Have you or a loved one received an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in the last few years? Have you suffered complications because of the filter? You may be eligible to join hundreds of others in a class action lawsuit against IVC filter manufacturers. Defective IVC filters have allegedly caused punctured veins and organs, chronic health problems, and even patient death. If you had to undergo extensive surgeries or suffered in other ways after receiving an IVC filter, contact Knutson + Casey right away.
An IVC filter is a tiny cage-like device a doctor may prescribe for patients suffering from deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Once inserted in the inferior vena cava (a major blood vessel that returns blood to the heart), the metal IVC filter prevents clots from traveling to the lungs. Like all medical devices, IVC filters come with certain risks such as bleeding and infection. Unfortunately, defective devices and poor design have created further risks like perforated veins, migration, fractured devices, and severe health complications such as embolization (pieces of or the whole device moving to the heart or lungs).
Patients who have suffered negative health effects and those who have lost loved ones have filed lawsuits against IVC filter manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, Cook Medical, and C.R. Bard. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturers are guilty of negligence in allowing defective and dangerously designed medical devices to enter the market. Allegations against the manufacturers include breach of implied warranty, failure to warn, manufacturing defects, and negligent misrepresentation. According to some lawsuits, manufacturers knew about product defects yet continued to sell them without warning the public of these issues.
In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about IVC filters after receiving almost one thousand reports of adverse events and problems associated with the devices. Reports involved both permanent and retrievable IVC filters. Most complaints involved device migration, followed by embolization, perforation, and filter fracture.
Any negative health outcomes, complications, or deaths involving IVC filters deserve legal attention. Considering the current lawsuits against IVC filter manufacturers, warnings by the FDA, and individual settlements that have occurred, there is a good chance you are eligible to file a claim. While not all negative outcomes relating to IVC filters are examples of negligence, many do stem from defective devices and failures to warn. While a lawsuit can’t reverse your negative health effects, it can lead to compensation for:
A broken or defective IVC filter can lead to open-heart surgeries, physical damage, and emotional distress that otherwise would not have occurred. Don’t let the negligence of major manufacturing companies go without consequence. Join hundreds of others in the fight for justice for the seriously injured and deceased.
The local lawyers at Knutson + Casey have decades of experience handling product liability cases and have the resources to conduct an investigation and pursue compensation for failed IVC filters. We want to help you get back on your feet after painful and destructive medical equipment errors. If an IVC filter broke, migrated, perforated veins or organs, or otherwise caused your injury, seek legal counsel right away. Call (507) 344-8888 or contact Knutson + Casey to discuss your potential case with our legal team.