People who take prescription and over-the-counter medications are at risk when those drugs are revealed to be dangerous. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the manufacturers can coordinate recalls, which removes the affected products from pharmacy shelves and alerts patients to stop taking the potentially harmful medications.
But what happens to people who have received medical devices and implants, only to later discover that they’ve been recalled? In many cases, patients with medical devices, such as joint replacements, required surgery to have them implanted in their bodies. When those devices are recalled, avoiding further risk isn’t as simple as disposing of a medication. Instead, it can require a revision surgery, which can be dangerous.
No matter what type of medical device you have, it’s important to immediately contact your doctor if you find out it has been recalled. Based on information from the manufacturer and the FDA, your doctor will determine the best path forward for you. Some patients benefit from surgery to remove the affected devices and replace them with safer products, while other patients may be better off keeping recalled devices implanted due to the risks of surgery and removal.
In addition, it’s important to remember that not all recalls are the same. Some recalls are due to minor errors, while others are due to serious design flaws that can put patients at risk. Your doctor will take those facts into consideration when determining how to best protect your health.
At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, it’s our goal to help people harmed by negligent corporations, whether they’re drug companies or medical device manufacturers. If you were hurt by a medical implant, we’re here to help. Contact our defective medical device lawyers today.