DePuy Hip Implant Recalled for Harming Patients Is Subject of Class Action Suit | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

A new kind of hip replacement device cleared for marketing in the United States in 2003 came with the promise of better performance, longer useful life and fewer post-surgery complications than earlier models of the medical device that some 120,000 Americans have implanted each year.

Those promises soon became nightmares for as many 13 percent of people who underwent surgeries to have DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Systems and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems implanted. Severe pain, joint failure and risks of metal poisoning from chromium and cobalt leading to dementia or fatal heart attacks prompted a complete worldwide recall of the metal-on-metal hip implants on August 24, 2010.

This investigative report by WTVD ABC-11 in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (NC), details the health risks patients who received DePuy hip implants face:

DePuy has pledged to cover the costs of medical treatments for patients who experienced health problems or needed corrective surgery because of their hip implants. Few victims of the dangerous, and perhaps defective, device have been satisfied with the company’s offer. A class action lawsuit is proceeding against DePuy. If you received one of the recalled implants, you should contact us to discuss your options for seeking fair compensation for any pain and medical expenses related to the device. You may learn that you do not have a case against the hip implant manufacturer, but you owe it yourself to find out.

In light of the DePuy recall and several other high-profile cases involving medical devices that cause more health problems than they solve for large numbers of patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has strengthened its standards for reviewing the safety and effectiveness of such products. Let’s hope the regulators’ efforts prevent patient suffering in the future.

EJL