If you or a loved one has experienced medical problems because of an IVC filter, you may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer for all injuries and losses you suffered.
Pursuing a lawsuit against a drug company can be a complicated and intimidating process, but Michigan Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our attorneys have decades of collective experience representing clients injured by defective medical devices, and we can put our legal knowledge to work for you. Call today to speak with an IVC filter lawyer for a free case evaluation.
IVC Filter Complications
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters are small cone-shaped devices implanted in the inferior vena cava and designed to stop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clots from working their way to the heart and lungs.
The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in your body. Located below your kidneys, this vein moves de-oxygenated blood from your lower extremities up to your heart's right atrium and then on to your lungs. A filter in the IVC can thus catch blood clots that come up from your lower extremities. IVC Filters may be implanted permanently in the inferior vena cava or may be retrievable.
C.R. Bard Inc. is one of several manufacturers that produce retrievable IVC filter products. Bard's offerings included the Recovery IVC Filter and G2 IVC Filter system, both of which were approved through the FDA's 501(K) clearance protocols. These protocols require minimal or no human testing and clearance is based on the product's substantial similarity to existing approved medical devices.
Unfortunately, soon after their release, retrievable IVC filters began to cause significant and potentially life-threatening problems. Reports indicated that the struts and radial arms of the retrievable IVC filters produced by C.R. Bard began to break off inside of the body, and the FDA received hundreds of adverse-event reports complaining of:
- Migration of the filter device
- Detachments of the device components
- IVC perforations
- IVC filter fractures
In August 2010, the FDA issued a safety advisory alerting the public to the potential risks of the retrievable IVC filter products. For the hundreds who had already experienced problems, the advisory came too late.
An IVC Filter Lawyer Can Help
Lawsuits have already been filed against Bard to try to hold the medical device manufacturer responsible for the consequences of failed IVC filters, and more patients continue to experience serious complications every day. To prevail in their claims, plaintiffs harmed by the Bard products or by other IVC filters will need to prove that:
- The IVC filter was dangerous when used as intended and that they were harmed or
- The medical device manufacturer was negligent in design or production of the filter or
- The medical device manufacturer breached an express or implied warranty on the filters
Numerous medical journals have demonstrated a link between IVC filters and serious health complications. A November 2008 study in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, for example, revealed that all 14 patients who received a Bard Recovery filter at a single institution had experienced perforation of the filter arm. A total of 21 percent of patients had experienced four fractures with migration.
Data from the Food and Drug Administration coupled with medical records and extensive studies should help plaintiffs recover compensation for their IVC filter problems. However, there are a lot of decisions to make about how to pursue your case and what evidence to present, so it is advisable to consult with an experienced IVC filter attorney as soon as possible.
Contact Us
At Michigan Injury Lawyers, our attorneys are here to help you stand up to manufacturers of medical devices that hurt you. We'll do everything possible to fight for your right to full and fair compensation for any problems you experienced because of defective IVC filters. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.