Centralizing of All Bair Hugger Lawsuit Claims Opposed By 3M Warming Blanket Manufacturer

Bair Hugger Lawsuit Complaints Allege The Bair Hugger Forced-Air Warming Blanket Causes Serious Infections In Patients Undergoing Hip Or Knee Replacement Surgeries, Report Southern Med Law

3M, the makers of the Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming blankets are opposing a request to centralize all federally filed Bair Hugger lawsuit claims. The Bair Hugger complaints purport the 3M warming blanket increases the risk of infection in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.

A motion was filed with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) in August asking for a consolidation of 14 pending Bair Hugger lawsuits in the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. In their response, 3M Company and its subsidiary, Arizant Healthcare, contend there is no “credible scientific literature to support plaintiffs’ far-fetched claims that there is an increased risk of infection associated with the Bair Hugger forced air warming device.” (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Products Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2666)

According to the defendants, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) is established for lawsuits that have common questions of fact. The defendants claim that Bair Hugger lawsuit plaintiffs have too many individual issues to merit the creation of a MDL. (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Products Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2666)

The Bair Hugger Forced-Air warming blanket was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over 25 years ago to maintain normal body temperatures of patients undergoing surgery. 3M claims Bair Hugger therapy is used by 50,000 patients each day. 3M explains the Bair Hugger consists of a warming unit through which filter air flows. The unit gently and evenly disperses the air throughout the attached blanket, which is positioned over the patient. The blanket is isolated from the surgical site by an adhesive strip on the blanket and surgical barrier drapes.
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A Bair Huggar lawsuit recently filed by a California man alleges he developed an infection while undergoing a right hip replacement surgery in April 2014 due to contaminants getting into his open surgical wound. The complaint said the plaintiff had another surgical procedure to clean the infected area. (Case No. 2:15-cv-00957, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California) The Bair Hugger complaints accuse the defendants of being aware of the risk of infections but failing to properly warn doctors and their patients about the risks. (In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Products Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2666)

Southern Med Law is currently investigating Bair Hugger Forced-Air Warming Lawsuits. If you or a loved one developed a prosthetic joint infection after undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery or after receiving an artificial heart valve, please contact the Bair Hugger Lawsuit Attorneys at Southern Med Law for a free legal consultation and get the help you deserve. To speak with one of the firm’s attorneys, please call 205-547-5525 or visit www.southernmedlaw.com and fill out the online form at southernmedlaw.com.

Southern Med Law Is a Full Service Law Firm Providing Legal Representation To Men and Women across the country in areas of personal injuries, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs, faulty medical devices and defective products. Led by Dr. François Blaudeau, an attorney and a practicing obstetrician/ gynecologist, the legal staff at Southern Med Law possesses a deep understanding of the complex medical and legal questions at issue in all manner of product liability and personal injury claims. They’re not afraid to take on the nation’s largest corporations in their pursuit of justice, and are committed to ensuring that all victims have access to the type of aggressive legal advocacy that assures success.

Southern Med Law
François M. Blaudeau, MD JD FACHE FCLM Esquire
2224 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Phone: 205-547-5525

Fax: 205-547-5526
francois@sml-legal.i-mlaw.com