Minnesota Judge Dismisses Medtronic Defibrillator Lawsuits
A judge in St. Paul, Minnesota has dismissed dozens of lawsuits related to heart injuries caused by Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads, citing federal preemption of state laws on the matter.
In October of 2007, Medtronic Inc., stopped sales of its Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead wires after reports that they failed to function properly in the event of heart attacks. The leads are wires that connect the defibrillator to the heart. When the lead is fractured the defibrillator cannot send a life saving shock to the heart in the event of an impending heart failure. The broken wire can also cause a massive and painful shock to the heart. After reports of patient injuries and deaths resulting from defective leads, Medtronic was forced to withdraw them from the market. At the time of the recall, approximately 257,000 patients had been implanted with the Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead. Since then the company has faced multiple medical injury lawsuits filed by patients across the nation who sustained injuries caused by the defective leads.
In a separate case in February 2008, the US Supreme Court ruled under a controversial doctrine known as "preemption" that FDA approval of a medical device would supersede any lawsuit filed against a medical device maker under state laws. The Bush administration has pushed for preemption of federal regulations over state laws which has been criticized by consumer rights advocates and medical attorneys for the unwarranted protection it offers makers of medical devices. Under preemption, an injured patient would not be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against a medical device maker if the FDA had already approved the device. This doctrine works on the assumption that the FDA can never be wrong in all its approvals and that patients should have blind faith in the agency's ability to ensure that only the safest products enter the market. Unfortunately, the FDA's record on maintaining safety in drugs and devices introduced into the American market give little cause for comfort. The agency has battled allegations from its own scientists that approval for medical devices is obtained through coercive techniques.
Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Lead Lawsuits
Thousands of people around the country who have been injured as a result of the malfunctioning leads have filed lawsuits against Medtronic Inc. For the remaining who have yet to suffer injuries from the malfunctioning lead, the prospects for replacing the lead are bleak, as it involves an invasive and potentially dangerous surgery.
As is evident from this lawsuit dismissal in St. Paul, taking on major pharmaceutical companies who enjoy the protection of the government is not an easy task. The medical injury lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP have the solid expertise and experience, as well as the considerable resources that pursuing Medtronic defibrillator lawsuits requires. We can answer your questions and help you evaluate your options for possible compensation.
If you have been inured by the Medtronic defibrillator leads, contact a medical injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP.
