Defective Product Attorneys - Medtronic Defibrillator Lead Recall

Chicago, Illinois

Product liability law deals with defective products and the injury or death they cause to consumers. A person who has been injured using a product may be able to sue the manufacturer, wholesaler, store, or person that sold the product. A lawsuit can be brought against any person or company that was involved in producing or distributing the product if evidence shows that the product was not:

• Properly designed
• Properly manufactured
• Or if there was not a proper warning about the use of the product

If a manufacturer or retailer is found to be at fault for injury or death, a court can order them to pay money to compensate for injuries caused by the defective product. The court can also order additional money to be paid to punish the responsible parties for the defective product. These types of payments are called punitive damages and are intended to make sure the manufacturer does not allow this to happen again.

In October 2007, Medtronic, Inc., one of the country's leading medical device manufacturers, decided to suspend sales of a what is called a “lead”– an electrical wire that connects the hearts of patients to defibrillators implanted in their chests. Currently there are almost a quarter of a million people globally implanted with these defibrillator leads.

The Defect
The problem with the Medtronic device is the lead is prone to fracturing in patients′ blood vessels and can then create an electrical jolt, which can range in strength from uncomfortable to deadly. Medtronic's device is allegedly being attributed to five deaths thus far, and sadly, the risk from the surgery to remove the wires from the veins that carry them to the heart can be more dangerous than just leaving the leads in.

In addition to providing the electric shock, a defective defibrillator may simply beep, alerting the patient to see a physician immediately, or the defect can cause the defibrillator battery to deplete, causing the device to fail to deliver a necessary, life-saving shock. In any of these three cases, the result can be deadly.

The following Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads model numbers are being recalled:

• 6930
• 6931
• 6948
• 6949

If you suspect that you or a loved one may have a defective defibrillator implanted, please see your medical doctor immediately. The Device identification card given to defibrillator patients will have the model number on the device.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product in Chicago or anywhere in Illinois, please contact the experienced product liability attorneys at Harvey L. Walner & Associates, LTD today to schedule your initial consultation!