GranuFlo, a dry powder that is administered to dialysis patients, has helped thousands of men and women suffering from kidney failure. While many patients reported few complications associated with GranuFlo, you may be eligible to file an Iowa GranuFlo lawsuit if you suffered from severe side effects following a dialysis treatment.
GranuFlo Overview
The kidneys help to neutralize the acids within the body, but patients whose kidneys are failing may not be able to perform this process on their own. Instead, patients may require dialysis treatment in which they are administered chemicals to help their bodies remove these toxins. Manufactured and marketed by Fresenius Medical Care, GranuFlo is a product that is intended to aid in the detoxification process.
In 2011, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a Class I warning pertaining to GranuFlo in which the agency notified dialysis centers throughout the country of the potential link between GranuFlo and arrhythmia, strokes, heart attacks and death. In 2012, Fresenius Medical Care issued a recall to remove the product from the market.
Side Effects and Complications
You may be eligible to file an Iowa GranuFlo lawsuit if you or someone you love received GranuFlo during a dialysis procedure and you experienced high carbon dioxide levels or low potassium, oxygen, or blood pressure levels. These abnormal amounts of chemicals can cause several life-threatening complications, according to adverse event reports submitted to the FDA. Additionally, researchers have concluded that patients were six to eight times more likely to suffer a heart attack if they received GranuFlo than individuals who were given an alternative product.
GranuFlo Lawsuits Pending in the U.S.
Court documents indicate that as of June 2014, more than 1,860 GranuFlo lawsuit claims were underway in federal court in the U.S. District of Massachusetts. Additionally, plaintiffs have filed lawsuits in other courts across the country. Most of the claims allege that the manufacturer failed to provide the medical and public communities of the risks associated with both GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, a similar product intended to help patients to detoxify their bodies. Fresenius is also accused of continuing to market its products even after it was informed of the potential dangers and complications.
Plaintiffs also allege that Fresenius only issued warnings to its own dialysis clinics and failed to inform other dialysis centers across the U.S. that used it products. It was not until the FDA began to receive adverse event reports that Fresenius allegedly took action and informed all patients, physicians and potential consumers of the possible risks of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. As a result, Fresenius-employed physicians ceased to use the products, but other healthcare providers continued with GranuFlo-containing treatments, as they were not yet aware of the dangers.
Dialysis patients who allegedly suffered a stroke, heart attack, or other adverse cardiac event following a dialysis treatment with NaturaLyte or GranuFlo may be entitled to file an Iowa GranuFlo lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries. To learn more about the recall or to determine if you are eligible to file an Iowa GranuFlo lawsuit, consider seeking legal counsel today.
Do You Need More Information? Contact Us Today
If you believe you are eligible to file an Iowa GranuFlo lawsuit because you suffered from complications after undergoing a dialysis treatment, Attorney Group for Iowa can help. There is no cost to speak with us, and we can review your case to help you determine if you are eligible to recover damages for your injuries. We can also help answer your questions and connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file your Iowa GranuFlo lawsuit.
