“I was not protected. And when I went for help, I did not get it immediately. And of course, the person who did this to me is still out there. That’s very disturbing.” Catherine Gotcher-Girolamo, 73, was scheduled for a routine diaper change at Avocado Post Acute nursing home in El Cajon, early one morning …
PFAS are a set of man-made chemicals used in a variety of common products, from stain and water-repellant fabric, to paints and waxes. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are considered “forever chemicals” because they stay in the environment and human body for a very long time. PFAS chemicals were recently found in groundwater at army …
Fall is here, and many are planning to visit family, go on vacations, and celebrate the holiday season. The upcoming months are filled with celebrations and festivals like Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Navratri, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve- something for everyone! Unfortunately, this year, the season is marred by the …
October is breast cancer awareness month. Every year, the National Breast Cancer Foundation uses this month to provide women with breast cancer education, screening, treatment, and support. Breast cancer awareness is extremely important to our firm as we’ve met hundreds of clients who have developed breast cancer from environmental contaminants, harmful drugs, and defective products. …
The death of a young boy has sent shockwaves through eight Houston-area communities. Six-year-old Josh McIntyre of Lake Jackson, Texas died after contracting a highly rare microbe that entered his brain. The microbe, Naegleria fowleri, is a free-living microscopic amoeba. It’s generally found in warm freshwater and soil, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease …
Earlier this year, weight-loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) was pulled off shelves at the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which flagged it as a potential cancer risk. Belviq manufacturer Eisai Inc., which is based in Japan, complied with the FDA’s requests. However, it said in a statement that it still believed Belviq’s benefits …
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken over the world. The spread of the pandemic had been aided in part by international travel, and cruise ships have played an important role. In early February, it was a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, which was the site of the largest cluster of coronavirus cases outside of China. It …
Losing a loved one is one of the most challenging parts of life. You may be feeling such intense pain that it’s hard to complete your usual daily tasks. This period of grief and mourning is natural after losing a loved one. Some emotions you may be experiencing include: Anger Confusion Denial Despair Disbelief Guilt …
The Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged nursing homes across the United States. Around 40% of Covid-19 deaths in the US are in nursing homes. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable during a respiratory disease pandemic. They are elderly, housed in close proximity, and have underlying conditions that complicate any viral outbreak considerably. Now, they face an …
The world’s largest retailer is under fire after a CNN investigation uncovered nearly a dozen dangerous and combustible products. The products, sold under the brand name AmazonBasics, are a line of electronic accessories, household appliances, and office supplies. The AmazonBasics brand, founded in 2009, offers more than 5,000 budget-friendly products. A day after the CNN …
A priest hand-selected by Pope Francis earlier this year to be appointed as bishop in a Minnesota diocese has resigned after an allegation of sexual abuse dating back 40 years surfaced. The bishop-elect, Father Michel Mulloy, was chosen to lead the Duluth Diocese in northeast Minnesota after serving the Catholic Church for over four decades. …
Update A grand jury returned their decision yesterday, September 23, 2020, to indict Brett Hankison on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, a Class D felony. Hankison, one of three officers charged for the death of 26-year-old emergency-room technician Breonna Taylor, was the only officer indicted for Taylor’s death. If convicted, he will serve a …
The coronavirus pandemic has driven up hand sanitizer sales by a wide margin. American hand sanitizer sales grew by almost 800% in the early months of the outbreak. Unfortunately, faulty hygiene products have also made it to consumers’ homes, increasing chances of poisoning. In recent times the FDA has seen an increase in hand sanitizers …
Nursing home abuse lawyers at Pintas & Mullins report that, following an investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, two workers at a Beckham County nursing home were recently charged in connection to the death of a 76-year-old resident. The 28-year-old Granite, Oklahoma woman charged with the resident death is a certified nurse at the …
One of the most critical, uncomfortable, and intimidating aspects of placing a loved one in a nursing home is planning how to pay for their care. Long-term care in the United States can cost six figures per year, and many people do not realize that health insurance does not cover long-term care. Our nursing home injury …
Choking presents a significant risk to elderly adults. Every nursing home has a responsibility not only to respond promptly when choking occurs but also to create conditions that minimize residents’ risk of choking. There are several ways that nursing homes may contribute to a choking accident that may allow for the worst possible outcome by …
In every nursing home throughout the country, staffing levels directly affects the quality of care residents receive. Far too many nursing homes are understaffed, under-funded, and not giving residents the comprehensive care they need. Nursing home abuse lawyers at Pintas & Mullins highlight a recent investigation by the Center of Public Integrity, which found that …
A recent report of an unsafe Humboldt Park nursing home calls attention to the chronic problem of understaffed nursing homes that choose to put profits ahead of patient safety. In Illinois and around the country, nursing homes are attempting to cope with growing budget restraints by cutting down on the number of employees. Sadly, although these staff …
A bill drafted by the office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner will expressly allow cameras in nursing home residents’ rooms. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2016. Our team of nursing home abuse lawyers commends this measure and encourages residents and concerned loved …
A large Kentucky Corporation, which owns in excess of twenty nursing homes and elderly care facilities, is seeking to lease several of the facilities following many prolonged and costly lawsuits for nursing home abuse and neglect. It appears this corporation thinks it will be more lucrative to avoid any future liability by simply leasing these …
Trans Healthcare and Trans Health Management, nursing home companies that controls a chain of nursing homes throughout the country seems to be continuously fighting off lawsuits, bad press, and claims of fraud. Bruce Rauner, the candidate for Illinois Governor, is snared in these issues, as his former company is accused of scheming to avoid liability …
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from infection. Almost any infection can lead to sepsis, including those located in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, and the small or large intestines. Sepsis affects 1.5 million Americans each year. Among the most vulnerable are nursing home residents. It may be difficult for residents to identify a worsening …
It feels like just yesterday that everyone was over for Christmas dinner, reminiscing about holidays past. Yet somehow, we are already in the New Year. This time brings with it the prospects of a fresh start, potential opportunities, and endless possibilities. Individuals pause in their busy lives to reflect on what is important to them. …
An elderly woman was recently the victim of a sexual assault at a Kindred-owned nursing facility. Reports indicate the facility is still providing substandard care and putting all residents in immediate risk of harm. Even more concerning to our skilled Illinois nursing home abuse lawyers is that the threat of harm may not be limited to a …
As the baby boomers age, more and more families have to face the difficult but necessary decision of how to care for their elderly loved ones. Home health care aides are the fastest growing occupation in the country, estimated to increase by 70% by 2020, according to data by the U.S. Department of Labor. Elder …