DePuy Hip Recall Affects Canada and Elsewhere

As a NJ and PA DePuy hip recall lawfirm, we have posted information about the DePuy hip recall for patients here in the U.S. However, the U.S. is not the only country with pending DePuy hip recall lawsuits.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Busy Everywhere

new jersey philadelphia DePuy hip recall attorneys represent victims everywhereDePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, marketed its DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Imlplant System and ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems worldwide, and all are included in the recall. In December of 2010, about 1,500 Canadian patients who had DePuy hip replacements filed a DePuy class action lawsuit in the courts in Quebec, Calgary, Alberta, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Montreal. DePuy hip recall lawyers in Canada are helping these DePuy hip recall claimaints. It is likely that other DePuy hip implant patients in Europe will soon be filing similar class actions as a result of the DePuy hip recall.

It seems that DePuy hip implant patients all over the world are seeking justice against DePuy Orthopaedics and its mega billion dollar parent company, Johnson & Johnson, for this defective hip implant product.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As a NJ and PA DePuy hip recall lawyer, I encourage all patients worldwide to fight for their legal rights against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson. We will continue to provide DePuy hip recall information and news as it is made available to us. In particular, we are watching very closely the DePuy multi-district litigation which is pending the Northern District of Ohio in front of Judge David A. Katz. Several of these DePuy lawsuits are class actions, and the rest are individual DePuy lawsuit claims that are all being managed by Judge Katz. Keep checking back to our blog for any updates on the DePuy hip implant lawsuit.

If you or a loved one are the recipient of a defective DePuy hip implant, 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.
You will need the help of a good DePuy hip recall lawyer to attain the full and fair compensation you deserve. Let the team at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Offer Tips to Prevent Bedsores

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse attorneys tips prevent bedsores As a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawfirm, we have frequently posted on many topics involving nursing home abuse and, in particular, pressure ulcers and bed sores. In this next series of posts, we will provide nursing home patients and their families with tips that may help prevent pressure ulcers and bedsores from ever developing in the first place. The old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is not an exaggeration when it comes to the prevention of nursing home abuse in the form of pressure ulcers and bedsores.

Tip #1 for Avoiding Bedsores

Tip 1: Make sure the nursing home has properly assessed the potential risk for a bedsore and pressure ulcer. Part of the law that governs nursing homes, 42 C.F.R. 483.25(c), relates to bed sores (also referred to as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers):

Based on the comprehensive assessment of a resident, the facility must ensure that:
(1) A resident who enters the facility without pressure sores does not develop pressure sores unless the individual’s clinical condition demonstrates that they were unavoidable; and
(2) A resident having pressure sores receives necessary treatment and services to promote healing, prevent infection and prevent new sores from developing.

Nursing home abuse lawyers will always tell you that a bed sore or pressure ulcer risk assessment is the first preventive method for any patient in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. All bed-bound or chair-bound patients in a nursing home or nursing home patients whose ability to reposition themselves is impaired, are to be considered at a risk for pressure ulcers. As a nursing home patient, or the family member of a nursing home patient, the first thing you should do is ask the nursing home if they have assessed the potential risk of developing a pressure ulcer or bedsore in the chart.

What is the Braden Scale?

All nursing homes use the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk to help identify nursing home patients who are at a high risk for the development of pressure ulcers or bed sores. As a nursing home patient or family member or a nursing home patient, you should ask to see the nursing home chart to determine what Braden Scale level of risk has been assigned to you or your loved one. A Braden Scale score of 12 or less is considered to by a “high risk” for that patient to develop a bed sore or pressure ulcer in a nursing home.
If the nursing home has not assigned a high risk for a pressure ulcer, bed sore or pressure sore to a nursing home patient, you should ask the nursing home why. This is the first step any nursing home patient should take to prevent a bedsore or pressure ulcer from ever developing.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has acquired a bedsore or pressure ulcer at a nursing home, you should seek the counsel of a nursing home abuse lawyer. You can 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.

Look for future posts from a New Jersey nursing home abuse lawyer on other preventive measures to prevent the development of pressure ulcers and bedsores.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Imperative to Justice

As patients, medical malpractice is not something we want to think about. We trust our medical providers to give us good, thoughtful, effective, and safe care. We trust these providers with not only our lives, but the lives of our loved ones as well. And, thankfully, most doctors live up to the task. However, there are some doctors who act negligently, dishonestly, and greedily, and their actions negatively affect the lives they care for. It is then that a medical malpractice lawyer is necessary.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Why Are They Necessary

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers work justice contingency basisFirst, a medical malpractice lawyer is going to offer you advice on what you should do regarding your case. He or she will explain to you if you indeed have a case.

  • Was the standard of care departed from?
  • Was there clear neglience?
  • Who was negligent?
  • Are there damages?

Once these questions are answered, a medical malpractice lawyer will then decide whether or not to file suit against your negligent medical provider.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers: Is it Just About Money?

Medical malpractice lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they work for free until you win your claim. Medical malpractice lawyers work for justice.
A man who loses a limb to a delayed diagnosis will spend the rest of his life without that limb. This will affect his employment, his relationships, and his daily life. If he can no longer work to support his family, the negligent doctor must be held accountable and compensate this man for money he will no longer be able to provide to his family. Medical malpractice cases are about your money. They are about the money that will be necessary for you to carry out the rest of your life while you deal with the long term effects of medical negligence.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have been injured by the negligence or mistreatment of a medical provider, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Our medical malpractice lawyers will analyze the details of your claim to determine whether or not you have a legitimate medical malpractice case. Let us earn you the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers: ASR XL Hip Implant

As a Depuy hip recall lawfirm, we have previously posted information regarding the Depuy Orthopaedics recall of the DePuy ASR XL hip implant. As a Depuy hip recall lawyer, I have been asked many times, “What’s the big deal with this hip recall? Don’t all hip implants eventually fail?” The easy answer about hip implants is Yes.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Represent Recall Victims

new jersey philadelphia depuy hip recall lawyers asr xl implantAs we have posted previously, all hip recall lawyers will explain that a partial or total hip implant is not a cure for hip pain. However, what makes this Depuy hip recall so unusual is the extraordinarily high failure rate as compared to DePuy’s hip implant competitors. In fact, the medical research which lead to the hip recall has shown that between 12 and 13 percent of Depuy hip implant patients will require a hip replacement revision surgery within five years of receiving the replacement.

Since there were approximately 93,000 Depuy hip implants performed in the last five years, over 12,000 of these patients can expect to have a failure within five years. Unfortunately, there is no way for a Depuy hip implant patient to know whether or not they are one of the 12,000 who will have this five-year failure, or whether their hip implant will last longer.

DePuy Hip Implant Lawyers Scold DePuy for Negligence

There are many reasons for this high failure rate of the Depuy hip implant. As a DePuy him recall lawyer, we have posted information regarding the medical facts which have led to the Depuy hip implant defects which have led to the hip recall. In addition, the Depuy hip recall has also occurred because of the potential of the implant to shed metals (chromium and cobalt) into a hip implant patient’s bloodstream causing a condition called osteolysis.
Again, not all hip replacement patients who have had a Depuy hip implant will have this serious medical condition, but, without sensitive laboratory studies, there is no way to determine whether or not a Depuy hip patient does or does not have such a condition. In a nutshell, while 12 to 13 percent may seem like a low percentage, it is a nightmare for any Depuy hip implant patients who have received a Depuy hip replacement that is now the subject of the DePuy hip recall.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one have received a defective hip implant manufactured by DePuy, you may fall into the group of people entitled to compensation from DePuy. If you are experiencing prolonged and excessive pain in your hip joint and you recently had hip replacement surgery, 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.

Our defective product attorneys can offer you the legal advice you’ll need to make the next step. Let the Mininno Law Office team earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Medical Malpractice Leads to Birth Injury in New Jersey

Just last month, a New Jersey jury delivered a $450,000 verdict in a medical malpractice case to the parents of a little girl who suffered a birth injury that resulted in Erb’s Palsy.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Warn Against Shoulder Dystocia

A previous Mininno Law Office blog post (Birth Injuries Caused By Shoulder Dystocia) described the effects of Shoulder Dystocia during birth. Shoulder Dystocia is a very avoidable birth injury that can lead to Klumpke Paralysis, Erb’s Palsy, or fetal hypoxia. The New Jersey case involved Shoulder Dystocia during child birth that lead to the tearing of the brachial plexis (a series of nerves coming out of the cervical spine and running down the arm) in a baby girl that now lives with Erb’s Palsy.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Advocate for Victims of Birth Injury

new jersey philadelphia Medical malpractice attorneys birth injury erbs palsy shoulder dystociaShoulder Dystocia occurs when the shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone after the head exits the birth canal. Child births with high risk of shoulder dystocia include those of larger babies. In the New Jersey case, the baby weighed 9 lbs, and her mother weighed 300. It is also known that overweight mothers are more likely to give birth to heavier babies. Had an estimated fetal weight been made prior to the woman going into labor, a C-Section could have been discussed as an option. Instead, however, a vaginal birth was attempted, and after shoulder dystocia and excessive force by the OB/GYN, the little girl now suffers from from Erb’s Palsy.

Erb’s Palsy is a paralysis of the affected arm from shoulder to fingertips. Often, the condition requires close monitoring as it can also cause a delay in or stop to circulatory and muscle development in the arm. Skin healing also takes much longer, and the arm becomes much more susceptible to infection.

Nerve and tendon transfers are procedures often used to reverse the effects of Erb’s Palsy, as well as other procedures involving cutting and re-placing muscle. Normally, if full functionality has not been achieved by the age of one, chances are it never will be. Physical therapy can be utilized to help children and adults make the most of their handicap.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

A New Jersey or Philadelphia medical malpractice or birth injury lawyer will be necessary if your child suffered a birth injury to the negligence or bad judgement of a doctor. Only a medical malpractice or birth injury lawyer will be able to fight for you and your right to full and fair compensation.
If your child is a victim of a life changing birth injury, 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 and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Leads to Unstageable Bedsores

new jersey philadelphia Nursing home abuse lawyers represent patients unstageable bedsoresIn our recent nursing home abuse post, we provided details regarding various forms of pressure ulcers and bedsores. These posts have provided information from a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home lawyer regarding Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV pressure ulcers and bedsores. These four stages are the common types of nursing home abuse pressure ulcers and bedsores we encounter with our clients. However, some pressure ulcers cannot be categorized in the pressure ulcer or bedsore staging system above. These pressure ulcers or bedsores are called “unstageable“.
Sadly, as a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawfirm, we are called upon to represent patients and family members of patients who have asked what it means to have an “unstageable” bedsore or pressure ulcer.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Describe “Unstageable” Bedsores

According to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), an unstageable bedsore is defined as the following:

Full thickness tissues loss in which the base of the ulcer is covered by slough (yellow, tan, grey, green or brown) and/or eschar (tan, brown or black) in the wound bed.

A further description from the NPUAP indicates that:

…until enough slough and/or eschar is removed to expose the base of the wound, the true depth, and therefore stage, cannot be determined. Stable (dry, adherent, intact without erythema or fluctuance) eschar on the heels serves as the body’s natural (biological) cover and should not be removed.

Therefore, if a nursing home tells you that a patient has an “unstageable” pressure ulcer, this merely means that the pressure ulcer has a scab on it (as described above) which does not permit a nursing home medical staff member to properly assess the depth and stage. However, an “unstageable” pressure ulcer is a serious medical problem. If you or a family member is in a nursing home and has a “unstageable” pressure ulcer you should demand that the patient be transferred to a medical facility for proper medical care.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

As a New Jersey and Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawfirm, we strongly encourage patients to be proactive in their pressure ulcer and bedsore care. Once you have your loved one transferred to the proper medical facility, 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.
You have paid a lot of money a rehab center or care facility and entrusted their staff with the life of your loved one. Bedsores are painful and potentially fatal complications that should not be taken lightly, and you may be entitled to compensation.

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

Nursing Home Abuse Costs a Man His Leg

In Washington state, a man lost a limb due to nursing home abuse and negligence.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Protect the Helpless

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers patrick carson Patrick Carson is a schizophrenic who has spent most of his life in care facilities and rehab institutions. He was in his sixties when he entered the Burien Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in King County, Washington, and reports from the home show he also suffers from dimentia and heart disease. In October, 2009, Carson fell out of his bed and landed near a baseboard heater positioned dangerously close to his bed. His left leg landed directly on the heater. He laid there long enough to sustain third degree burns to much of the left leg and right foot. The injuries were so bad that the left leg had to be amputated.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Fight Negligence

Yes, the incident could be regarded as simply an unfortunate accident, but not considering Carson’s history as a patient at Burien. The complaint filed against the home states that an alarm was supposed to be attached to Carson’s body that would sound should he fall out of bed. The home maintains that the alarm was present, but was crushed in the fall and therefore did not sound. Carson’s attorney questions the presence of an alarm at all, claiming that an alarm was prescribed after the fall and the burns took place.

The home also claims that due to peripheral neuropathy and a supplement for neuropathy called Nerve Renew, Carson did not feel pain and therefore did not scream after the fall, explaining the delayed response. But Carson’s guardian, Loralee McDonnell-Williams, will testify that he had total sensation in his knee when stitches were being removed, meaning he could indeed feel pain. A state investigator also stated that Carson communicated pain during a wound check.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Patrick Carson lost a limb to negligent and inadequate care at a home his family entrusted with his life. Everyday, nursing homes and long term care facilities fall short on their promises to effectively care for the people that reside there.
If your loved one has been harmed by a negligent or abusive nursing home, 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 full and fair compensation you need and deserve.

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!