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Bedsore Attorneys – Factors Leading to Increased Risk

Bedsore lawyers say that there are many factors that could lead to pressure sores and people need to be aware of these issues. Limited mobility is the number one factor that increases the risk of suffering from bedsores. When people are restricted to a wheelchair or bed, it is difficult for them to change positions easily. The sustained pressure on the skin and underlying tissue creates a great risk of bedsores.

Age, Weight Loss, and Lack of Sensory Perception Among other Important Factors

As people age, their skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and much more fragile than their younger days. The skin will also seem to be much drier in people of increased age, making it difficult for skin to heal. It takes significantly longer for new skin cells to generate which is another reason that people who are older are more susceptible to skin damage.

People who have suffered from an illness for a long period of time tend to lose significant amounts of weight. With this weight loss, people will see their body’s muscle and fat begin to diminish. This leads to less cushioning between the bones and hard outer surfaces (such as a bed or wheelchair).

People who have lack sensory perception have difficulty feeling pain and discomfort. Since these people are not aware of their discomfort, they may not quickly recognize the development of skin damage and bedsores. This could lead to significant damage to the skin and the underlying tissue, as people do not realize the need to switch positions.

Bedsore Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has acquired a bedsore while in a nursing home or has had negligent treatment of a bedsore or pressure ulcer, immediately seek further medical attention and contact a bedsore lawyer. Our professionals are dedicated to holding nursing homes responsible for negligent and careless treatment. Please 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.

Birth Defects Attorneys with Post-Op Concerns for Cleft Palate/Lip Surgery

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys post-op concerns cleft lip surgery The 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.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuit Blocked by Facility Document

The decision to put your loved one into a nursing home or long-term care facility can be a heartbreaking time. Choosing the right facility, worrying about the quality of care, and making the financial commitments can be very overwhelming. It is important to do your research with every nursing home that you consider. Look into past accusations of nursing home abuse, research the experience of the medical staff, compare facility conditions and make sure to carefully read every document before you sign.

Trinity Mission Does Not Live Up to Expectations

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer NJ PA — Photo by: Tim Pierce

Cindy Farese, a Mississippi woman, was very upset when her mother’s doctor told the family that she needed to be put into a nursing home. They had promised her mother, Virginia Valentine, that she would never be put into a care facility. As hard a decision as it was, Farese and her family chose Trinity Mission Health & Rehab in Holly Springs, Mississippi.

They immediately started to notice a change in their mother; she was always a vibrant, happy 79 year old. Once she entered the nursing home, she started to lose weight, stopped eating, and was no longer herself. The family knew something was wrong and insisted that the facility take her to the hospital. They were appalled with what the doctors at the hospital found. “She had blisters from front to back where she had not been changed,” Farese said.

The hospital also diagnosed Virginia with Clostridium Difficile, or “C-Diff.” The nursing home had been giving Virginia very strong antibiotics to prevent infection, however, when overexposed to antibiotics, bacterias become resistance to their effect. The antibiotics that Trinity Mission gave to Virginia became ineffective, allowing C-Diff to form. If the nursing home had been doing their job and not neglecting Virginia, the strong antibiotics would have not been necessary and the c-diff would not have developed. C-Diff eventually killed Virginia Valentine.

Mississippi Family Urges You to Read All Admission Documents

Cindy Farese wanted to sue Trinity Mission Health & Rehab for killing Virginia, but when her mother was admitted, she signed an ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution Agreement. She unknowingly signed away her right to a jury trial. Luckily, Cindy’s husband, John Booth Farese, is an attorney and was able to find a legal loophole in the document. He deposed nine employees and got the nurses to admit on the record that they knew Virginia’s condition was worsening and recorded it on her medical chart but never informed the doctor.

As nursing home abuse lawyers, we strongly recommend carefully reading over every document a nursing home gives you to sign. If you have any questions about these documents, we urge that you have an attorney look them over before signing. If you are not careful, you may be giving up your right to go to court, despite the wrongfulness of a facilities actions.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers in NJ and PA

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or long term care facility, or you are considering placing them into one, pay close attention to the facility and every document you are asked to sign. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is 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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Outraged over Proposed Bill

Medical malpractice attorneys in the state of North Carolina strongly disagree with the current debates within the state legislature.

Legislators in Raleigh, NC are in search of a manageable way to reform the medical malpractice laws within the state. Medical malpractice attorneys, on the other hand, find this to be extremely detrimental to potential victims of negligence whose sole means to recovery comes through the judicial system.

Damage Should not be Limited when a Jury Finds Liability

The legal system uses money damages in many different ways. Compensatory damages are generally used to compensate the plaintiff for any harm that the defendant has caused. Punitive damages are used to set an example and punish a defendant for particularly egregious harm. One particular portion of the legislation in North Carolina that has medical malpractice attorneys “up at arms” is the $500,000 cap on non-economic money damages. This means that damages that go beyond mere lost wages and the cost of medical care that were caused by medical negligence would now be limited. This is a debatable position for the legislature to take because many cases involve specific circumstances in which pain, suffering, loss of consortium (spousal loss of companionship and affection), hedonic damages (loss of life’s pleasure), and many other non-economic losses will far eclipse the proposed cap.

It is hard to say that a child who loses a limb or a mother who loses her voice due to medical malpractice should be limited in their recovery. The legislature defends the current debate because of the unpredictable nature of pain and suffering awards which lead to ever increasing malpractice insurance premiums within the healthcare industry. The debate will surely rage on within the states and in Washington, but medical malpractice attorneys hope that an individuals’ right to bring a lawsuit when they have been harmed is not limited by an overbearing legislative decision.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have recently undergone medical treatment but something went wrong which you believe is attributable to medical negligence, you probably have some questions. 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.
Our team is dedicated to earning full and fair compensation for victims of medical negligence.

Nursing Home Neglect – Resident Dies Trapped Between Bed Rails

new jersey philadelphia Nursing Home Neglect lawyers resident trapped between bedrails Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have made modifications to prevent accidents and nursing home neglect. Falling is a big problem with the elderly because of their compromised balance and cognitive impairment and falls can have more drastic consequences because of their fragile health. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths in people 65 years or older, account for 70 percent of accidental deaths in people 75 years of age and older, and 60 percent of nursing home residents fall each year. Many nursing homes have preventative measures in place such as floor mats, bars in the bathrooms and bed rails to prevent falls. However, some of this equipment that is meant to prevent injury can actually be fatal in other ways.

In December of 2004, 75 year old Harry Griph Sr. was found dead in his room at the New Perspective assisted living facility in Brookfield, Wisconsin. His neck was trapped between the mattress and the bed rail, where he became asphyxiated. Although cases like this are happening all over the country, bed rails are still being used in many nursing homes.

Dangers of Bed Rails

According to geriatrician and bioethicist Steven Miles of the University of Minnesota, “Rails decrease your risk of falling by 10 to 15 percent, but they increase the risk of injury by about 20 percent because they change the geometry of the fall.” When patients climb over the rails they fall from higher levels and are more likely to hit their heads. Another danger of the bedrails is getting stuck within the rails or between the rail and the mattress. According to Dr. Miles,

“A person will roll into the slot next to the rail, and the mattress slides to the opposite side. That doubles the size of the gap. The patient drops into the gap, the mattress presses against his chest and he can’t breathe.”

The patient can then die from asphyxiation within minutes.

Although bed rails are meant to prevent nursing home neglect, they are in fact doing more harm than good. In 2006, the F.D.A. issued guidelines for the use of bed rails in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and since then, their use is decreasing. However, about 10 percent of nursing home residents occupy a bed with bed rails and with the number of elderly entering nursing homes rising, there are many at risk. The only way to solve the problem is to enforce manufacturing standards that prevent the potential of becoming trapped between the mattress and the rail.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has been seriously injured as a result of bed rails, or you fear that the care they are receiving may be considered negligent or abusive, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. 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.

Attorneys Warn of Complications Associated with Bed Sores

new jersey philadelphia Bed Sore lawyers warn complications associated Bed 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

Persaud, 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.

It 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 theft Ms. 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

Seventy-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.