Law Firm Resources & News

The number of nursing homes in the U.S. that were cited for placing residents in “immediate jeopardy” rose 22% from 2000 to 2006, according to a study by USA Today. The newspaper, in an analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said inspectors in 2006 identified nearly 2,000 violations that…

Rape is a terrible crime under any circumstances but when an elderly nursing home resident is the victim…it is even worse! How can one human being be so evil as to take sexual advantage of an elderly and infirm person? It is the worst type of elder abuse! Well, this very crime is alleged to…

I live in Virginia and our state does a fairly good job investigating complaints of neglect and abuse in Virginia nursing homes. I do believe the office which investigates these complaints is under-staffed and over-worked but acknowledge they do the best they can. While Virginia may get a passing grade for taking complaints seriously and…

We had a series of cases last year, regarding infection and handwashing. The argument was – “we couldn’t have spread the infection to the patients, we use anti-bacteria hand sanitizer after every patient contact.” My response was – “yah – right.” Well, this morning, my response can be “So what?” Hand gels alone may not…

Told you – recalls everywhere! Syringe Recall:FDA has announced a nationwide recall of all lots of heparin and saline pre-filled flush syringes manufactured by AM2 PAT, Inc. under the brand names Sierra Pre-filled, Inc. and B. Braun. Two lots have been found to be contaminated with Serratia marcescens, a bacterium that can cause serious injury…

One glance at the Wall Street Journal yesterday – recalls, recalls, recalls. Johnson & Johnson recalls a catheter; Baxter, drug company, recalls their anti-coagulation shot, Heparin over allergic reactions; Merck is denied application to sell their new “Mevacor” over the counter…. There is a lesson here. Medicine is not exact. Drugs are not perfect. Medications…

Yesterday we were deeply saddened when we learned our friend Tom Farrell, was killed. Dan and I are plaintiff lawyers, Tom is a defense lawyer – this combination in Roanoke guarantees you will have cases against one-another, and we did. Tom was always kind, maintained a good sense of humor – and was always thankful…

Clarence Brown was a resident of Marmet Health Care Center from April 27of 1996 to May of 2007. Clayton Brown claims that while in the care of the facility Clarence Brown suffered several personal injuries and damages. Brown was admitted to Marmet Health Care Center in 1996 at the age of 46 because he suffered…

The WallStreet Journal Health Blog has a great point “The presidential candidates are fighting over who would do the most to increase the number of Americans with health insurance and expand access to care, BUT “their plans don’t ensure that there will be enough doctors and nurses will treat all those new patients, argues a…

As our readers are aware, at this blog we post comments and articles on issues and topics of interest to American consumers of health care. We also spend a great deal of time reading other blogs which focus on the state of health care in America. Recently, we ran across two blog posts on appalling…

Sadly, we review more than a few pressure ulcer cases each year. A pressure ulcer is essentially a bedsore that can develop because too much pressure is placed on the skin. Often pressure ulcers form on heels, sacrums (buttocks) and other areas that non-walking long term care residents sit for hours. Family by law –…