Cleveland Defective Medical Device Injury Lawyer
Protecting Patients from Unsafe Medical Products – Dangerous Medical Device Attorney
Medical devices can offer the capacity to live longer and fuller lives, but they also can cause debilitating complications and even death when they are not safely designed, manufactured and marketed. The FDA is the federal agency that monitors complaints and adverse incidents associated with medical devices. The agency reports that there are at least 1,800 categories of common medical devices, which include infusion pumps, heart values, hip implants, and prosthetic limbs just to name a few examples.
Prior to a medical device being made available to patients, the manufacturer of the medical device must first obtain FDA approval. The federal agency requires that medical devices be established as effective and safe for consumers before the devices can be placed on the market. However, clinical trials conducted prior to marketing of a medical device usually involve a relatively small sample size. These clinical trials also often are conducted in a manner that does not involve actual functional testing with patients. These limitations are magnified by the fact that clinical trials are often conducted by researchers with a financial conflict of interest stemming from close ties to the manufacturer. This tendency toward biased or misleading results based on a limited sample size means that consumers should not equate FDA approval with an assurance that a medical device is actually safe when used on human patients.
Another common risk posed to patients by defective medical devices involves medical products being used for off-label uses. This practice involves a physician using a medical device that has been approved by the FDA for one purpose for other uses that have not been determined to be effective or safe. Physicians are not restricted from using the devices for uses that have not been approved by the FDA.
Defective Hip Replacement System Manufacturers
Biomet, Johnson & Johnson, Smith & Nephew, Stryker, Wright Medical and Zimmer
Recent Defective Medical Products in the News
Complications Caused by Knee Replacement Devices
Serious adverse events related to knee replacement surgery may include:
• Debilitating pain or inflammation
• Infection of the knee which may become body-wide
• Nerve or blood vessel damage surrounding the knee device
• Bone or joint tissue damage
• Loosening of the replacement device, resulting in immobility
• Lower leg blood clot development (deep vein thrombosis or DVT)
Other examples of defective medical products that have caused injuries include:
- Surgical Mesh: Many people have suffered complications involving transvaginal mesh and bladder slings manufactured by companies like Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, American Medical Systems (AMS) and C.R. Bard, Inc. Patients implanted with mesh used to treat stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) have experienced a range of injuries that include the need to undergo additional surgeries to remove or repair the mesh because of serious adverse effects.
- Robotic Surgery Injuries: The overuse of this form of medical device involving the Da Vinci robotic surgery system has resulted in serious injuries, such as burns, tears and other problems. Many of these procedures might have been routine with traditional surgery. Common procedures where injuries have occurred include hysterectomies and procedures involving the bladder and bowel.
- Birth Control Pills and IUDs: Thousands of women who have previously used Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have filed lawsuits against Bayer because of dangerous side effects that include strokes, blood clots and other cardiovascular risks.
Other recent examples include: Stryker Rejuvenate Hip, Mirena IUD, Atrium C-Qur Hernia Mesh, Talcum Powder, Fresnius Dialysis, Wright Conserve Hip, Pain Pumps and Morcellation.
Contact Us
When you pursue a legal claim for compensation for injuries caused by a defective medical product, the defendant(s) will typically be larger corporations with virtually unlimited financial resources and a team of attorneys and experts. Effective litigation of a product liability claim in this context can best be pursued with an Ohio product defect attorney with extensive experience. Cleveland defective medical device attorney Joel A. Nash has obtained millions of dollars for injury victims throughout Northeast Ohio. Mr. Nash has over 20 years of experience representing victims of defective products. We offer a free consultation, so we can explain your rights and answer your questions, so call us at (855) 755-2978 or email us.