A New Jersey Bair Hugger lawsuit may be an option for patients who experienced severe infection following joint replacement surgery. Bair Hugger warming blankets are commonly used in surgical procedures such as hip replacements to help sustain body temperature and prevent the risk of unintended hypothermia. However, some patients allege that these warming blankets have been related to severe complications such as infection, and in some cases, resulting in additional operations. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to pursue compensation with the help of a New Jersey Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated New Jersey Bair Hugger lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
How Does the Bair Hugger Work?
The Bair Hugger, manufactured by 3M, is meant to keep a patient warm while they are undergoing surgery, therefore protecting them from developing hypothermia. According to its official website, the Bair Hugger system uses forced air warming technology to achieve this. The system includes the following items:
- Tie strips
- Head drapes
- Drainage holes
- Air
- Gowns
- Blankets
The choice of warming items depends on how long the patient will be on the operating table and where the operation will be performed. 3M points out that over 80 percent of American hospitals use the Bair Hugger system and that it has been safely used around the world on more than 200 million people. It further claims that over 60 clinical trials, controlled and random, and more than 170 studies prove its efficiency in keeping patients warm.
Bacteria and Infection Risk Claims
Within an operating room environment, there can be many types of bacteria. While staff sterilize operating equipment and scrub down before they enter, it does not eliminate the existence of potentially harmful contaminants. Outpatient Surgery magazine states that the Bair Hugger’s own inventor claims that the sterile air within the operating room can be disrupted by the air flow from the device. Due to the design, the filtration system can bring bacteria from the floor of the operating room up to the patient.
According to the Star Tribune, an independent study was able to show that deep joint infections were more likely when using the Bair Hugger warming system. The study was conducted using records of previous patients and tests on mannequins. The inventor of the Bair Hugger claims that the previous company which manufactured the system, Arizant, found that in hip and knee implant surgeries, convection currents created by the Bair Hugger would transfer bacteria from beneath the operating table where waste heat had built up. The inventor also claims that 3M knew about the problem before the purchase.
New Jersey Bair Hugger Lawsuits Claim Deceit and Negligence
The fact that 3M may have known about the potential risks of infection is one allegation in many Bair Hugger lawsuits. One such lawsuit claims that the buildup of contaminants was due to a reduction in the power output of the filtration system, according to the Louisiana Record. The plaintiff alleges that contaminants were blown into the surgical site from the device. This caused her serious and permanent injuries sustained from an infection. She is claiming that 3M is guilty of breach of express and implied warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and deceit, and negligence.
Other lawsuits have been filed that claim the same thing. One patient had to have a hip implant removed after developing a serious infection and required 15 surgeries to combat the problems that the infection caused. Another patient claims the system caused a staph infection, leading to the loss of his leg after having a knee replacement surgery. 3M continues to claim that their system is safe to use and that there is no evidence that the Bair Hugger poses infection risks to patients.
How a New Jersey Bair Hugger Lawsuit Can Help
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a medical device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by Bair Hugger warming blankets may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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.
