Call An Experienced Attorney to Find Out If You Can File an IVC Filter Lawsuit
A recent study discovered that some patients may stand a higher risk of dying within 30 days of receiving an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study focused on the medical records of 126,000 patients who received the device. The findings showed individuals who either could not take blood thinners or had venous thromboembolic (VTE) disease had a higher mortality rate after the device was implanted. VTE disease can consist of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or both. After further analyzation, researchers specifically reported that individuals with these two conditions had an 18 percent increased risk of death within 30 days of receiving the device.
In addition to this enlightening study, the device has been increasingly controversial as thousands of people have filed IVC filter lawsuits. Many of these individuals have allegedly been seriously injured by the device or experienced the death of a loved one who had received it.
Dangerous Complications You Can Possibly Sue For
IVC filters are cage-like devices that are intended to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart or lungs. It is inserted in the inferior vena cava, the largest vein in the body that carries blood to the heart. The device contains tiny “legs” that expand inside the vein in order to stop clots from traveling to the heart or lungs. However, the legs can break causing the device to move, puncture the vein, or cause other dangerous complications.
Listed below are several complications that have been associated with IVC filters:
- Blood clots
- Device migration
- Filter fracture
- Impossible filter removal
- Organ damage
- Organ perforation
If you have experienced any of these serious health issues as a direct result of the device, you may be able to file a lawsuit. You deserve to receive compensation for medical bills and the pain you’ve suffered due to a faulty medical device.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compiles reports of complications that arise from the filters. Thousands of reports currently exist in their database that point to problems patients, doctors, or manufacturers have experienced from the device. In the first two months of 2018 alone, more than 500 complaints were reported to the FDA. While there have been six major recalls on the filters, there has not been one issued since 2015.
Newer versions of the filter are retrievable, meaning they can be removed. The FDA has advised doctors to remove them as soon as the threat of blood clotting has passed. If this does not happen, patients can be put at greater risk of suffering complications.
Lack of Evidence to Backup a Common Medical Device
The published study in JAMA Network Open commends the researchers for delving into a topic with a “scarcity of evidence.” Authors of the study commented on what they consider makes their work important. “We believe the greatest value of the study is to call out how limited our current evidence base is to support such a commonly used device.”
Although the device is commonly used (around 100,000 are implanted every year), substantial evidence supporting its safety and effectiveness is severely lacking. Authors of the study asserted that their findings prove “higher-quality studies” need to be conducted in order for the medical community to better understand the effects of the device.
While this study is a step in the right direction, researchers and medical professionals need to continue asking questions around the safety of the filters.
People Lining Up to File Against Manufacturers
As of July 2018, 8,000 lawsuits remain against two medical device manufacturers who produce the filters. The suits claim that Bard and Cook Medical manufactured defective devices and were aware of the dangers surrounding their products. Additionally, the plaintiffs argue that the companies failed to warn them about the filter’s risky side effects that led to serious injuries and, in some cases, death.
One lawsuit against Bard resulted in a $3.6 million verdict for a Georgia woman. This case was a bellwether trial, which is known as a test case intended to try a widely contested issue. The woman’s lawyer claimed that Bard knew the dangers of the device, but continued to sell it without properly warning people. Both Bard and Cook Medical will face similar lawsuits as injured people continue to blame their injuries on IVC filters.
Choosing the Right Medical Device Lawyer
In order to receive possible compensation for an injury caused by a defective medical device, you must file a lawsuit. However, this process involves medical and legal challenges, such as collecting evidence, that are difficult to overcome without professional help. Simply put, medical device lawsuits are complex. A lawyer who is experienced in medical device cases can help you move efficiently through the legal system. Furthermore, the right legal representation can help ensure that deep-pocketed medical device corporations don’t take advantage of you.
When choosing a medical device lawyer, consider contacting the Goldwater Law Firm. We are a premier personal injury firm that has helped countless clients recover damages after an injury. We have the knowledge, experience, and resources to help you pursue an IVC filter lawsuit. Don’t wait to find out if you can receive compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered from a medical device. Call our office today at 800-210-9700 to receive a free case review and to learn more about what we can do for you.