IVC Filter Lawsuits Against C.R. Bard And Cook Medical Continue To Increase

Southern Med Law Is Investigating IVC Filter Lawsuits Claiming The Products Fracture, Tilt, And Migrate And Cause Serious Or Fatal Injuries.

As pretrial proceedings move forward for IVC filter claims, the number of IVC filter lawsuit filings against C.R. Bard and Cook Medical rose from 244 to 272. The lawsuits against Bard over its Recovery and G2 IVC filters and Cook Medical over its Celect IVC and Günther Tulip IVC filters contend their inferior vena cava (IVC) filters can migrate, break and puncture the vena cava and other organs which causes serious and fatal injuries.

A U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) statistics report shows the number of IVC filter lawsuits against Bard increased from 72 as of December 15, to 78 as of January 15. Cook Medical also saw filings rise from 172 to 194. The claims against C.R. Bard have been centralized in the U.S. District Court, District of Arizona while those filed against Cook Medical are consolidated in the District of Southern Indiana. (In Re: Bard IVC Filters Product Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2641)(In Re: Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters Marketing, Sales, Practices And Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2570

Southern Med Law is currently reviewing potential lawsuit claims on behalf of patients who experienced life-threatening complications including perforation of the heart, lung or other organs, punctured vena cava, perforated aorta and death allegedly due to IVC filters made by C.R. Bard and Cook Medical. If you have been injured by IVC filters contact one of the firm’s attorneys for a free legal evaluation by calling (205) 547-5525 or visit southernmedlaw.com for more information on this and other defective medical devices and to fill out a contact form.

Retrievable IVC filters lawsuits are small, spider-like devices implanted in a major vessel called the vena cava that trap blood clots with its struts or “legs” to prevent them from traveling to the heart and lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism. IVC filters are implanted in patients who are at risk of a pulmonary embolism, especially those who cannot take anticoagulants and for those who found blood thinners ineffective.
[fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm396377.htm, May 6, 2014]

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), IVC filter usage has increased rapidly over the past 30 years. However, since 2005, the FDA has received 921 device adverse event reports involving IVC filters, of which 328 involved device migration, 146 involved detachment of device components, 70 involved perforation of the IVC, and 56 involved filter fracture. The adverse events may be related to a retrievable filter remaining in the body beyond the time when the risk of pulmonary embolism has subsided, the FDA stated.
[fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm221676.htm, August 9, 2010]

The lawsuits filed against both Cook Medical and C.R. Bard purport the IVC filters made by the companies have the potential to fracture, tilt, migrate through the body, and puncture the wall of the inferior vena cava and other organs and tissues such as the aorta and duodenum. In the litigation against Bard, a lawsuit was filed by a Missouri woman who alleges that her husband died after his G2 IVC filter failed. According to the complaint, the woman’s husband had the device inserted in November 2006. However, the IVC filter tilted out of position, perforating his inferior vena cava and failed to prevent a fatal blood clot from traveling to his heart or lungs. (2:15-cv-02091, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona)

About Southern Med Law and Filing an IVC Filter Lawsuit: Throughout his career, Dr. Blaudeau has worked hard to develop a strong reputation in healthcare litigation. His first-hand knowledge of medicine has made the Southern Med Law team an aggressive and effective advocate for those who were harmed due to negligent medical device manufacturers. If you or a loved one were injured by a Bard retrievable IVC filter, please contact Southern Med Law today to learn more about your legal rights. Call today for a free, no obligation Bard IVC filter lawsuit review by filling out our online form, or by calling the office directly at 205-547-5525.

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