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Indianapolis-based Guidant has recalled nearly 50,000 of its cardiac defibrillators implanted in patients worldwide because of potential defects in the devices. Implanted defibrillators shock the heart back into a normal rhythm when it starts beating irregularly The recall includes about 38,000 devices used by patients in the United States. The following is a list of the defective Guidant implant models:
- Prizm 2 DR
- Contak Renewal
- Contak Renewal 2
- Ventak Prizm AVT
- Vitality AVT
- Renewal 3 AVT
- Renewal 4 AVT ICDs
The company said about 63,000 of the devices had been implanted, with nearly 50,000 still in use. Guidant stated that the devices could, without warning, develop a short circuit that would prevent them from delivering the shock when needed. There have been reports of at least 45 malfunctions and are thought to have caused several deaths.
Death of 21-year-old College Student Draws Attention to the Problem
The defibrillator defect came to light in March 2005, after the sudden death of a 21 year old college student with heart disease who had the Guidant defibrillator implanted in his chest.
Following Oukrop's death, Guidant told his doctors that it was aware of 25 other cases in which the defibrillator had been affected by the same flaw. Guidant executive, Dr. Joseph Smith, stated that the medical device maker had not seen a compelling reason to issue an alert to physicians because the unit's failure rate was very low and and replacing the devices might pose greater patient risks.
Legal Rights of Injured Parties / Proving Your Damages
The law in most states provides individuals with legal rights to seek compensation for injuries they incurred as a result of a defective product or the negligence of another. The injured party may file a lawsuit seeking recovery for his or her pain and suffering, past and future loss of wages, medical expenses and other damages that may be proven.
We are aware of the types of experts needed to prove the catastrophic injuries that are often associated with this type of litigation and we understand how to demonstrate the effects of these types of injuries to a court or jury. We are experienced and are able to properly present evidence concerning the cost of future medical care and rehabilitation costs as well as economic losses through the use of qualified experts including economists and life care planning experts.
Representatives of our firm are available to meet personally with a prospective client/family on a nationwide basis at your convenience.
Do you have a claim? Contact us or call us at 1-800-899-7102.
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