Expert Advocacy

San Diego Medical Malpractice Caused by Unlicensed Doctor

A Chula Vista woman was sent to jail recently after pleading guilty to committing medical malpractice by performing abortions without a medical license. Bertha Bugarin plead guilty to nine counts of practicing medicine without a license, one felony count of grand theft, and one misdemeanor count of “dispensing dangerous drugs” to her patients at her Chula Vista clinic where she claimed to be a doctor.

The arrest and prosecution of Bugarin occurred after Michael Varga, a Chula Vista Police officer assigned to the department’s Special Investigations Unit, interviewed women about abortions they had received at Clinica Medica Para La Mujer de Hoy, a storefront clinic located on Broadway in Chula Vista that catered to low-income, Spanish-speaking women.

Varga’s investigation led to identifying Bugarin as the leader of an illegal medical facility and abortion clinic. Bugarin, the investigation found, was a layperson who claimed to be the owner and manager of the Chula Vista cash only clinic, as well as five other similar clinics in Los Angeles and Orange counties.…

San Diego Man Allegedly Committed Medical Malpractice by Selling Unapproved Medical Devices

James Folsom, 68 of San Diego, faces 26 felony counts for medical malpractice by selling illegal medical devices in San Diego that he claimed would treat a variety of medical conditions through the passage of electrical currents. He faces 140 years in prison and $500,000 in fines if convicted, according to this news story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Since 1997, Folsom sold approximately 9,000 devices, such as NatureTronics, AstroPulse, BioSolutions, Energy Wellness, and Global Wellness to both retail and wholesale consumers generating more than $8 million in revenue for himself in the process. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Pierson said that this is the largest case involving illegal medical devices in the 20 years that she has worked as a federal prosecutor in San Diego County.

Folsom is an ex-business partner to a Fallbrook woman named Kimberly Bailey who sold similar devices until convicted in 2002 for planning the torture and murder of another man who was her business partner and lover.

The device sold by Folsom is made up of a small black box with dials, a digital screen, and wires leading to a pair of stainless steel cylinders or metal plates. The box is plugged into an electrical socket, and a patient holds the cylinders or stands on the plates. According to Folsom’s marketing, the device destroys diseased cells in the body with the use of electrical frequencies.

Prosecutors also allege that Folsom conducted business under false names and the United States Food and Drug Administration states that the device was never approved for use as a medical device in the United States.…

Child Abuse May Cause Poor Brain Development According to Study

The results of a new study by researchers from Boston’s Harvard Medical School have shown that those who were the victims of abuse during childhood have a higher likelihood that portions of the brain will be underdeveloped. The study, released by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that a variety of abusive tactics used against children led to underdevelopment of the brain due to severe stress.

The study used 193 adults who were between the ages of 18 and 25 years old and interviewed them concerning whether they had ever been subject to abuse. Researchers then scanned their brains via an MRI machine to see if they were altered in any way. Affected patients reported suffering from a variety of abusive techniques ranging from “parental verbal aggression” to “harsh corporal punishment.”

Specifically, the study found that childhood abuse victims had an average of 5.8% to 6.5% less volume in important parts of the hippocampus. The hippocampus plays an important role in memory and emotional processing, but results from the study did not reach a conclusion on what the effects were of having an underdeveloped one, although there may be a connection to the higher degree of mental illness found in those who have suffered child abuse. As the hippocampus is still developing during childhood, major stress at that time can lead to its improper formation.

Any form of child abuse can result in devastating physical and psychological effects for a child. If you believe your child has been abused by another, you have the right to seek compensation from those responsible. The child abuse lawyers in San Diego are dedicated to helping you and your child in any way we can and winning the compensation you both deserve. For more information, call us today for a free consultation from our experienced legal team.…

San Diego Auto Accident Kills Jogger in Lakeside Area

A 35-year old jogger was killed on February 16, 2010, in a San Diego pedestrian accident when she darted into the path of an oncoming car while running with her husband and their two dogs in the East County neighborhood of Lakeside, according to authorities. The woman apparently failed to see the northbound late-model Ford Mustang when she crossed the 9400 block of Los Coches Road in the Winter Gardens area shortly before 9 a.m.

The motorist, an El Cajon woman in her early 50s, told investigators she did not see the jogger until she ran directly in front of her car.

Our office wishes to convey our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We urge the joggers in San Diego County to be more careful. It is better advised to jog in parks rather than on roads when possible. But if you are jogging on roadways, please look out for motorists who may not expect to see you run across intersections. And please, motorists, keep an eye out for the unexpected—including pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists.…

Orange County Truck Accident Leaves One Injured

A 36-year old woman was severely injured in an Orange County truck accident as a commercial truck tractor went off a residential street in Garden Grove and hit several trees, a fence, concrete planters and a block wall before coming to a stop. This truck accident took place on February 12, 2010 around 11 a.m. The injured woman, Olga Quiroz, was standing in her yard when she was struck and dragged under the truck. Quiroz was taken to a local hospital with lacerations, fractures, and other injuries to her legs.

The truck driver, William Davis, 44, of Orange, was uninjured, and evaluated to have been driving under the influence of alcohol and was later arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. Davis has also been linked to a non-injury hit and run traffic collision that happened about 45 minutes before at Euclid Avenue and Trask Street.

Our office wishes for a speedy recovery for Olga Quiroz. It has to be said that drivers need to be extremely careful while driving in residential areas. Also, driving under influence can lead to fatal consequences.…

Lemon Grove Rehab Center Accused of Medical Malpractice Death

On February 12, 2008, the California Department of Public Health issued an “AA” citation against the Lemon Grove Care and Rehabilitation Center. The Center was cited due to accusations of inadequate care and neglect, leading to a patient’s death.

The Director of the California Department of Public Health, Dr. Mark Horton, stated that the citation was issued because the Lemon Grove Center did not adequately protect the health and safety of its residents. Dr. Horton added that the Center failed to provide adequate supervision of its’ employees and residents, resulting in one patient suffering fatal injuries.

The citation process of the California Department of Public Health ranges from “B” to “AA” and is a part of its ongoing effort to improve the quality of care provided by California’s 1,400 skilled nursing facilities.

The Lemon Grove center was fined $80,000.

The State of California imposes a variety of legal requirements designed to protect those under the care of nursing homes or treatment centers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by neglect in a nursing home or while under dependent adult care, contact the experienced nursing home abuse lawyers.…

San Diego County Motorcycle Accident Seriously Injures Two

A man and woman were seriously injured in a San Diego County motorcycle accident on February 14, 2009, as the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a car at a Carlsbad Village intersection in North San Diego County.

The victims were traveling on Carlsbad Boulevard around 11:20 a.m. when a car driven by a teenage girl, a resident of Upland, CA, pulled out from the intersection of Christiansen Way and collided with their motorcycle. The woman, who was riding pillion, was flown to a hospital, and the male driver was transported by ground ambulance. The teenage car driver was not arrested.

Our office wishes a speedy recovery to the people who were injured in this serious motorcycle crash. We urge all drivers to drive a little more carefully and responsibly so as to ensure that no one faces any harm while traveling on the road.…

Client Testimonial: San Diego Slip and Fall Client, Rosemary M. of Spring Valley, California

Here is what our client, Rosemary M. of Spring Valley, California, has to say about how our office helped her.

We represented her in a San Diego slip and fall accident and recently obtained a very good settlement for her.

Legally We Can’t Say We Are The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in San Diego.

We’ve designed this site, our free reports and our free book with San Diego accident victims in mind. We want you to have the information you need to make an educated decision about your potential case. Too often, attorneys offer a free consultation and little else, leaving accident victims with many unanswered questions such as:

• “Do I even need a lawyer?”
• “How much time do I have to file a claim after I’ve had an accident?”
• “How much is my San Diego accident case worth?”
• “How do I find the right attorney for my case?”

We have the answers to these and many other questions available on this site and through our free information, saving you countless hours of research time and helping you understand more about personal injury law, the claims process and most importantly — your options.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of another person’s recklessness or negligence, you can feel like events are out of your control. Dealing with medical bills, insurance companies, surgeries, pain, and uncertainty can be overwhelming. You may have to go to court to get the compensation you deserve. You may need to hire an attorney. In hard times you also need a friend.

If you’ve found yourself in these types of situations… 

I was crossing an intersection in Chula Vista, CA. I wore bright safety clothing and had reflectors on my bike, but the car plowed right in to me …

I knew my Carlsbad, CA landlord was cheap, but I didn’t know the stairs were in such bad shape. My little girl has been in the hospital since she fell …

My son was attacked by a dog in El Cajon. Now he is in an East County hospital and needs reconstructive surgery to correct the damage to his face…

I was rear-ended on I-5 near SR 94 in San Diego, CA. I’m injured, my car is totaled, and the insurance claims adjusters are acting like it’s my fault. I think I need a lawyer…

…then you owe it to yourself to consider our Law Firm.

With offices near the trolley line in Downtown San Diego and in Carlsbad for our North San Diego County clients, We handle a range of practice areas including:

• Auto, Motorcycle, and Truck Accidents
• Slip and Fall Accidents/Premises Liability Claims
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
• Dog Bites

Our team of San Diego injury lawyers will put you at ease. They will explain the legal process to you and help you find the medical attention you need. You will be fully involved in the decision-making process so you can make educated choices about your case. With our support, you will make the journey from fear and uncertainty to knowledge and closure.

We want the San Diego community to be informed. We want every San Diego injury accident victim to be armed with the information they need to prevail against insurance companies who only care about their profits. Even if you choose not to hire a lawyer, feel free to follow our three regular accident and injury blogs, San Diego Injury Lawyer blog, or the San Diego Car Accident Lawyer blog and download our free reports packed with helpful information for injury accident victims.

We use the latest technology, including paperless record keeping and trial software. Our office is one of the most technologically advanced in San Diego County. That means our attorneys can access every important document in a case immediately and communicate essential information to judges and juries quickly, easily, and to the fullest effect.

If you are unable to come to one of our offices, we can make arrangements to come to you.

If you or someone you love was severely injured in San Diego County, let us help.…

4moms Play Yard Sheets Recalled Due to Entrapment Risks

4moms has recalled about 1,440 units of its “breeze” play yard sheets because the sheets pose an entrapment and suffocation hazard for small children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The sheets are made of cream-colored cotton jersey, and were sold as an accessory to accompany the brand’s “play yard,” a modular playpen. The sheets were intended to cover the bottom of the play yard, but the recalled sheets are too small to cover the entire bottom snugly. As a result, it is possible for a child to crawl between the sheet and the bottom of the play yard and become trapped, a situation which could lead to suffocation or other injuries.

Recalled Product Details
The recalled sheets bear the serial number 4M-009-10-000101 on their packaging and the number UPC 817980011137 on the white warning tag sewn onto the sheet. They were sold at buybuy Baby and other children’s product retailers nationwide between December 2012 and January 2013.

Remedy
So far, 4moms says it hasn’t received any reports of injuries. However, the too-small recalled sheets should not be used in the play yards. Instead, parents should return them for a refund. Consumers can contact 4moms at (888) 977-3944 for more information.

Nobody who buys a toy or other item for a child ever wants to see that child hurt by the item. When a hidden defect is lurking in a child’s toy or other item, however, serious injuries may result. If a child you love has been injured by a defective product, please don’t hesitate to contact our skilled child product defect attorneys to discuss your legal rights and options. Your initial consultation is free and confidential.…

New Surgical Checklist May Reduce San Diego Medical Deaths and Complications

San Diego patients may benefit from new safety checklists.

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 500,000 surgical deaths and complications occur worldwide every year due to inexcusable medical malpractice. Too many times patients have signed incorrect surgical consent forms allowing medical staff to incorrectly label them for a planned procedure. Nurses have documented patient safety measures that never actually occurred. Doctors have injected medications that were not labeled on the surgical field. The list goes on.

In order to address this issue, the World Health Organization, along with the Harvard School of Public Health, has launched its first “Safe Surgery Saves Lives” campaign. The study is based on the theory that a one-page surgery checklist developed by several world surgical experts will greatly reduce errors and omissions in the Operating Room.

The study, conducted with the participation of 3,955 patients in eight different cities, demonstrated that this low-cost and low-tech tool significantly reduced surgical mortality and morbidity rates.

The annual savings from the prevention of major complications in the Operating Room can be anywhere from $15 billion to $25 billion. Encouraged by this thought, the Institute for Healthcare Improvements and the World Health Organization have initiated the “Sprint” challenge: to have every hospital in the country utilize the surgical safety list with at least one surgical team by April 1, 2009.…