A Florida IVC filter lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications as a result of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter procedure. For patients at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, treatment using an IVC filter is quite common, but despite manufacturers’ claims that these devices are safe, some patients allege to have experienced very serious complications as a result of using IVC filters. While this procedure has proven successful in many instances, some patients have filed IVC filter lawsuits against the device makers.
If you or a loved one suffered complications after an IVC filter procedure, contact Attorney Group for Florida to learn more. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions and inform you of your options. If you choose to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated IVC filter attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
IVC Filters And Blood Clots
Due to either physical trauma or underlying medical conditions, some people are more susceptible to developing deep vein thrombosis. Blood clots that form in the lower extremities can travel to the inferior vena cava and eventually make their way to the heart and lungs. Those with a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis are often prescribed medical anticoagulants, or blood thinners. However, some patients are unable to undergo anticoagulant treatments due to underlying medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, or those with an increased bleeding risk.
IVC filters offer some patients an alternative treatment to anticoagulants. An IVC filter is a small device that can be placed into the inferior vena cava to stop blood clots from traveling from deep veins to those areas where they can do harm. These spider-like metal devices trap clots, without impeding the natural flow of blood through the veins.
Florida IVC Filter Lawsuit: Risks Associated With IVC Filters
According to WPTV News in Florida, a woman with a blood condition that led to clotting issues had an Bard Medical IVC filter implanted. Three years later, she returned to the doctor because of severe pain in her abdomen. She learned that the filter had shifted and punctured the wall of the vein, and then pierced her pancreas. She stated that she has filed a lawsuit against the device maker in hopes that the company will be held accountable and remove the allegedly flawed devices from the market, saving other patients from the pain she experienced.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), shifting and migration are two of many adverse events associated with these devices. Another issue with faulty filters includes breakage, which allows pieces of wire splinters and shards to drift upward and lodge in the heart or lungs. When this occurs, a person is at high risk of serious injury or even death.
Attorneys are alleging serious injuries and other complications in Florida IVC filter lawsuits being filed on behalf of affected patients.
Other IVC Filter Risks
Usually an IVC filter is more difficult to retrieve the longer it has been in place, and some removal procedures have been unsuccessful. Retrievable filters may be left in the vein based on a physician’s assessment of the risk factors for removal. The FDA warns that retrievable IVC filters have caused serious health issues for hundreds of patients since 2005. Experts believe that leaving the device in a vein after it is no longer needed can lead to a high risk of injury to the patient. Adverse events associated with the filters include the following:
- Perforation of the vein
- Filter damage
- Detached filter components
- Migration of the filter
These known risks are believed to be related to long term use of filters that should be removed once the threat from blood clots has been mitigated, the agency stated.
Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their devices, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
If a patient dies from complications related to a defective IVC Filter, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one.
Patients who have suffered severe complications from IVC filters, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the device, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Florida IVC filter lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Florida. 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 or file a lawsuit 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 Florida today.
