Tag: free case evaluation

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!

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers – How Much Do They Cost?

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

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Work on a Contingency-Fee Basis

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

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

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

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

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

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

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Force Change

Earlier this month, the family of 14 year-old Sarah Crider was awarded $1.25 million in the settlement of their medical malpractice lawsuit against the Georgia Regional Hospital, a mental hopsital operated by the state of Georgia.

Medical Malpractice Leads to Wrongful Death

Sara died four years ago from severe, intestinal blockages that went undiagnosed and, subsequently, untreated. The blockages were caused by a cocktail of medications that had conflicting side effects.
Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, commented on the young girl’s death:

This was an absolutely tragic and preventable death. She didn’t need to be in that institution. She could have thrived as an outpatient.

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers change sarah criderSarah is just one of about 115 patients who have died in the past five years under suspicious circumstances while receiving care at a Georgia state facility. The settlement reached in the Crider’s lawsuit addresses this issue. Aside from compensating the family, the state will also be spending close to $77 million to move hundreds, if not thousands, of patients out of state mental facilities to improve the level care for those who remain. Patients who will no longer reside at these state facilities will be those that could benefit from community settings for treatment.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

The death of Sarah Crider was tragic. However, because of a lawsuit brought against the state in response to her death, efforts are now being made to improve quality of care and prevent the same from happening again in the future. Medical malpractice lawyers are necessary when doctors and hospitals act negligently while caring for their patients.

If you or a loved one have suffered from medical malpractice, 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 our team earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

DePuy Hip Recall Hits Senior Citizens Hardest

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


DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Help Senior Citizens

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

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

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers Want Justice for Victims

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

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers in NJ and PA

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

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

Birth Injuries Caused by Shoulder Dystocia

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

Birth Injury Lawyers Warn About Shoulder Dystocia

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

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

Birth Injury Lawyers Stress Prevention

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

Birth Injury Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

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

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

Medical Malpractice Infringes Upon Patient Rights

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

Medical Malpractice Lawyers Uphold Patient Rights

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

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

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

Medical Malpractice Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one find that any of your aforementioned rights have been compromised, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Medical malpractice lawyers at the Mininno Law Office are experienced in and dedicated to fighting for those victimized by medical negligence. Let our team earn you the full and fair compensation that you need and deserve.