Surgical scopes play an important role in helping doctors diagnose and treat diseases inside the body. They can be used to look inside and even operate on parts of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, urinary tract, female reproductive system, sinuses, and more.
Most of the time, these are very safe procedures that rarely result in complications or injuries. However, their safety profile can change quickly when the scopes themselves are defective and even dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what many patients are dealing with after being harmed by surgical scopes manufactured by Olympus.
If you or someone you love was injured by an Olympus surgical scope, the defective medical device lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller are here to help. We’ve helped thousands of people just like you who were harmed by dangerous medical devices, and we know what it takes to win. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
- What Has the FDA Said About Olympus Surgical Scopes?
- What Procedures Are Associated with Injuries Caused by Olympus Surgical Scopes?
- What Are the Symptoms of a Surgical Scope Injury?
- What Should I Do if I Suffered a Surgical Scope Injury?
- How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
- What Compensation Can I Receive for My Surgical Scope Injury?
- Who Can Be Held Liable for My Surgical Scope Injury?
- How Can Ferrer Poirot Feller Help With My Scope Injury?
- Contact Our Defective Medical Device Lawyers Today
What Has the FDA Said About Olympus Surgical Scopes?
In June 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an import alert “for certain medical devices manufactured in Japan by Olympus Medical Systems Corporation and its subsidiaries” due to its concerns over “outstanding Quality System regulation violations by Olympus.”
This import alert aims to prevent future shipments of certain devices from entering the U.S., including certain models of:
- Ureterorenoscopes
- Bronchoscopes
- Laparoscopes
- Automated endoscope reprocessors
What Procedures Are Associated with Injuries Caused by Olympus Surgical Scopes?
Olympus surgical scopes are used in many different types of diagnostic and surgical procedures. While these devices are designed to help doctors examine and treat conditions inside the body, reports of device failures, contamination, and even the transmission of infections have raised serious safety concerns about their usage.
Patients who underwent any of the following procedures may have been exposed to a defective or contaminated Olympus surgical scope:
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Bronchoscopy
- Upper Endoscopy (Gastroscopy)
- Enteroscopy
- Laparoscopy (2018 to present)
- Ureteroscopy (2018 to present)
- Hysteroscopy (2018 to present)
- Sinus Endoscopy (2018 to present)
- Cystoscopy (2018 to present)
In some cases, patients suffered severe infections, internal injuries, bleeding complications, or other serious medical problems after their procedures. If you experienced unexpected complications following one of these procedures, you may have be eligible to pursue compensation for your damages.
What Are the Symptoms of a Surgical Scope Injury?
The symptoms of a surgical scope injury can vary depending on the type of procedure performed and the nature of the complication. Some patients develop symptoms shortly after their procedures, while others may not realize something is wrong until days or weeks later.
Potential signs of a surgical scope injury include:
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Nausea or vomiting requiring medical treatment
- Fever, chills, or signs of infection
- Severe respiratory symptoms or pneumonia
- Persistent bleeding or hemorrhaging
- Unexplained fatigue or weakness
- Organ or tissue damage
- Perforations, tears, fistulas, or internal bleeding
- Sepsis or bloodstream infections
- Drug-resistant infections, including CRE or E. coli
- Tuberculosis
- HIV infection
- Organ failure
Some patients also experience device-related complications, such as a scope component breaking, dislodging, or remaining inside the body during a procedure.
What Should I Do if I Suffered a Surgical Scope Injury?
If you think you may have suffered an injury or infection after a procedure involving an Olympus surgical scope, taking the right steps as soon as possible can help protect both your health and legal rights.
You should:
- Seek medical treatment and follow your doctor’s recommendations.
- Keep records of all medical appointments, diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatments.
- Save hospital bills, insurance statements, and other documentation related to your injury.
- Request copies of your medical records, including records identifying the procedure you underwent and the devices used.
- Document any symptoms, complications, missed work, or lifestyle changes caused by your injury.
- Speak with an experienced defective medical device attorney about your legal options.
The sooner you investigate a potential claim, the easier it may be to preserve important evidence and determine whether a defective medical device contributed to your injuries.
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
Not all bad outcomes related to procedures that utilized Olympus surgical scopes are eligible for compensation. However, many are, and you may have a potential claim if the following apply to you:
- You underwent a colonoscopy, ERCP, bronchoscopy, upper endoscopy, enteroscopy, or another endoscopic procedure involving an Olympus surgical scope.
- You underwent a laparoscopy, ureteroscopy, hysteroscopy, sinus endoscopy, or cystoscopy from 2018 to the present.
- You suffered a serious complication after the procedure, such as an infection, organ injury, device failure, bleeding complication, or hospitalization.
- Your injury resulted in additional medical treatment, prolonged recovery, financial losses, or other damages.
Determining whether you qualify for compensation requires a careful review of your medical history, procedure records, and the circumstances surrounding your injury. The defective medical device lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller can evaluate what happened to you and help determine whether you may be eligible to pursue a claim.
What Compensation Can I Receive for My Surgical Scope Injury?
Patients harmed by defective medical devices may be entitled to seek significant compensation for both economic and non-economic losses.
Depending on the facts of your case, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Hospitalization costs
- Emergency medical treatment
- Prescription medication expenses
- Rehabilitation and ongoing care
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Reduced quality of life
If your loved one passed away due to complications associated with a defective Olympus surgical scope or a resulting infection, you or other family members may also be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim.
Who Can Be Held Liable for My Surgical Scope Injury?
Several parties may be held responsible if you or a loved one suffered harm from a defective surgical scope. Depending on the circumstances, liable parties may include:
- The manufacturer of the surgical scope
- Companies involved in designing, testing, or distributing the device
- Facilities responsible for cleaning, disinfecting, or maintaining the equipment
- Other entities involved in placing a defective or unsafe device into use
At Ferrer Poirot Feller, we work hard to identify all potentially liable parties to hold them accountable and to ensure our clients get maximum compensation for their damages.
How Can Ferrer Poirot Feller Help With My Scope Injury?
Defective medical device cases are among the most complex types of personal injury cases. They often require extensive investigation, medical evidence, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of federal regulations and product liability law.
Ferrer Poirot Feller has over four decades of experience representing people who have been harmed by dangerous and defective medical devices. We investigate device-related injuries, identify responsible parties, gather critical evidence, and build strong claims on behalf of injured patients and their families.
When you work with Ferrer Poirot Feller, you’ll get peace of mind knowing we are:
- Reviewing your medical records and procedure history
- Determining whether your injuries may be linked to an Olympus surgical scope
- Consulting with medical and industry experts
- Calculating the full extent of your damages
- Handling communications and negotiations with defendants and insurers
- Fighting for the compensation you deserve through settlement negotiations or litigation
Contact Our Defective Medical Device Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one suffered a serious infection, organ injury, device failure, or other complication after a procedure involving an Olympus surgical scope, you may have legal options for pursuing compensation for your damages.
Ferrer Poirot Feller is actively investigating claims involving patients who experienced severe injuries following qualifying endoscopic procedures. We’ll review your situation, answer your questions, and explain whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation and to learn more about your next steps.
Ferrer Poirot Feller – Office
2603 Oak Lawn Ave #300,
Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 521-4655