We rightfully trust doctors, hospitals, and medical device manufacturers to make and recommend products that are reasonably safe to use. While all medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs have some inherent risks, overall, they should act to make our lives easier and healthier. Unfortunately, many defective medical devices make it onto the consumer market and, when they do, the consequences are immense.
If you or a loved one was injured or suffered life-altering complications as a result of a defective or faulty medical device, we can help. At The Mellino Law Firm , our Cleveland defective medical device attorneys have been helping injured individuals and their families for almost 40 years. We are committed to fighting for the full, fair recovery you are owed.
Contact our firm online or call (440) 333-3800 today to request a complimentary and confidential case evaluation.
How Common Are Medical Device Recalls? “Recalls of defective medical devices nearly doubled in the decade from 2003 through 2012,” per the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on March 21, 2014. “There was a sharp increase in recalls where the defective product carried a reasonable probability of death.”
According to the FDA, medical device manufacturers, healthcare providers, and patients report “several hundred thousand… deaths, injuries, and malfunctions” each year. “Manufacturers are required to report to the FDA when they learn that any of their devices may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury. Manufacturers must also report to the FDA when they become aware that their device has malfunctioned and would be likely to cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur.”
The FDA encourages patients and caregivers to report medical device malfunctions via its MedWatch system. But if you have questions about a death or injury, and how long you have to file a defective medical device lawsuit in Ohio, attorney Chris Mellino welcomes you to contact our office for a free consultation.
Medical Device Recalls As bizjournals.com reported March 21, 2014, the number of medical device recalls doubled between 2003 and 2012. Device and software design problems accounted for the majority (36 percent) of recalls, Beckers Hospital Review noted. Faulty parts attributed to another 26 percent.
“Based on the data we have reviewed and our experience, we believe the increase is the result of increased awareness prompted by targeted interactions with industry and individual manufacturers,” an FDA report stated.
Typically, manufacturers issue a voluntary recall when they learn that a product can malfunction and/or cause injury. The FDA has the power to order a company to recall a product but this is “reserved for urgent situations.”
If you were injured or your loved one was killed by a defective medical device, contact The Mellino Law Firm at (440) 333-3800 for a free consultation with our Cleveland defective medical device attorneys.
