The healthcare industry has made leaps and bounds in treating chronic illnesses with implantable medical devices, pacemakers, movable artificial limbs, intrauterine devices, and coronary stents. Our Atlanta medical device injury lawyers know that we are truly living in a bionic age, where conditions and illnesses that would have been untreatable years ago can now be treated with devices that marry medicine with technology. Yet the practice of treating illnesses with implantable medical devices is still relatively new, and each year a significant number of people are injured by defective medical devices.
Below, we'll take a look at some of the medical devices that have caused the most harm over the past few years.
Transvaginal MeshTransvaginal mesh is most often used in female patients who suffer prolapsed pelvic organs--meaning that the organs (like the bladder and uterus) have dropped out of their normal positions. The mesh looks like a bird's nest that holds the internal organs in place and is inserted into the body through the walls of the vagina. Research has shown that using transvaginal mesh for the repair of prolapsed pelvic organs can cause complications like mesh erosion, infection, bleeding, organ perforation, and urinary problems. The FDA now classifies transvaginal mesh as a "high risk" device. Contact a medical device injury attorney in Atlanta if you experience these problems.
Lap-BandLap-Band surgery is a surgical weight loss procedure that consists of the placement of a silicone band around the upper part of the stomach causing a reduction in the its size. The band does not cause weight loss itself, but makes the patient feel fuller faster by decreasing the size of their stomach, thereby reducing the amount of food they are able to eat. The key to lap-band's success is that the patient undergoes a simultaneous radical diet change. If the patient does not stick to his or her diet and eats more food than is recommended with a lap band, this can result in food backing up into the esophagus. Common problems associated with lap-band use include bowel perforation, esophageal dilation, food trapping, and hiatal hernia.
Metal-on-Metal Hip ReplacementsAll hip replacement devices are made of two basic components: a ball compound and a socket compound that are designed to mimic the way the hip naturally works. The ball compound is usually made of metal or ceramic and the socket compound is usually made of plastic or ceramic. In the early 2000s, our Atlanta medical device injury attorneys saw that hip replacement devices that used metal for both components were introduced to the market, which was thought to make the device stronger and last longer. However, in many cases, tiny pieces of metal were released when the two components rubbed against each other, which caused soft tissue damage, implant loosening, and device failure.
Medtronic DefibrillatorsImplantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are small, stopwatch-sized devices that shock an erratically beating heart back into rhythm. The device is implanted in the chest and connected to the heart with wires called leads. In 2007, Medtronic recalled its Marquis line of ICDs when it was discovered that the devices could fracture and inappropriately shock users. Complications from the devices caused at least 13 deaths, which led to 2,700 lawsuits being filed against the company, which eventually settled for $268 million.
Call Slappey & Sadd, LLC Today to Speak With an Atlanta LawyerIf you have been injured by a medical device, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim. We serve the entire state of Georgia, including the following locations: Covington, Augusta, and Lagrange. To schedule a free consultation with a medical device injury lawyer in Atlanta, call Slappey & Sadd today at 404.255.6677 or contact us online.