Nursing Home Outbreak of Hepatitis B Kills 5

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse attorneys negligence outbreak hepatitis mount olive An extreme case of nursing home abuse and negligence ends in five deaths in Mount Olive, North Carolina.
The Glencare Assisted Living Facility is under fire after an alarming spread of Hepatitis B within the facility (Hepatitis B is a blood born disease typically transmitted by exchange of blood or bodily fluids). Eight residents of the facility contracted the disease and, so far, five have died.

Currently, it seems that the disease was spread by the re-use of a diabetes pen used to check patient blood-sugar levels. This information comes from a Health Department representative who alerted Glencare’s owner that one or more of his staff was reusing the needles. His staff denied the allegations and began pointing fingers elsewhere.
Glencare Vice President, Ann Kornegay, released the following statement:

These patients live here and they enjoy the same social entertainment that you do out there in the community. They have sex. They have the right. They can go down to the store where often times drug dealers are and they can get illegal drugs. They can get alcohol. We don’t allow alcohol to be consumed on our property.

Investigation continues, and the health department has initiated a corrective plan that Glencare will be forced to employ.

New Jersey and Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Many nursing home deaths arise from the spread of infection or disease. Nursing homes should be employing nearly full-proof programs to prevent the spread of infection. In this case, the outbreak was allegedly caused by an infraction of one of the most basic rules of disease prevention: Don’t reuse needles. Five people have lost their lives to this horrid negligence.

If you or a loved one are the victim of nursing home abuse or negligence, 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 elder abuse attorneys are experienced and want to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Medical Malpractice and Fraud May Put Doctor in Jail

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys negligence mark weinberger fraud jail Mark Weinberger, also known as the “nose doctor,” was an otolaryngologist in Meriville, Indiana.
On the outside, his practice was very attractive, posh and glamorous, but also modern and convenient. In reality, while Weinberger promised modern medicine and charged modern prices, he was performing outdated and somewhat ineffective procedures. He regularly made surgical mistakes, and, as some of his patients claim, missed cancer diagnoses.

He disappeared for almost five years while fraud charges and medical malpractice and negligence claims mounted against him. He was on vacation with his wife in the Greek Isles, and was declared missing when his wife woke up one morning to find him gone. The Dr. was found 5 years later living in a tent on a mountain in Northern Italy.

Consequences of Medical Malpractice for Mark Weinberger

Now, Mark Weinberger is looking for a plea bargain with the court regarding the 22 counts of insurance fraud he has against him. His side of the bargain would include four years in prison and $366,000 to patients who either overpaid for procedures they did receive, or paid for procedures they didn’t receive at all. If Weinberger is convicted, he could face up to ten years in jail and $5.5 million in restitution.

Victims of Weinberger’s deceptions and greed are hopeful that they will be able to receive the compensation they deserve. Most of them feel that while he definitely deserves jail time, 4 years isn’t long enough.
For Peggy Hood, no amount of time can be long enough. Peggy lost her sister, a patient of Dr. Weinberger, to throat cancer, after the doctor failed to diagnose it. Peggy just hopes for closure for her family, and for the doctor to be held accountable for what he did.

NJ and PA Medical Malpractice Attorneys

The medical malpractice attorneys at the Mininno Law Office are experienced in handling some of the toughest cases. Doctors and hospitals that act negligently should be held accountable for their acts, and our team is poised to make sure that happens.
If you or a loved one have suffered due to medical malpractice, 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) 567-2382 in Philadelphia. Let us fight for you, and earn you the recoveries you are due.

DePuy Fights the New York Times and Loses

new jersey philadeplhia Depuy orthopaedics hip implant recall attorneys new york times Give credit to the New York Times for being the first to warn patients and doctors about the potential defects that eventually led to the Depuy hip implant recall.

In March of 2010, The New York Times was the first to break the story about these potentially defective products which could cause serious injury to patients. Although The New York Times’ data was essentially indisputable, DePuy issued strong denials and defended it’s hip implant’s track record.
DePuy fought back, saying that their ASR XL Acetabular System was just as safe as other hip implant systems distributed by other manufacturers. Ironically, as The New York Times reported, DePuy was actually attempting a “silent recall” by phasing out the sales of these defective implants, claiming it was for “business reasons,” and denying it had anything to do with safety.

Not surprisingly, DePuy’s strenuous defense of it’s hip implants turned out to be false. In fact, a few months later, in August of 2010, the FDA sent a warning letter to DePuy regarding other questionable marketing techniques. Within days, DePuy issued a voluntary recall of it’s ASR hip implant system, and finally conceded that the failure rate for this hip implant was greater than that of it’s competitors.
DePuy Orthopaedics President, David Floyd, then belatedly expressed “regret that this recall will be concerning for patients, their family memebers, and surgeons.”

Interestingly, there was no mention of The New York Times article which identified the precise problems with DePuy’s hip implants just a few months earlier.
Let’s give credit to New York Times investigative journalists, Barry Meier and Andrew W. Lehren, for first breaking the story. Without their reporting, DePuy would have been successful in it’s “silent recall” of these potentially defective hip implants, and patients would have never known about the health risk associated with these products.

Mininno Law Office DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys

If you or a loved one recently have recently undergone a hip replacement surgery, you may be the recipient of a defective DePuy hip implant. To be sure, you should contact your orthopaedic surgeon, or the hospital where the procedure took place.
If you are, in fact, a recipient, you will need a DePuy Hip Implant Recall attorney. 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.

We are here to help you earn the compensation you deserve.

DePuy Distributes “Helpful” Handout for Defective Implant Claims

Recently, DePuy Orthopaedics posted a patient handout for hip implant claims on its web site. This implant recall handout is supposed to provide patients with detailed information about the full amount of compensation that patients would be entitled to receive if their surgeon implanted a defective DePuy hip implant.
That handout states as follows (click on the image to enlarge):

DePuy sells Defective Hip Implants; Hires “Claims Adjustors” in Aftermath

In this country, our civil justice system deals with what happens when a corporation breaks the rules of society that are designed to keep citizens safe. Here, DePuy Orthopaedics has admittedly broken our civil rules of society by selling, for a profit, a defective product; more specifically, a defective hip implant. DePuy sold this product in order to earn a profit for its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, a publicly-traded company whose reported annual revenues of the 2008 fiscal year were $63.75 BILLION DOLLARS.

The question becomes:

What is fair compensation for a person who needs to endure pain, disability, loss of income, hospitalization, and the many risks associated with a second surgery when a $63.75 billion corporation sells, for profit, a defective hip implant?

Should a patient allow a DePuy claims adjuster, hired and paid by DePuy, decide what is their fair compensation? Would this DePuy employer be more concerned about a patient’s health and welfare, or the health and welfare of his/her employer Corporation?

NJ and PA Depuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys

Ultimately, any person with a defective implant should consider presenting this claim to a jury of their peers to decide what would be fair compensation. DePuy’s “claim process” would shield the company from a jury of his or her peers to determine what this 63.75 billion dollar corporation should pay as fair compensation for its defective product – the ASR XL Hip Implant System.

We are strongly encouraging anyone with a potentially defective hip implant to 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.
We’ll inform you of all, not just some, of your rights.

Are You Seeking Legal Representation Against DePuy Orthopaedics?

new jersey philadelphia depuy orthopaedics hip implant recall attorneys
Everday, the Consumer Product Safety Commision issues information about defective products that are being recalled. Many people are wondering, “Are these types of defective product recalls the same as the DePuy Orhtopaedics hip implant recall?” The simple answer is no.
Ordinarily, if you purchase a defective product and it is recalled, you simply have to stop using the product and return it for a refund. Although it is inconvenient, it is a very simple issue to resolve. However, a recall involving a defective hip implant is not quite so simple. These are some of the steps that must be taken.

Determine if your surgery was before or after July, 2003. If your surgery was before this date, you do not have a DePuy hip implant as they were only available after this date.

Contact the orthopaedic surgeon who performed your replacement or the hospital where the hip implant surgery took place. Ask them, “Did I receive a DePuy Orthopaedics ASR XL Hip Implant System?” If not, your implant is not part of the recall. If, however, your doctor tells you yes, you must locate the surgeon who performed your hip replacement procedure. If that surgeon is unreachable, you can request your records from the hospital where the procedure took place. Hospitals are required to keep records of any and all implants they place in patients, and there likely will be a record of the hip implant you received.

My Hip Implant was Manufactured by DePuy; What Now?

If you have determined that your hip implant is part of the DePuy hip implant recall, you can do one of two things:

1. You can contact DePuy directly about compensation. However, you will be speaking to trained claims adjustors whose jobs are designed to settle your case at the lowest possible cost to DePuy. This course of action is not recommended.

new jersey philadelphia depuy orthopaedics hip recall attorneys defective replacement — Pictured is the ball and socket portion of the artificial hip joint that is realeasing metal particles in the bloodstream after wear and tear to the implant.

2. You can contact the Mininno Law Office regarding the recall. Here, we can ensure that a fair and reasonable claim can be presented to DePuy. It will include a claim for:

– Any additional testing and treatment;
– Medical treatment for any problems associated with the defective implant;
– Revision surgery for the explantation of the defective implant, and re-implantation of a non defective hip implant;
– Out-of-pocket medical expenses;
– Additional compensation such as lost work, time, and travel expenses; and
– Money damages to the full extent of the losses and harms caused by the defective hip implant.

NJ and PA DePuy Recall Attorneys at the Mininno Law Office

Our system of civil justice demands that people who have been injured becasue of a wrongdoer’s negligence must be compensated. If you or someone you know has a DePuy hip implant, please call us for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
We can offer you more information regarding the full compensation to which you may be entitled.

DePuy Hip Implants RECALLED

new jersey philadelphia defective products attorneys depuy hip replacements implants DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has recently recalled it’s line of ASR hip implant systems used in hip replacement surgeries.
It seems the implants are defective products, malfunctioning in a few different ways.

Sometimes, the DePuy Hip Replacements are loosening, meaning that the implant is no longer attached to the bone in the right position. In other instances, the implants are dislocating, and the two parts of the system that move together are no longer aligned.
Metal particles are wearing off of the ball socket components of the implants that rub together, and, over time, can cause fluid build-up in the muscles surrounding the joint. These metal particles could potentially cause significant harm the muscles, bones, and nerves around the hip.

Have you Recently Undergone Hip Replacement Surgery?

If you have recently received a hip implant, and find that you are suffering through pain that exceeds the expected recovery period, you may have received a defective implant from DePuy Orthopaedics.
Contact your orthopaedic surgeon to find out who manufactured your implant, and then contact a defective products attorney at the Mininno Law Office: we will work hard to fight for you, and earn you the compensation you deserve.

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

Nursing Home Neglect Brings Criminal Charges to Facility Owner and Employee

In a shocking and rare turn of events, nursing home abuse has put an assisted living facility caretaker in jail for 31 months following the death of a resident.

Nursing Home Neglect in a Washington State Facility

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse attorney nursing home neglect jean rudolph houghton lakeview — Jean Rudolph died in 2008 at age 87 due to infection caused by three stage 4 bedsores that went untreated.

Jean Rudolph, 87, was a resident at the Houghton Lakeview adult home in Kirkland, Washington. She suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as varied heart problems. She was virtually bedridden and had extreme difficulty verbalizing any complaints she may have had regarding pain or discomfort.

When Jean died, she weighed 68 lbs, and was being ravaged by infections caused by three untreated, stage 4 bedsores that had burrowed to her bones. A pressure ulcer on her hip revealed a hip joint jutting out of her body.
When her son was notified of the bedsores, after almost a month of severe neglect, he rushed his mother to the hospital where she died three weeks later.

Her caretaker, Effie Tutor, was sentenced to 31 months in jail for a felony count of first-degree criminal mistreatment. Nursing Home owner, Patricia Goodwill, plead guilty to second-degree criminal mistreatment. Prosecutor Page Ulrey has asked for a one year jail sentence.

Unbeknownst to Rudolph or her family, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) had previously cited Houghton Lakeview with a number of serious health and safety violations. After Rudolph’s death, the facility was closed down. Investigators are looking into another nursing facility that Goodwill owns in Washington. The DSHS is currently reviewing her conviction to determine whether or not she should be stripped of her license to run the other facility.

Are You a Victim of Elder Abuse or Nursing Home Neglect?

Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Neglect are a serious epidemic in today’s long term care industry. It’s a good thing that law enforcement and juries are seeing these as criminal offenses, and forcing punishments upon offenders.
If you or a loved one have suffered in any way due to elder abuse and/or nursing home neglect in a nursing home or long term care facility, 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.

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

DePuy Hip Implants Release Toxic Metallic Debris Into Bloodstream

Recently, there has been a lot of news surrounding the recall of the DePuy Orthopaedics defective hip implant system. The product recall occurred after a medical study in Great Britain revealed that this hip implant had up to a 13% failure rate within the first five years of surgery.
And, as if early hip replacement failure and the necessity of additonal surgery wasn’t bad enough, the wear and tear from these defective hip implants is resulting in the flow of metallic debris throughout the bloodstream.

What are these metals?

depuy hip implant recall new jersey mininno law office Chromium and Cobalt. These metals are not found in your local vitamin store: Chromium is a chemical element found on the periodic table under atomic number 24. It is used to make stainless steel and all of the shiny parts called “chrome” on automobiles.
While it may look pretty on a “tricked out” automobile, when it circulates in the bloodstream, it has been associated with numerous health problems.

depuy hip implant recall nj and pa attorneys mininno law office Similarly, Cobalt is also a chemical element found on the periodic table under atomic number 27. Since ancient times, it has been used as a blue pigment to tint glass, jewelry, and furniture.
However, when it is released into your bloodstream as a result of wear and tear of a defective hip implant, it can also cause serious health problems. It is considered a carcinogen by healthcare professionals. It is definately not a substance that a patient wants circulating through his or her bloodstream.

In selecting these metals, especially with the knowledge of their potential side effects, DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, was hoping to create a better hip implant. Instead, the research is starting to show that they have in fact created a defective product which not only results in pain, suffering, and additional surgery, but exposes patients to harmful chemical elements in the bloodstream.

Have a DePuy Implant? NJ and PA DePuy Recall Attorneys

If you have a DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant, you should be aware that these implants have been recalled. You should consult with your family doctor and orthopaedist to determine whether or not you have been exposed to chromium or cobalt metals, and whether you have any symptoms associated with these chemicals.
If you would like more information about the recall, please 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.

Elder Abuse Takes the Form of Fraud and Theft

new jersey philadelphia elder abuse attorneys nursing home neglect lawyers theft fraud Typically, nursing home abuse is thought to be of a physical nature. Residents are left unturned in their beds, growing bedsores; they are manhandled and dropped out of wheelchairs or lifts; or they are over medicated to remain sedated. But often times, elder abuse takes the form of theft or fraud.

In one such elder abuse case, a 36 year old social worker, working with several elderly patients, did great harm to the bank account of an 89 year old woman. In ten months, that social worker stole upwards of $25,000 dollars from the woman. After that “tap ran dry,” she took another $9,000 from a different patient she had been seeing. Authorities claim the money was used for personal purchases; clothing, groceries, and the like.

In other related elder abuse cases, the same social worker was fraudulently cashing checks she had written to herself from a patient’s checkbook. She was also using the victim’s debit card. What happened when the checks ran out? She lied to the bank to obtain more, and continued to write them to herself.

Elder Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

The social worker is currently being prosecuted, but it truly is ashame that she was able to go on committing these crimes for so long. It is imperative that we keep our eyes open to this kind of elder abuse, or else offenders will not be punished, and care will never improve.
If you or an elderly loved one have been abused in a nursing home or long term care facility, please contact the Mininno Law Office. Our NJ and PA elder abuse attorneys are here to answer all of your questions and help you present the best possible case.

No one should have to endure the kind of negligence and abuse that goes on in some of our nation’s nursing homes. Help bring an end to these trends of deplorable treatment, and call an NJ or PA elder abuse attorney today. Free consultations at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Are all DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants Defective?

Recently, we have been asked if ALL DePuy hip implants are defective. Currently, there is no real answer because it is simply too soon to interperet the data on these defective DePuy hip implants.

new jersey philadelphia depuy orthopaedics lawyers implants recalled What is known is that the recall affects the ASR XL Acetabular System, which is used for total hip replacements, as well as the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, which is used in a newer kind of procedure involving bone conservation.
The ASR Hip Resurfacing System has not yet been approved in the United States, but according to Johnson & Johnson, some patients may have gotten these implants through a clinical trial when the company was seeking FDA approval for the hip implants.

Therefore, one of the first things a patient needs to determine is whether or not they have a total DePuy Orthopaedics hip replacement system, or the DePuy ASR hip resurfacing system. A combined total of about 93,000 of the total hip replacement system devices have been implanted worldwide. Presently, the data shows that only 1 in about 8 of these hip replacements have caused patients symptoms, and have required correction.
However, since the symptoms of a defective hip implant may mimic other symptoms, many patients do not yet know whether or not their implant is defective. Many patients are insisting that they get corrective surgery now, before these defective implants cause signs and symptoms, to prevent future problems such as microscopic metal particles in the bloodstream.

So, while the data does not suggest that all DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implants are defective, it simply is too soon to come to a final conclusion about the number of patients who will have symptoms related to these defective implants.

NJ and PA DePuy Orthopaedics Defective Hip Implant Attorneys

If you have any concerns regarding a DePuy Orthopaedics implant, you should contact your orthopaedic surgeon or family doctor.
If you want to know what your rights are regarding these recalled hip implants, contact the Mininno Law Office. Our NJ and PA DePuy Hip Implant Recall Lawyers are prepared to answer your questions and earn you any and all compensation that you deserve. You may call the Mininno Law Office for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.