Surgical patients are turning to a Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney to assist them after they developed severe infections following a hip replacement surgery or heart operation. Bair Hugger warming blankets, commonly used in surgical procedures, have been alleged to cause this serious medical condition, which has required some patients to undergo additional operations to treat. In the most severe cases, patients have reportedly ended up needing an amputation.
If you or a loved one developed a severe infection after undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery, a heart procedure, or some other type of surgery, contact Attorney Group for Illinois to learn more. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Illinois Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Are Bair Hugger Warming Blankets?
Bair Hugger warming blankets were originally designed by Dr. Scott Augustine, and are manufactured and distributed by the 3M Corporation. The warming blankets are used during surgery to regulate the body temperatures of patients and is designed to decrease the risk of hypothermia associated with general anesthesia. Perioperative hypothermia is linked to increased incidences of pressure sores, wound infection and blood transfusions. Patients with perioperative hypothermia often have longer recovery times and hospital stays.
How Do Bair Hugger Warming Blankets Work?
All Bair Hugger warming blankets are designed to be disposable and it is estimated that over 50,000 of them were used in hospitals and surgical clinics throughout the U.S. The warming blankets use a process called forced air warming (FAW) to help patients maintain body temperature during surgery. The Bair Hugger consists of a hose, air filter, electric motor, electric fan and a thermostat. The blanket is placed over or under the patient during surgery. The patient’s exposed skin is warmed when heated air blows into the blanket. Bair Hugger warming blankets were generally considered to be much more effective at warming patients than other electric or heated blankets.
Alleged Risks of Bair Hugger Warming Blankets
Reports have been made to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration claiming that Bair Hugger warming blankets have caught fire during surgical operations, caused burns, and that they have failed to work as they were intended to.
However, a serious risk associated with these blankets, as alleged in lawsuits, is its tendency to deposit bacteria and pathogens into a patient’s surgical site, increasing the risk of an infection and necessitating more surgical procedures.
Illinois Bair Hugger Lawsuit Expected
Lawsuits have been filed claiming that the manufacturer of Bair Hugger warming blankets was negligent, that they failed to properly warn patients of the dangers associated with using these blankets, and that the manufacturer should be held liable for selling a product that was dangerous. More specifically, some of these lawsuits claim that the maker of these devices:
- Sold them to medical centers without including a warning that there were dangerous risks associated with using the blankets
- Continually produced, advertised, and marketed the devices even after they knew that using the blankets resulted in dangerous consequences
- Did not thoroughly test the Bair Hugger FAW system before the blankets were released into the marketplace
- Misrepresented the devices in terms of their safety and effectiveness
Affected patients are encouraged to seek the assistance of a Illinois hip infection lawyer to help them understand their options.
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 for injuries that may result.
Patients who suffered severe infections from a Bair Hugger warming blanket may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from their infection, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe infections from Bair Hugger warming blankets, 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 an Illinois Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies
For more information, 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.
