Defective Medical Devices & Products
Product Liability Lawyer for Medical Device Injuries
When a defective medical device or other medical product causes injury or leads to the wrongful death of a patient, the patient or his or her family may have the right to take legal action against the manufacturer of the defective product. A product liability lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP can offer the level of legal representation you need to go up against a large manufacturing company or insurance provider in order to seek the financial compensation you need – and deserve. In our legal practice thus far, we have been able to secure considerable settlements and verdicts for our clients, totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Contact us immediately to find out how we can assist you.
Advancements in medical technology have allowed the introduction of highly sophisticated medical devices that aid surgical procedures, support the functioning of major organs and generally improve the quality of life patients can expect after they have been treated or implanted with one of these products or devices. However, in recent years, there has been a spate of injuries linking illnesses, infections and even deaths to the use of these defective medical devices and products. Even with the stringent approval processes initiated by the Food and Drug Administration, reports of defective devices and products continue to surface. Over the past decade, serious injuries and even fatalities have resulted in an increase in pharmaceutical liability litigation against some of the country's most reputed medical device and product companies.
Types of Defective Medical Device Claims We Handle
Now is the time to learn more about your legal rights in a product liability claim related to a defective medical device. Contact a product liability attorney at our firm for a free consultation, or take a moment to review the information we have included about some of the types of cases we can handle:
Drug Coated Stents
Some medicated stents contribute to the formation of blood clots in the artery, resulting in arterial re-clogging. Drug coated stents or eluting stents are promoted as a way to solve arterial re-clogging. More than 2,000 deaths have been linked to stent related blood clogging. Click here to read more about drug coated stents.
DePuy Hip Replacement
In 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. issued a voluntary recall on their ARS hip replacements. In 13% of patients, they were shown to cause damage and loosening as well as leave behind dangerous fragments. Repair surgeries were needed to correct the damage done. Click here to read more about DePuy hip replacement.
Gadolinium MRI Contrast Agent
Gadolinium containing contrast agents are injected into blood vessels during an MRI to allow the radiologist to clearly see abnormal tissue. While the use of these contrast agents for scanning purposes has made them very popular, they have also been linked to the development of diseases like Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). This disease causes skin changes as well as scaring of internal organs, like the lungs and kidneys. It is more common in patients who suffer from kidney failure and other renal dysfunctions. Click here to read more about gadolinium contrast agents.
Guidant ICDs
Guidant Corporation's Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, or ICDs, are used in the treatment of patients who suffer from an accelerated heart beat. These devices function by emitting a shock to the heart whenever there is an abnormality in the cardiac rhythm. Guidant's Defibrillators were found to have resulted in increased heart attacks in patients due to failure to emit a life saving shock to the heart. Thousands of these ICDs have since been recalled. Click here to read more about Guidant ICDs.
Kugel Mesh Patch
The Kugel Mesh Patch is used in the treatment of hernias, which can occur after scar tissue has formed post-surgery. Injuries linked to the mesh patch have been attributed to manufacturing defects that cause the ring to break off after insertion. This breakage leads to complications, including abdominal perforations and abdominal fistulae. Click here to read more about Kugel Mesh Patches.
Medtronic Defibrillators
Medtronic Incorporated has faced several problems with its cardiac devices, including its pacemakers and defibrillators. Defects in battery design cause the battery to short, which can lead to depletion of the battery's energy. Therefore, the battery is not able to monitor the rhythm of the heart and administer a life saving shock when necessary. Click here to read more about Medtronic defibrillators.
Medtronic Leads
Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads that connect defibrillator devices to the heart were found to be prone to fractures and breakage. Fractured leads are unable to emit shocks to the heart when an abnormal cardiac rhythm is detected. Such breakages also result in a massive shock being sent to the heart, causing serious heart injuries in patients. Click here to read more about Medtronic leads.
Defective Medical Device Attorney
Defects in medical devices and products can occur as a result of faulty design, in the absence of stringent testing and quality control standards or due to manufacturing errors. Very often, the defects in these devices and products don't surface until injuries or deaths have resulted from their use.
Contact a product liability attorney at our firm to discuss your claim related to a defective medical device or medical product.