Irvine IVC Filter Lawyer

Whenever an illness or injury arises, those affected must place a substantial amount of trust and confidence in the professionals chosen to provide necessary treatments. It is similarly important to consider the fact that they must also heavily rely on the safety and effectiveness of the medications and devices used to facilitate healing.

Unfortunately, an unacceptable number of patients each and every year suffer very real harm due to negligently designed, manufactured or marketed drugs and devices, including a growing number of people who have been treated with an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter intended to prevent the migration of blood clots within the body.

When serious injury or even death results from devices of this nature, though, anĀ Irvine product liability lawyer is ready to take up the fight on behalf of victims and their families. An Irvine IVC filter lawyer can use their experience to build a strong case to ensure the injured person receives the representation and compensation they deserve. To learn more or discuss your case consult with a product liability lawyer in Irvine today.

What is the Purpose of IVC Filters?

First reaching the market back in 1979, retrievable IVC filters are small, metal devices designed to stop potentially dangerous clots from traveling to patients’ lungs. Surgically placed into the veins, these filters have long been thought to be quite helpful in lowering the risk of clot movement in individuals who are unable to take more conventional blood thinning medications due to ancillary health concerns.

IVC filters are especially useful in treating those suffering from deep vein thrombosis, a condition in which clots build in the pelvis or lower extremities. Though these clots are not necessarily life-threatening in and of themselves, if they are allowed to migrate towards the lungs, a fatal pulmonary embolism can result.

Controversy

While these filters have been implanted in hundreds of thousands of patients since their introduction, recent years have witnessed a growing degree of alarm about their dangers. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an initial safety alert informing the public about potential concerns.

Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA in connection with the devices have continued to rise dramatically, with many such incidents involving uncontrollable bleeding, vein punctures and device migration inside patients’ bodies. According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, common complaints and dangers related to IVC filters include:

  • Aortic perforations
  • Vena cava punctures
  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Device migration
  • Fractures of the filters themselves
  • Embolization/disintegration of device components

Therefore if you or a loved one has suffered any of these conditions due to an IVC filter, it may be in your best interest to consult with an Irvine IVC filter attorney to discuss your case.

What Are the Allegations Against These Devices?

Many individuals who have filed IVC filter lawsuits are alleging that even though these devices were originally meant to be implanted only in patients with documented histories of pulmonary embolism risk and those unable to use traditional anticoagulant drugs, doctors have widely been using them to treat individuals presenting with neither indication.

It has also been broadly alleged that despite having knowledge that the filters were meant to be used only temporarily, physicians in large numbers have permitted them to remain inside patients much longer than is safe or medically necessary. These practices have allegedly produced serious injury and death in a large number of cases.

The manufacturers of IVC filters, particularly Cook Medical and C.R. Bard, are also facing allegations of defective design and manufacturing as well as negligent marketing of these products in which risks were minimized or not fully disclosed to the medical community.

Reasons to File a Lawsuit

Given the very serious risks linked to IVC filters and the starling number of adverse event reports involving the devices, it should come as no surprise that hundreds of plaintiffs have come forward to seek compensation with the assistance of an IVC filter attorney.

Multidistrict litigation meant to consolidate similar cases for pretrial processes has already been established separately for cases involving Cook filters as well as Bard products. Individuals who have suffered harm stemming from implantation of an IVC filter may be able to secure payment for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Emotional trauma
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Rehabilitation and therapy costs
  • Loss of marital or familial support
  • Financial needs of surviving dependents
  • Funeral expenses

Work with an Irvine IVC Filer Attorney

There can be no doubt that the potential complications from a defective IVC filter can be extremely serious, sometimes even deadly. Thus, it is essential for victims and their families to enlist the help of an aggressive legal advocate who will fight for their right to compensation. The legal process of pursuing a claim can be complicated, but an Irvine IVC filter lawyer can help a person effectively navigate the process.