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IVC filters were designed for patients as an alternative to blood thinners for the treatment of blood clots and work by trapping the clots before they can enter the lungs or heart. Unfortunately, like many other medical devices that are rushed to market, these devices have harmed many of the patients they were meant to help. Companies that manufacture harmful products are required to provide compensation to anyone who is injured as a result of their use.
The Chicago IVC filter attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC represent clients who have been injured due to medical device design flaws and stand ready to assist you with any questions you may have about your device or what your legal rights may be. We are also capable of providing information to you about pending IVC complication lawsuits involving various manufacturers including: Bard and Cook. Contact our office now for a free case review.
How IVC Filters Work
Untreated blood clots are dangerous because when they move into the lungs, heart or brain, they can cause catastrophic injuries which include stroke, heart failure and pulmonary embolism. An IVC filter is inserted into the body via the inferior vena cava and acts as a net designed to capture any clots before they can do serious harm. Once clots are caught in these devices, they break up and disappear over time. They were marketed as a suitable alternative to blood thinning medications and for patients who developed clots regardless of any other preventative measure or treatment.
What Went Wrong With Most IVC Filters
The FDA began fielding reports in 2005 from hundreds of patients claiming adverse health events and as more complaints began to surface, the FDA eventually released a warning citing all of the risks associated with the devices. Concerns over the devices included the perforation of organs, damage to major blood vessels, fracturing of the filter and the movement of the filter from its original location to other areas of the body. This warning resulted in a sea of litigation as hundreds of patients came forward with claims that the implantation of the devices caused them personal harm.
There are three popular brands of IVC filters that have received the most legal attention, all of which are manufactured by C.R Bard and Cook Group. The brands are the Bard Recovery filter, Bard G2 filter and Bard G2 Express filter. Plaintiffs in ongoing lawsuits have claimed that C.R Bard failed to provide adequate warnings to patients about the risks associated with their filters, that the products contained design defects and that C.R Bard made erroneous claims about the products.
Over 900 Reports of Injuries Reported in Patient With IVC Filters
From the period between 2005 when the FDA received its first reports of adverse events until 2010, there were over 900 reported injuries that could be linked to the use of IVC filters. The injuries that were reported include, but were not limited to the following.
- The perforation of nearby organs. Organ perforation is the laceration of an organ from the inside and can result in internal bleeding, infection and other complications which are dependent on the organ which has been injured.
- Device migration. The purpose of the IVC filter is to remain in place and separate blood clots from the bloodstream. This cannot be accomplished when the device itself becomes detached and travels to another location where it could become embedded and cause injuries to internal organs.
- Filter fracture. When the filter fractures, pieces of the device move through the blood and eventually embed themselves in tissue, blood vessels or organs and can cause perforations and other complications. In one instance, the piece of a fractured filter traveled to the victim’s heart and emergency surgery was required to repair the laceration.
How Current IVC Litigation Affects You
The Chicago IVC filter attorneys of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC are monitoring ongoing cases as they could set the tone for cases in the future. The latest development in the growing mass tort against the makers of these devices was a settlement in February of 2015 in which C.R Bard came to an out of court agreement with the plaintiff only 10 days after the commencement of the trial. Numerous lawsuits are still underway in federal and state courts across the country. To learn more about the status of these cases and for a free review of your own case, contact us today and we will evaluate the details of your case while going over all of your legal options together.
We have successfully recovered damages on behalf of thousands of clients across the state of Illinois following injuries that have resulted from defective medical devices and are able to seek the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled under law. If we are unable to secure a financial reward on your behalf in the form of a settlement or judgement, our services will be free.
Learn more about our IVC practice via the links below:
