Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters are used to prevent blood clots from forming in the legs and traveling to the lungs. The medical device is inserted into the largest vein in the abdomen. This type of device should only be used as a temporary preventive measure, as if they are left for too long, there is a higher risk of further complications.
These devices have been the cause of various complications, such as migration, swelling, and internal injuries, and the worst-case scenario, they can result in death. For these reasons, the device should not be used where possible. There are many pharmaceutical companies, such as C.R. Bard, manufacturing these devices without carrying out sufficient testing to ensure they are safe to put on the market. These companies have a duty of care to ensure the products are trialed and tested in order to prevent harm to the user.
Upon receiving medical treatment, it is vital that the patient has confidence in the treatment and equipment being used. Pharmaceutical companies have a duty of care. Any device should be correctly tested and removed from the market as soon as any problems occur. Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the Bard IVC filters and many others. The Law Place is committed to bringing lawsuits against such companies that are negligent and, hopefully, prevent unnecessary suffering. Our aim is to hold those accountable responsible for their actions and to ensure you receive fair compensation.
If you or a loved one in Fort Myers, or elsewhere in Florida, has experienced IVC filter malfunctions, you are entitled to file an IVC filter lawsuit. Contact us at The Law Place today for a free consultation on (941) 444-4444.
Background
C.R. Bard is a pharmaceutical company that designed the IVC filter in order to provide treatment for those who have deep vein thrombosis. The device was designed to prevent pulmonary embolism, which is a condition that can be recurrent and life-threatening.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when part of a clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, resulting in serious complications. It is extremely dangerous when the inferior vena cava is found to be a carrier of blood clots, as the vena cava is the biggest vein in the body, it carries blood from your lower body to your heart and lungs. Most often, clots can be treated with blood thinners, but this treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Under such circumstances, an IVC filter is placed in the inferior vena cava to prevent the clots from moving into the lungs, resulting in pulmonary embolism. If the device is safe to use and works correctly, it is a lifesaving intervention. However, unfortunately, this is not always the case and has often resulted in severe injuries, which can lead to death.
Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies have a primary goal to make a profit. If a medical device is proving to be defective, it should be removed from the market, but this is not a profitable option. As a result, pharmaceutical companies will often attempt to hide evidence to keep their product on the market.
Bard Medical is no exception. Evidence has proven that problems with inferior vena cava filters were detected for over ten years, and yet doctors and patients were not adequately educated in the possible risks.
In 2002, retrievable IVC filters were approved by the Food and Drug Association (FDA), and regulators declared them to be low risk, Class II medical devices. The product was fast-tracked and approved with little clinical testing. There are reports dating back to 2004, highlighting the adverse complications caused by IVC filters; this included severe internal injuries from the surgery and even death. Following these reports, the IVC filters are still being used.
An IVC filter manufactured by any company such as Cook, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson could result in similar problems if sufficient testing is not carried out. But the IVC filter manufactured by Bard has been under inquiry in recent years. You or a loved one may be entitled to compensation if you have been affected by a defective IVC filter.
What Are the Symptoms of Broken IVC Filters?
Unfortunately, IVC filters can cause an array of complications, on top of the condition that they are used to prevent. Patients can suffer from the following complications:
- Migration – This is when the inferior vena cava device moves or dislodges. Often, the metal studs of the device break off, moving through the body and puncturing vital organs such as the heart and lungs.
- Fragmentation – Where a piece of the device breaks away.
- Extrusion – Where the IVC filter is forced out of the correct placement.
The FDA and numerous reports have stated that these complications are common, resulting in burst veins, pain, scarring, and further risk of blood clots. Initially, these symptoms may go undiagnosed for years as they do not always show signs, but they can eventually lead to debilitating unknown illnesses.
If you are suffering from having received a Bard IVC device or any other vena cava device from a manufacturer in Fort Myers or in Florida, then you have the right to contact a lawyer. Filing a lawsuit is the only way these manufacturing companies will take responsibility for the suffering they have caused by manufacturing defective IVC filters. At The Law Place, we are experts in personal injury law and offer free legal guidance, so do not hesitate to get in contact for some no-obligation guidance.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. How Long Can You Leave an IVC Filter in?
If you had an IVC filter that was not removed within sufficient time or not removed correctly, then you could be at risk of IVC filter complications. The complications become higher the longer the IVC filter is left in the body. Although they can prevent blood clots, the long-term risks may outweigh the benefits.
Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you are concerned about IVC filter complications.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience What Is Included Within the FDA IVC Filter Warning?
In 2010, reports from the FDA stated that over 900 people had made complaints about injuries relating to IVC filters, such as lung and heart complications. In 2015, the FDA released a warning stating that the risks will heighten if patients fail to have their IVC filter removed within four to six weeks. These risks end up outweighing any potential benefits. Those in the medical field have been instructed to remove the IVC filters as quickly as possible and to report any defects to the FDA.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Do the Benefits of IVC Filters Outweigh the Risks?
The FDA states that short term usage of an IVC filter can be beneficial as they may prevent a blood clot and a pulmonary embolism, which could lead to more severe problems. Unfortunately, the device also comes with risks, as after only 4 to 6 weeks, they become prone to breakage, and when devices are not removed within this time period, it results in leaving the patient at higher risk than they originally were.
IVC Filter Lawsuit Information for Residents in Fort Myers
You should seek compensation if you or a loved one has suffered further ill health or death due to complications with an IVC filter. Numerous IVC filter lawsuits have been filed across the nation. Multidistrict lawsuits against Bard are currently awaiting a decision from the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. If more people were to come forward, this would put pressure on pharmaceutical companies, hopefully resulting in them carrying out sufficient testing and trials on their products before releasing them to the market.
IVC filter injury lawsuits allege that pharmaceutical companies should be held accountable. They have a duty of care and must warn consumers of the potential injuries that IVC filters can cause, such as erosion, fracture, or extrusion. The argument put forward is that sufficient tests were not carried out by the pharmaceutical company. Furthermore, the seriousness of allegations relating to complications that have been put forward for years has been moderated or overlooked.
The best way to secure compensation for any medical bills, including past, present, and future, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain, and suffering, and other loss that has been incurred from IVC filter complications is to file a lawsuit.
If you are feeling uncertain, then contact us to speak to a personal injury lawyer for a free case review before you commit to an IVC filter lawsuit.
Why You Should File an IVC Filter Lawsuit
If you or a loved one is suffering from serious health problems resulting from a defective medical product or unsafe drug, then you may require long-term or potentially life-term medical treatment. Not only is this an inconvenience as it may drastically alter your quality of life, but it will also incur finical repercussions too. While no quantity of money will ever make up for the suffering you are enduring, it will help make your life a little easier.
It is our aim to ensure that all defective devices, drugs, or other medication lawsuits can serve to make pharmaceutical companies take more responsibility to protect their patients in the future. As profit is their main goal, by filing these lawsuits and reducing the profitably of their products, this will, in turn, encourage them to react by manufacturing products that are safe to use in the future.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for IVC Filter Complications?
Florida Statue 95.11 gives four years for cases involving negligence, and this covers most medical lawsuits. As previously mentioned, sometimes complications can go undetected for many years. This statute can be contended under extreme circumstances. If you were unaware of it for more than four years, you might be able to claim from when you were originally diagnosed with an IVC filter complication. Get in contact with The Law Place today if you are unsure whether your case is still valid.
Contact The Law Place Today
At The Law Place, we handle lawsuits involving IVC filters in Fort Myers and the rest of Florida. We believe in bringing justice when it is deemed fair. We aim to make the world a safer place by holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their negligence.
If you have suffered or are suffering from complications resulting from an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter and need a lawyer to help you fight for the compensation you are entitled to, get in touch today. We offer an initial free consultation to help you decide whether you want representation from us. Once you agree to our representation, you can focus on your road to recovery.
Contact us today for a free consultation in Fort Myers on (941) 444-4444.
