A number of cases involving defective heart valves have made headlines in recent months. On January 21, 2000, St. Jude Medical recalled all its valve products manufactured with Silzone coating. In these models, the valve’s sewing ring is coated with the elemental silver Silzone, which St. Jude believed would reduce valve infections (endocarditis) because of its antibacterial qualities. At least two percent of the 12,000 patients with the Silzone-coated valve experienced a condition called paravalvular leakage, which can result in heart failure.
Suits have been filed claiming the manufacturer was negligent in designing, manufacturing, and marketing a defective heart valve that was not adequately tested. In another high profile case, Pfizer Inc. reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the government for hiding information from the FDA about the dangers of its heart valve. More than 80,000 patients worldwide have received Pfizer’s heart valve implants. More than 360 people are reported to have died suddenly when a tiny strut in the valve failed.
Yet another case, which came in the wake of a study by the Mayo Clinic, identified 24 women who developed damaged heart valves after taking the popular weight-loss drug fen-phen (short for fenfluramine and phentermine). Among these victims were five women who underwent heart surgery to repair or replace a defective valve.
Heart Valve Defects Attorneys located in Bellingham, Bellevue, and Spokane to Help You
The Bernard Law Group has years of experience in personal injury litigation. Our skilled team of legal professionals will investigate the facts, assess your claim, establish which parties and insurance companies are to be held responsible, and organize all of the details of composing and presenting your case. If you think that you may have a defective heart valve action, please contact the Bernard Law Group.
IF YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEART VALVE – CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
