www.app.com/article/20090915/NEWS/90915067/FDA+warns+Yaz++Yasmin+manufacturer+over+testing+problems or www.fda.gov

 

If you or a loved one has suffered possibility due to the side effects of Yaz or Yasmin, please contact a personal injury attorney right away. They will help get your case heard and help you get the care you need and deserve.