When the defibrillator that you had implanted to maintain a healthy heart is recalled, there are many decisions that you may have to wrestle with as reports of injured defibrillator patients roll in. In October 2007, a large manufacturer of defibrillators and pacemakers, Medtronic, recalled several units after it was discovered that the leads used in the devices may become defective over time. The defect caused patients to experience painful shocks in their chest, forcing many of them to be hospitalized for their injuries.
If you have been implanted with a Medtronic defibrillator, you may be struggling with the decision whether or not to have the device removed. While the FDA and Medtronic do not recommend the removal of defibrillators that do not show signs of the defect, the situation causes Medtronic patients a great deal of confusion and stress. No one wants to worry that the device that was implanted in order to save their life could end up being the device that leads to their death. Those who currently have implanted devices that have not shown defective tendencies have two choices: wait until the device harms them to have it removed and take the chance that the defect will not lead to their death, or face the serious dangers of having the functioning device removed.
The argument against removal states that the removal process is very dangerous. Studies show that between 2% and 7% of all surgeries involving defibrillators result in death. The removal process becomes complicated due to the growth of body tissue around the device over time. The FDA and Medtronic recommend that you do not have your defibrillator removed unless you have begun to experience the effects of a defect. Medtronic reports that of the 268,000 devices implanted before the defect was discovered, 2.3% of patients have experienced the painful shocks associated with the recalled devices.
The argument for having the device removed before symptoms occur is surrounded by concerns that the painful shocks associated with the defect could be avoided by removal. Many people do not feel comfortable living with the knowledge that their defibrillator may become defective at any time. If you are concerned about your defibrillator, speak with a doctor for appropriate medical advice. Choosing whether or not to remove your defibrillator is a difficult choice and can only be made by each individual patient.
If you have experienced the painful effects of a defective defibrillator, contact an experienced lawyer immediately. Expensive medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and many more damages may have occurred as a result of your defective defibrillator. There is no need to suffer financially, physically, or even emotionally if the damages you have experienced were caused by a negligent manufacturer.
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