Chicago Medical Device Error Attorney
When a patient sees a healthcare provider to receive a medical device, that patient should be able to expect that the healthcare provider will place the medical device appropriately and that it will not have any defects that can result in severe or life-threatening harm. However, medical devices frequently cause severe and debilitating injuries to patients, and in some cases, medical devices result in patient deaths. According to The New York Times, thousands of patient deaths occur every year as a result of dangerous medical devices, and hundreds of thousands of claims have been filed against medical device designers, manufacturers, retailers, and healthcare providers over the last decade. Indeed, millions of patients have been injured by dangerous medical devices in the United States alone.
Medical devices are consumer products, and they should be safe for use. When they cause harm, it is essential for the patient to learn more about filing a claim. An aggressive Chicago medical device error attorney can speak with you today about your case.
Understanding Different Types of Medical Devices in Chicago
There are a wide range of medical devices that patients can receive, and some pose greater risks than others. The JAMA Network clarifies that medical devices are “used to diagnose, prevent, or treat a medical disease or condition without having any chemical action on any part of the body,” and explains that there are three different classes of existing medical devices:
- Class I devices, which are “low-risk devices,” and may include, for example, “bandages, handheld surgical instruments, and nonelectric wheelchairs”;
- Class II devices, which are identified as “intermediate-risk devices,” and may include, for example, “computer tomography (CT) scanners or infusion pumps for intravenous medications”; and
- Class III devices, which are identified as “high-risk devices that are very important to health or sustaining life,” and may include, for example, “pacemakers and deep-brain stimulators.”
Dangerous Medical Devices in Chicago
Many different medical devices have been recalled, or have been pulled from the market, over the last decade due to medical device errors and injuries. Some of the following are examples of dangerous medical devices that have contain errors and defects, and that have resulted in recent patient injuries and lawsuits:
- Breast implants;
- Hernia mesh;
- Transvaginal mesh;
- Bone cement;
- Hip implants;
- Elbow implants;
- Essure birth control implants; and
- IVC filters.
Causes of Medical Device Errors in Chicago
Medical device errors can result from a healthcare provider’s negligence in use of the medical device or in the surgical implantation of the medication device, or a medical device lawsuit can be tied to a defect in the medical device itself. The following are common causes of medical device error claims that our firm can assist you with today:
- Physician error prescribing the device;
- Surgical error implanting the device;
- Design defect in the medical device;
- Manufacturing defect in the medical device; or
- Failure to warn about the risks associated with the medical device.
Learn More by Contacting a Chicago Medical Device Error Lawyer
If you were harmed by a medical device error, you should seek advice from a medical negligence attorney in Chicago about filing a lawsuit in order to seek financial compensation. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC today.
