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The defective product lawyers at Siegfried & Jensen in the Salt Lake City, Utah area are ready to represent ICD patients. Contact Siegfried & Jensen to learn more.
Siegfried & Jensen
5664 South Green St.
Murray, Utah 84123
Phone: 1-866-883-5350
Fax: 1-801-266-1338
The defective product lawyers at Siegfried & Jensen in the Salt Lake City, Utah area are currently bringing suit against Medtronic and Guidant, two of the biggest manufacturers of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in America. An ICD is an implanted medical device designed to administer an electric shock directly to the heart in case of cardiac arrest and thus resuscitate the victim. Major recalls have been ordered on the ICDs manufactured by these two companies. The implications of this issue are serious. A malfunctioning ICD could fail to trigger during a heart attack and cause a fatality. Since patients who have undergone ICD implanting are generally at high risk of having heart attacks, many of them will likely have to undergo more surgical procedures to remove the faulty ICDs and replace them with properly functioning units. Surgery means expense, time, and risk – factors for which Medtronic and Guidant must be held liable.
The ICD was first developed in the 1970s, and the first device was implanted in 1980. Over time, the uses of ICDs have expanded to include remedies for a variety of heart problems. The device is directly connected to the heart by a wire that runs through the right chamber of the heart, ending at the apex of the right ventricle. This configuration is similar to the way in which a pacemaker is installed. Though the devices made today are smaller and more easily implanted today than they once were, implanting an ICD is still a serious procedure with real risks.
ICDs have been shown to reduce the likelihood of death from heart failure significantly, but they must be functional in order to do so. The devices manufactured and recalled by Medtronic and Guidant do not provide the benefits that would make them worth the costs of major surgery; as a result, patients have been stuck with bills and lengthy recoveries for no gain. The defective product lawyers at Siegfried & Jensen in the Salt Lake City, Utah area are working to correct this oversight.
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Guidant in particular has been subjected to close scrutiny following the recall of its ICDs. This heightened criticism stems from the fact that Guidant knew about the potential for failure in 2002, but chose not to report the issue to physicians until 2005. While the malfunction is described as uncommon, the medical, legal, and political communities have been extremely critical of the irresponsible manner in which Guidant handled this recall. These communities hold that Guidant should have left the decision to notify patients in the hands of physicians. For three years, thousands of people with potentially defective ICDs were completely unaware that there might be a problem, and many of them suffered death from cardiac arrest during that time. The surviving ICD patients are learning only now that their lives could have been at risk.
It is important for affected individuals to consult their doctors and fully discuss the risks associated with their situations. A reasoned approach is always best. Not all patients will need to have their ICDs replaced, but all patients need to speak with their doctors to determine the best course of action. If an ICD does need to be removed and/or replaced, defective product lawyers can help ensure that the manufacturers pay what they owe.
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ICD patients should contact their doctors immediately to determine the risks they face, if any. ICD patients who have incurred medical bills as a result of this malfunction issue may have legal claims against Medtronic or Guidant. Contact Siegfried & Jensen to speak to one of the experienced defective product lawyers at our Salt Lake City, Utah-area firm.
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