A Virginia IVC filter lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications as a result of an IVC filter procedure. For patients at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, treatment using an inferior vena cava (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 alleging injuries associated with the IVC filters.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia. 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.
Blood Clots: The Risks
After a tear in the wall of a vein, the blood gels into a hardened clot around it to block leakage during the healing process, the Mayo Clinic explains. Once this is complete, the clot should naturally disintegrate and be absorbed into the system. But, when a clot forms inside one of the large veins and maintains its form, it may break loose from the vein wall and travel up through the system toward the heart and lungs. If the clot ends up in the lungs, it is known as a pulmonary embolism, and this can be fatal. Likewise, a clot that lodges in the heart could cause a heart attack.
A person who is stationary due to prolonged bedrest, a difficult pregnancy, a long plane flight or a sedentary lifestyle is at risk for clot development. Medications, medical conditions and surgery may also lead to the formation of clots.
IVC Filters: Benefits and Risks
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an inferior vena cava filter is a wire device that can be inserted into the vein below the heart to catch blood clots. The design allows the filter to trap the clot, but blood can still flow around it. This method has been effective for some who are unable to take medication to prevent the creation and migration of clots. However, the FDA states that for hundreds of patients, the devices have broken, moved to an unsafe location or pierced the lining of the vein wall and internal organs.
The FDA points out that IVC filters were not cleared to be used as a preventative measure for patients who have never been at risk for blood clots but may have a temporary threat due to an event such as an accident or a surgery. There have not been many studies to determine the safety of using the devices in these situations.
The agency has now determined that, based on the adverse event reports and follow-up analysis, the longer the devices are left in the vein, the higher the risk of a problem. Doctors are urged to remove all IVC filters between one and two months after the threat of a clot has passed, whenever possible.
IVC Filter Lawsuits Consolidated
NBC News reports that at least one device maker knew that its device was faulty, but kept it on the market, anyway. Hundreds of malfunctioning filters have been reported, with some issues allegedly causing fatalities. Some doctors have turned to specialists to collect fractured pieces or filters tilted at dangerous angles because of the difficulty of the removal procedure in some cases.
Roughly 700 IVC filter lawsuits have been filed against just two of the manufacturers of these medical devices, with more expected in the near future. Cases in Virginia and elsewhere in the United States are being combined so that they can be heard in a single district court. This process, known as multidistrict litigation, is often used when hundreds of people suffer damages from a faulty medical device. Similar evidence will be compiled and presented before a judge to prevent people with the same claims from receiving different verdicts.
Attorneys are alleging serious injuries and other complications in Virginia IVC filter lawsuits being filed on behalf of affected patients.
How a Virginia IVC Filter Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
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 device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by the fault of others may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those killed 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 Virginia. 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.
