People see doctors to cure them from their illnesses and medical conditions. But sometimes the medical devices are defective and actually worsen the patients’ health.
Read more about some of the most commonly defective medical devices below.
Implanted devices
Defective medical devices that get implanted in patients’ bodies can cause immediate harm as well as long-term medical problems. Defective implants can include:
- Mesh products like those used in transvaginal and hernia surgeries
- Stents
- Parts for hip replacements
- Stents and pacemakers
Sometimes the defects are caused by materials that are toxic or that don’t degrade as they are supposed to. Others may be poorly constructed, e.g., sharp edges that can cause patients pain.
Surgical equipment
A lot can go wrong during surgery, and robotic surgical devices can be partly to blame for many failed surgical procedures. Lasers can also burn through skin layers, causing pain and other damage.
Sometimes, problems develop after surgeons mistakenly leave staples, sponges or even scalpels inside their patients’ bodies. This may lead to deadly consequences from infection. Also, if a patient with metal remaining in their body undergoes a later MRI, they could die from the violent expulsion of the devices.
Use of recalled medical devices
Surgical teams must stay up-to-date to ensure that they never use any devices that have been recalled by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Using surgical or medical devices subject to recall leaves the doctors and hospital or surgery center open to claims of product liability and malpractice.
If you’ve suffered an injury related to a defective medical device, the path to successful resolution begins with submitting a claim for damages. Learning more about your legal rights and responsibilities is a good place to start.
