The FDA is ordering three manufacturers of specialized medical scopes to study how the reusable devices are cleaned following a series of life-threatening bacterial outbreaks at U.S. hospitals. The agency hopes this information will shed light on a recent spate of infections involving antibiotic-resistant superbugs linked to the scopes, defective medical device attorneys note.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of a defective medical device, contact Attorney Group for California for more information about your options. We can answer your questions in a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation, and if you wish to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated medical device recall lawyer who can assist you through the legal process.
Eight Outbreaks Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Since 2013
According to abcnews.go.com, the three manufacturers must submit plans to study how well hospital staffers actually follow instructions for disinfecting the medical scopes between uses. Since 2013, there have been at least eight outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria linked to the devices at U.S. hospitals.
The FDA came under fire earlier this year after two separate outbreaks at Los Angeles hospitals were linked to the scopes. Despite the links to infections, the FDA previously ruled it would keep the devices on the market because they fill an important need in a half-million procedures performed each year. The specialized fiber-optic scopes, known as duodenoscopes, are threaded through the digestive tract to diagnose and treat gallstones, tumors and blockages of the pancreas and bile ducts, the website noted.
Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Device makers have a duty to design and produce safe products, and to warn of possible risks associated with their products. Failure to fulfill that duty can result in injuries to patients, and the device maker being held liable for those injuries.
Patients who are injured by defective medical devices may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from injuries. Compensation can be based on factors including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages and the ability to work
- Pain and suffering from an injury
If a loved one dies from complications with a defective medical device, his or her family members may be able to pursue claims for wrongful death damages, which include:
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from the loss of a loved one
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Loss of financial support
- Medical expenses
Contact Us For More Information
If you have been injured by a defective medical device, contact Attorney Group for California for more information. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for California today.
