by HGD Staff
For those who think medical devices are safe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has something to say on the subject. This year, the FDA released a statement saying it would halt all sales of vaginal mesh products in the U.S. This is due to a long history of deadly complications arising from vaginal mesh products. Much like vaginal mesh, many hip implants were also marketed with false or misleading claims. In particular, companies like Johnson & Johnson spent years advertising and marketing things like hip implants as being safe. Often, the claims were remarkably false, and the injuries have been catastrophic, as reported by CBS News. The government even got involved, leading to sweeping recalls in 2010. Recently, this led Johnson & Johnson to pay $120 million in settlements to victims all over the country.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective or falsely advertised medical device, such as vaginal mesh or metal-on-metal hip implants, contact an experienced medical device lawyer at Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC.
Why Johnson & Johnson Was the Subject of Litigation
Hip implants are designed with the goal of replacing the joint in a person’s hip. Often, with age or injury, people may need to have a hip replacement surgery in order to maintain independence and mobility. Ailments that used to render people wheelchair bound for life now can be overcome through advanced hip replacement procedures. The joint is replaced with an artificial implant that serves as a replacement for the original bone.
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For years, Johnson & Johnson, along with other manufacturers, created metal-on-metal implants that would rub and create metallic friction. Often these were made of chromium and cobalt. One of the more common problems people suffered from these hip implants was “metallosis,” a dangerous condition caused when metal debris is released into the body. Lawsuits generally alleged that these manufacturers knew about the risks and failed to warn consumers of the risks.
Symptoms Associated with Defective Hip Implants
Problems associated with defective hip implants tend to include things like:
- Soreness
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Metallosis
- Fever
- Severe pain to your hip
- Blood infections or sepsis
If you notice these, or any other unexplainable symptoms that you believe may be linked to your hip replacement, then you should talk to your doctor right away.
How New Hip Implants Have Been Improved
Since people began bringing lawsuits against hip implant manufacturers, these metal-on-metal devices have stopped production in the U.S. Today, there are several types of FDA-approved hip replacement devices.
- Metal-on-Polyethylene
- Ceramic-on-Polyethylene
- Ceramic-on-Ceramic
- Ceramic-on-Metal
If you had a hip replacement surgery before 2010, it is a good chance that you may have one of the older metallic-only devices. If you are not suffering symptoms, that is a good thing. But you should speak to your doctor anyway to see if you are at risk for metallosis or other serious potential harm from your implant. If you happen to notice any of the symptoms above, call your doctor then contact our team at Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC right away. The call is free, and we may be able to offer aggressive representation to get you compensated for the defective hip implant. Compensation may include:
- Money for your pain and suffering
- Compensation for the cost of a needed revision surgery
- Lost income and wages due to missing work from your condition or follow up procedures
- Compensation for past medical bills associated with the defective device
Call an Experienced Medical Device Lawyer Today
The process for collecting compensation from a medical device manufacturer like Johnson & Johnson or other large companies is complex. These types of cases are often handled through multidistrict litigation (MDL), which is a special type of federal court proceeding in which all of the pre-trial litigation for hundreds of different plaintiffs is handled through a single court. Yet, each plaintiff still retains the right to take their own case to trial in their own jurisdiction in many cases. While similar to class action lawsuits, the big difference is that an injured person can still be individually compensated, often leading to larger awards.
To get more information and to discuss your options for pursuing compensation, contact Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC today to schedule a completely free consultation.
