An Illinois family is suing a medical scope manufacturer claiming their device caused the wrongful death of a relative. The lawsuit claims that the device maker used a defective design in the devices that made them extremely difficult to sterilize. The lawsuit also names a local hospital where the procedure took place as a defendant. The family alleges that the hospital failed to properly clean the duodenoscopes. Injured parties are pursuing claims for compensation against device makers with the assistance of an Illinois defective medical device lawyer.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of a defective medical device, contact Attorney Group for Illinois 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 defective medical device lawyer who can assist you through the legal process.
Defective Medical Device Lawyer: Unsterile Medical Device Led To Woman’s Death
The family of a deceased woman from Mount Prospect, Illinois, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against device maker, Pentax Medical, claiming that the woman developed a deadly infection of the bacteria CRE, in part because of the design of the company’s duodenoscopes. According to The Chicago Sun-Times, the woman became infected with the “superbug” bacteria, which is highly resistant to antibiotic treatment, after undergoing five endoscopic procedures that used the company’s medical scopes. The lawsuit alleges that the woman contracted the infection because the design of the device was defective and impeded proper sterilization.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has previously linked over 30 infections of CRE to endoscopic procedures. In some of the reported cases, poor practices on the part of the healthcare provider were also implicated in the infection of patients. In this particular case, the woman’s family is also seeking damages from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, the hospital that performed the procedures, on the grounds that the hospital did not properly clean and sterilize the duodenoscopes, the website reported.
A Defective Medical Device Lawyer Can Help Injured Patients
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
- Pain and suffering
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 incurred prior to death
People who have been injured by a defective medical device are advised to seek a qualified Illinois defective medical device attorney to help them protect their legal rights.
Contact Us For More Information
If you have been injured by a defective medical device, contact Attorney Group for Illinois 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 Illinois today.
