Blood Clot Filters – Sarasota Product Liability Attorneys
March 7, 2016
A blood clot filter is a tiny metal, mesh-like device implanted into a patient’s vein to prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart and lungs. You can think of a blood clot filter as a kind of net. It may be used temporarily to treat patients following surgery, or permanently for those who are at an elevated risk for blood clots (such as patients with deep vein thrombosis). Sarasota Product Liability Attorneys can represent you if you’re injured as a result of a product itself.
Blood clot filters can save lives, when used appropriately. However, as a patient, it’s important to be fully informed about how they work and the risks involved. Blood clot filters have been shown to cause serious health conditions and even death in some cases.
The Risks Involved with Blood Clot Filters
Occasionally, a blood clot filter does not function the way it was designed to perform. The device might migrate through the vein, causing severe internal damage as it moves. In addition, serious health risks have been associated with blood clot filters that disintegrate.
If the filter becomes perforated, the clots can pass through and make their way to the heart and lungs. The same concern applies if the filter fractures. Even more frighteningly, a small piece of the filter can become detached from the rest of the device, and then travel towards the heart just as a clot would – causing damage to the vein along the way. This is typically a life-threatening event.
How Patients Have Been Harmed by Blood Clot Filters
Recently, the medical community and the FDA are calling attention to the serious risks that blood clot filters carry. The FDA now recommends that doctors limit (when possible) the duration of the use of a blood clot filter. The longer the blood clot filter remains in the vein, the greater the chance that it will migrate or break. As stakes are high, it’s important for doctors to clearly communicate the risks and consult carefully with each individual patient regarding the use of a blood clot filter.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, and some medical device manufacturers may not be as honest as they should be. NBC News uncovered that one company, C.R. Bard, ignored early warning signs of the risks and possibly forged signatures to receive FDA clearance for the device.
Sarasota Product Liability Attorneys Can Help
If you or a loved one has a blood clot filter already implanted, you may be worried about the possible health consequences. It’s important to speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of the device and about how long it must remain in your body.
If you had a blood clot filter implanted and then suffered a negative health event because the device broke down or migrated, you should seek legal advice. Contact the Jodat Law Group Sarasota Product Liability Attorneys today for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys in Bradenton Sarasota are experienced and skilled in medical product liability claims, and we can help you understand your legal options moving forward.