lawyers Archives - Page 7 of 34 - New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical Malpractice Attorneys and the “Conspiracy of Silence”

Prior to the 1960s, medical malpractice litigation was far less prevalent in society than it is today. Everything began to change when medical malpractice attorneys were able to break the traditional “conspiracy of silence”. This led to many more tort claims and allowed injured patients to seek the compensation that they rightfully deserved. The conspiracy of silence refers to the discouraging of physicians and doctors (who today serve as expert witnesses) from testifying against other healthcare providers in malpractice or negligence lawsuits.

A Change in the Protocol of Experts

It was very difficult for medical malpractice attorneys to prove that medical malpractice occurred when they were unable to call experts in the field, such as doctors, to testify. Informing the jury of the relevant standards of care and the expected performance and requirements did not hold as much water when a prominent professional in the field was not the one testifying. Thankfully, today, medical malpractice attorneys are able to call any number of expert witnesses who can now shed light on the potential negligence of their colleagues in the field. The unspoken tradition of doctor and physicians refusing to testify against their colleagues in reality only caused an injured victim to suffer. This cultural shift signified a great time for injured patients because it gave tort lawyers and medical malpractice attorneys’ greater leverage to prove their case by painting a much broader picture. Today, both parties are able to call as many expert witnesses to testify as they wish and the jury is able to determine who has presented a stronger case, free from any conspiracy of silence.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. 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.

Elder Abuse Lawyers: Product Increases Safety for Dementia Patients

As elder abuse lawyers, we know having a parent or loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia has a long list of day-to-day challenges. For those who have a parent that has tendencies to wander from the home there is also an added element of constant fear. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are nearly 6 million people with Alzheimer’s in this country and studies have shown that 60 percent of those who suffer from the disease will wander off and become lost. Sadly, about half of those who do get lost and are not found within 24 hours might die. Dr. Andrew Carle, director of the senior housing administration at George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services said, “They might be living in their home but they’re confused… They go for a walk and they can get lost for days.” The problem with Alzheimer’s suffers wandering off is “they don’t think they’re lost. They may actually hide. Paranoia is a manifestation of the disease. So search and rescue is hard to do,” says Carle.

GPS Shoe Will Alert Family of Wondering Alzheimer’s Sufferers

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA Carle has served as an advisor on a project by the GTX Corporation to develop location-tracking shoes with a GPS in the heel. They were developing the shoe for marathon runners and children when Carle “pointed out why this was an ideal technology for people with dementia who wander.” There has been GPS pocket devices, wristbands, and bracelets and pendants with names and contact numbers on the market but these were easily lost or removed. The wearer is much less likely to remove their shoes. The shoe’s technology will allow a family member to set a perimeter such as the house and yard that the wearer can move around freely, “But if he breaks the fence, Google maps pops up on my computer or my phone to show me where he is,” Carle explained. When it comes out on the market, the shoe is going to cost about $300 with a $30 to $40 monthly subscription fee.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident of a nursing home or care facility, we encourage you to visit frequently and be very observant of any scratches, bruises, or anything that does not look right. If you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate and would like to speak to one of our elder abuse lawyers, 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 Prevail 13 Years after Child’s Death

Way back in 1998, Anna Gloria Rivera was ten years old and had her entire life ahead of her. Medical malpractice attorneys believe things turned tragic when she was rushed to Woodhull Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York following a severe asthma attack. Prior to asking the young girl’s mother for a medical history or providing a muscle relaxant, sedative, or any sort of pain medication, the treating doctor hooked the girl up to a respirator. The doctor elected to set the ventilator machine at 40 breaths per minute, a clear case of medical malpractice since the protocol for a child of Anna Gloria’s age is around 8 to 10 breaths.

Death Follows Medical Professionals Malpractice

The young girl’s medical malpractice attorneys said “she died about three hours later after her lungs were ‘blown out’ with all the oxygen“. In 2007, following a six week trial, a jury elected to award the Rivera family $3.5 million for pain and suffering and $500,000 for a wrongful death finding. Unfortunately, medical malpractice attorneys had to continue to litigate the issue following an appeal by the city. This prolonged the agony of the family and put off closure for nearly four more years. Finally, in 2011, the plaintiffs once again prevailed and the city was charged thousands in legal fees in addition to $478,000 in interest because of the delayed payment of the damage award. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that because this lawsuit came against a public hospital, the city’s taxpayers will be forced to incur much of the bill after the litigation raged on for so many years.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Jackson Litigation Just Beginning

Michael Jackson’s former doctor, Conrad Murray, was found guilty in a criminal courtroom for the death of the former pop icon. However, the litigation surrounding the death of Michael Jackson’s death is just now getting underway. Medical malpractice attorneys will now fight in civil courtrooms for money damages caused by the negligence of the doctor. The guilty verdict set down by a Los Angeles jury has not settled any of the potential civil liability that could still face Murray. Joe Jackson, and the Jackson family, will now seek another verdict before a new host of jurors.

Civil Lawsuit for Jackson’s Wrongful Death

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in NJ and PA

Brian Oxman is the medical malpractice attorney who was selected by Joe Jackson to represent him in the wrongful death lawsuit. Oxman was quoted as saying that his civil suit “will absolutely focus on what happened before the last few hours of Michael’s life”. Oxman is working together with other medical malpractice attorneys, such as Charles Peckham, Murray’s lawyer, to possibly bring in other doctors who treated Michael Jackson. One of these other doctors who may be caught up in the future litigation is Jackson’s former dermatologist, Arnold Klein. The medical malpractice attorneys representing Murray strongly believe that because the focus of the criminal trial was solely based on Murray’s interaction with Jackson, the result failed to show who may have been truly culpable. Peckham said that the focus of the criminal trial revolving only around Murray “severely restrained testimony that would have pointed to Dr. Murray’s innocence”. Medical malpractice attorneys expect this litigation to be lengthy and complex due to the number of potential parties and the high profile of the victim. The Jackson family is seeking money damages due to the death of Michael which would require a finding of medical negligence by a jury.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. 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.

Elder Abuse Lawyers Warn of Financial Theft

Financial elder abuseis unfortunately on the rise, happening more and more often to our aging population as the demographic gains a reputation for being an easy target for scams and/or theft. Therefore, the elderly need to be more careful about their finances and who they trust in their homes. As elder abuse lawyers, we sadly hear horrible stories about trusting people who get taken for their entire life savings because of one mistake. Make sure to keep all of your financial documents and checks in a secure, preferably locked, location where strangers or even family or friends cannot locate. Be careful of home health aides and housekeepers. Even those with good intentions may take advantage if given the opportunity.

Woman Arrested Twice for Stealing and Cashing Checks

elder abuse lawyers in NJ and PA Edna Lena Morales, 48, was arrested for the second time on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 for suspicion of elder abuse, forgery and possession of stolen property. She was arrested for the first time on October 17, 2011 after an investigation of her cashing several checks that belonged to an 83-year-old woman. The woman’s bank contacted her in September about the checks and she told them that Morales worked as her housekeeper, cleaning and cooking meals a few times a week. The elderly woman confronted Morales and she agreed to pay the money back. She wrote a check for $4,000 but the check bounced. Police also believe that Morales used the woman’s credit card charging more than $1,200, but Morales told them that the woman gave her permission to use the credit card.

A week later, a second woman went to the police to report that Morales cashed one of her checks for the amount of $5,000 leading to her second arrest. She is currently being held at the Merced County Jail on $130,000 bail.

Elder Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently being taken advantage of financially, or they are a resident of a nursing home or care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate , our professional elder abuse lawyers can help you. 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 File Lawsuit Related to Robot

The plaintiff, Jennifer Silvestrini, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit at the end of September in Orleans Parish Civil District Court against the defendants, Intuitive Surgical Systems Inc. and University Healthcare Systems, also known as Tulane University Hospital and Clinic. The defendants elected to remove the case to New Orleans federal court in late October. Medical malpractice attorneys claim that a robotic surgical procedure failed during Silvestrini’s neck surgery.

Malfunction of Robot Occurs during Surgery

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The plaintiff was scheduled for a robotic trans-axillary total thyroidectomy which was set to be performed by Dr. Emad Kandil. Unfortunately, during the procedure, there was an unexplained malfunction of the device and neither the staff nor the doctor could fix the problem on site. Even more unsettling was a contract and agreement that Intuitive Surgical Systems agreed to, which was to ensure that they had available service personnel ready so that there could be a rapid troubleshooting procedure in the event the device malfunctioned. When Ms. Silvestrini was undergoing the procedure and the breakdown occurred, the medical staff was unable to contact anyone from Intuitive Surgical Inc. to fix the problem.

Lawyers claim that the manufacturer of the robotic device failed to maintain the robot at issue, failed to properly train personnel on the use of the equipment, and failed to dispatch a technician in a timely fashion when Silvestrini was undergoing the operation. The hospital has been accused of failing to maintain the robot, failing to have properly trained personnel, failure to have an adequate arrangement with Intuitive Surgical Systems, and failing to employ an emergency technician who could respond rapidly in the case of a foreseeable emergency while the patient was undergoing surgery. The plaintiff seeks damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, medical expenses, interest, and court costs.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our professionals. 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.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Warn of Facility Cleanliness

Nursing homes and long term care facilities are responsible for the daily medical, physical, and emotional needs of their elderly and disabled residents. As nursing home neglect lawyers we see all forms of neglect, including the failure to administer medications, failure to keep patients clean and hygienic, and ignorance of obvious red flags. Nursing homes are also required to keep their facilities clean and up to code. When these requirements are not met, facilities are guilty of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Bedbugs Found in Ohio Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center

According to NBC4 in Ohio, two current employees of the Circleville Care and Rehabilitation Center called the news station to anonymously report a bedbug infestation in the facility. They also claimed that the management failed to inform any patient families of the infestation and threatened to terminate anyone who went to the media. The director of the Pickaway County Health Department did confirm that the nursing home had a bedbug problem, but since the bugs did not carry any diseases there was nothing they could do.

In a statement from Circleville Care and Rehabilitation Center’s parent company Sunbridge Healthcare, Regional Vice President Angela McCoy said:

“Our nursing center maintains specific policies and procedures when addressing the center’s environment. When the center became aware of this situation they immediately contacted a pest control company with the expertise to assist us and who has been on site daily to appropriately treat resident rooms. The process can take 48 hours to sanitize several rooms and we are following the recommendation and instruction of the pest control company as to any additional actions that might be taken.

Our first priority is to ensure that the delivery of care to our residents and patients is not disrupted throughout this process. Our medical director, medical staff, staff and families have been informed of the situation and we appreciate the support they have shown. I also have informed the state department of health who are aware and supportive of our process. I want to assure our families and our community that our caring team is committed to providing a safe environment for our residents and I encourage any family members of our residents to contact me with any questions or concerns.”

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you have witnessed any unsanitary conditions, physical or mental abuse of your loved one, or negligent care within a nursing home, our professional nursing home neglect lawyers can address your 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.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Discuss the Force of Lawsuits

Professional malpractice typically refers to negligence by a professional and it has been applied to many professions such as engineers, art experts, social workers, and pilots. However, it’s most common application is with healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, surgeons, etc. A lawsuit involving a single patient and a single healthcare provider may have a narrow impact on society, meaning it may only have consequential value to the parties involved. The litigation process will determine how an injured patient will be compensated but medical malpractice attorneys have also found that the outcome of a lawsuit may mold how the profession will engage in its practice.

Broad Impact of Medical Malpractice Cases

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys discuss force lawsuits
Consider the case of medical professionals. How courts in a particular jurisdiction rule on different matters of liability and standards of care will undoubtedly affect how other doctors and nurses act in similar situations. Situations such as communicating with patients regarding treatment and procedures, undertaking surgery and diagnosis, avoiding negligence and malpractice liability, and safeguarding patients from clearly foreseeable injury and even more remote potential outcomes all will be molded by how courts have ruled in previous cases. When other doctors or nurses are found liable for medical negligence, lawyers believe that this does not merely deter those individuals from acting in a particular way. Medical malpractice attorneys believe that the profession as a whole, both within and outside of that jurisdiction, will alter the ways in which they practice. When patients are hurt due to alleged negligence or malpractice, a courts ruling sends a message to the community as a whole that certain behavior and activity will not be tolerated.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers: Administrator Steals $300,000 from Home

As nursing home abuse lawyers, we see some of the worst kinds of abuse and neglect that the elderly unfortunately have to endure. We continue to fight against this horrible injustice but the problem is not going away. Most of the physical and emotional abuse is the result of frustrated direct care workers, but another growing problem is the financial abuse from administrators and other nursing home officials. They are taking advantage of their power and access to the facility’s finances in order to steal from the home. They are not only stealing from an organization, but from the elderly and disabled residents who need that money in order to keep up their standard of care.

Former Administrator Plead Guilty to Stealing from Facility and Residents

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The Golden Years Rest Home in Jenkins, KY is facing problems after their former administrator James F. Tackett, 69, entered a guilty plea in court for stealing thousands of dollars in funds from the home and from the residents. He admitted to stealing more than $300,000 from the home that was meant to be used for the care of the patients. He also admitted to stealing more than $60,000 from one resident. Tackett used the money to buy himself cars and other personal vehicles including a GMC Hummer, a Chevrolet Silverado, a Ford F-150, and a Suzuki XL-7. He is also in trouble for not reporting any of the funds on his state income tax returns for the past five years.

This started after a complaint was filed in 2009 by the local ombudsman office that multiple residents of the home were not receiving their $250 stimulus check from the American Economic Recovery Act, The Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations started looking into the home. This is not the first strike for Tackett, he plead guilty in 2009 to physical abuse of a resident and in October to charges of theft of federal Social Security funds received on behalf of the personal care home residents. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the state charges.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is missing money or you have witnessed any questionable or abusive behavior in a nursing home facility directed towards them or even another resident and you are worried that the care they are receiving is negligent, abusive, or inadequate, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation with one of our nursing home abuse lawyers at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Disgusted by Maggot Infestations

A state advocacy group in Michigan is calling for increased oversight of state nursing homes, citing as their motive the growing instances of extreme nursing home abuse. One specific case mentioned a nursing home in Washtenaw County, Michigan where maggots infested one patient’s throat and another patient’s catheter. Clinical corporate staff members instructed the nurse who came upon the catheter infestation to document it as “debridement.” Debridement is a name for dead tissue, not maggots. The second maggot incident took place in an Oakland County care facility. Maggots obstructed the airway of a woman had been coughing. The maggots were discovered when the airway was being cleared.

Maggots Sign of Severe Neglect State Wide?

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers maggot infestations The group, a non-profit Michigan Protections and Advocacy Service, cited the maggot infestation cases as evidence of a severe problem concerning treatment in the state’s care facilities. Of course, a representative of the state agency that regulates nursing homes insisted to a Michigan radio DJ that these maggot infestations were isolated incidents and that they, in no way, reflect the treatment that the state’s care facilities provide. Mike Pemble of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs said, “I don’t think it’s fair to hold it up and say this is happening in all nursing homes.”

Rhonda Smith, communications specialist with the Michigan Protections and Advocacy Service, did not provided the name of the nursing home involved. A Michigan television station is reporting that the Whitehall Healthcare Center of Ann Arbor was the culprit.

The MPAS reported that the information regarding these horrid incidents of neglect was gathered from surveys performed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. They are also preparing a report they they claim will highlight “numerous examples of abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities in nursing homes throughout the state.”

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility and you believe that the care they are receiving is negligent or inadequate, contact our professionals for a free case evaluation or consultation. Contact the Mininno Law Office by phone at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.