Duodenoscope Infection Lawsuit Filings Allege Contaminated Medical Scopes Spread Superbug Infection That Leads To Illness And Death.
As Olympus Corp. remains under scrutiny over its medical scopes that have been associated with infection outbreaks at hospitals nationwide, another duodenoscope infection lawsuit was filed against the company involving a 41-year-old California woman who died allegedly after being exposed to a contaminated duodenoscope. The Japan-based Olympus Corp. is facing lawsuits purporting that its duodenoscopes transmit bacteria that is nearly resistant to antibiotics because they are difficult to clean and this results in patients suffering life-threatening illnesses and death.
The lawsuit alleges that the woman underwent multiple procedures while at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center in December 2014. In the process of the procedures, the complaint claims the woman was exposed to the Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE), a superbug bacteria that is nearly resistant to antibiotics. The lawsuit further alleges the Olympus duodenoscope used during the procedure was contaminated and caused the woman to suffer “significant injury” that resulted in her death. The complaint also accuses Olympus of negligence and fraud in selling and promoting a defective scope.(Duodenoscope lawsuit Case No. 2:15-cv-02317, Los Angeles Superior Court)
[latimes.com/business/la-fi-ucla-superbug-patients-20150317-story.html, Los Angeles Times]
“It is apparent by the allegations in the complaints being filed against Olympus Corp. that the medical scopes can potentially transmit serious infections to patients on whom the devices have been used,” says Dr. François Blaudeau, founder of Southern Med Law.
Southern Med Law is investigating duodenoscope infection lawsuits on behalf of individuals or their surviving loved ones, who were diagnosed with a superbug infection following a medical procedure. If you believe you have experienced a medical scope infection call Southern Med Law to speak with one of the firms attorneys regarding your legal rights at (205) 547-5525 or visit www.southernmedlaw.com to fill out a contact form.
duodenoscopes are Small flexible scopes used during procedures called, “endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography” (ERCP) to diagnose and treat problems in the pancreas and bile ducts. The lighted scope is threaded through the mouth, throat, and stomach into the top of the duodenum, or the small intestine. In January, Olympus Corp. recalled 4,000 duodenoscopes for repair and redesign after they were linked to CRE outbreaks in 2014 and 2015 in hospitals in Florida, New York and Washington. A CRE outbreak also occurred at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center where two patients died and 39 patients were fell ill between October 2014 and January 2015.
[chicagotribune.com/news/ct-tainted-duodenocopes-cre-bacteria-20160114-story.html, Chicago Tribune]
Since February 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued two warnings about contaminated duodenoscopes. The FDA said that it had received 75 medical device reports involving possible bacteria transmission from duodenoscopes to135 patients. The agency explained that the design of the medical scopes make it difficult to clean, disinfect and sterilize even when hospitals follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the devices.
[fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm434871.htm, FDA]
[graphics.latimes.com/superbug-scope/, Los Angeles Times]
Court records indicate that patients who have been seriously harmed by the superbug, or their survivors, are filing duodenoscope infection lawsuits that purport the medical devices have the potential to harbor and spread the dangerous CRE infection to patients. The lawsuit claims also allege that Olympus manufactured, marketed and sold a defective product that contains bacteria even when users properly follow the manufacturer’s cleaning, disinfection and sterilization instructions.
About Southern Med Law and Filing A Duodenoscope Lawsuit:
Southern Med Law is an experienced law firm providing legal representation to the men and women across the country who have been victims of negligent 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.
Contact:
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
Southern Med Law Is A Dedicated And Experienced Law Firm Providing Legal Support To People Who Were Injured By Dangerous Drugs, Medical Devices and Dangerous Products. Contact Us Today To Know Your Rights!
