Defective Medical Device Product Recalls

Medical devices that are either implanted in the body or are used externally can save lives and help bring a better quality of life to the people that use them. However, some medical devices are defective and can harm and injure you rather than help and heal you. Thousands of people die each year and receive injuries due to defective medical devices.

How does a medical device recall take place?

In the United States, the governmental agency responsible for guarding the health and safety of the public about drugs and medical equipment is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When the FDA discovers that a medical device has a problem that could compromise public safety, they alert the public as soon as possible about the recall. The FDA announces major recalls in the media, and all recalls are listed in the FDAs Weekly Enforcement Report, which is available on the fda.gov website.

The FDA then evaluates whether all reasonable efforts have been made to either correct the defective product or remove it from the market.

After the recall of the defective medical device, the FDA makes sure that the product is destroyed or reconditioned. The agency also investigates why the product was reported as defective.

What are some examples of defective medical devices?

There have been several medical devices that have been recalled due to defects in either the product’s design, the manufacturing of the product or defects in warnings and instructions. Some of the more well-known recalled products include:

• Hip implants
• Bladder slings
• Trans-vaginal Mesh implants
• Knee replacement implants
• Power morcellators
• IUDs

These are just a few of the different types of medical devices that have been declared unsafe and recalled.

What recourse do you have if you have been injured by a defective medical device?

What happens to those people who have had the defective medical device implanted into their body or have been using medical equipment that is defective? If you have been injured as a result of using a defective medical product, or if you have become ill due to an implanted medical device you can file a claim against the manufacturer of the product. Sometimes a defective product causes injuries to hundreds or even thousands. In these instances, you lawsuit may be consolidated with other similar lawsuits. This is called Multi District Litigation (MDL). If your lawsuit is successful, you can get compensation for your current and medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering due to the injury.

The first step in taking action is to contact a Memphis products liability lawyer who will fight for your right to fair compensation for your injuries. Contact the law offices of Baily & Greer, PLLC to schedule a consultation to discuss your case today.