After going in for what was supposed to be a fairly routine bypass procedure at Providence Everett Medical Center, one of the top cardiac care hospitals in the Northwest, Paramjit Singh is now facing a new round of problems. In 2004, Singh suffered a minor heart attack and had successful bypass surgery. After the surgery, a catheter was inserted into Singh’s heart and connected to a monitor to measure blood flow. However, the catheter overheated, approaching what doctors said was 500 degrees, which then melted, cooking Singh’s heart.
Singh expected to be awake the same afternoon the surgery was performed, but instead awoke six weeks later in a different hospital and different city. He found that he was kept in a drug-induced coma and on a machine to keep his blood flowing until he could get a heart transplant.
Singh, who was once a track star in the Indian army, and active throughout his life, now must face the fact that he has a shortened life expectancy. The anti-rejection drugs Singh takes have left him with lymphoma, possible kidney failure, and possibly another transplant.
The Lawsuits
- The manufacturer of the device that fried Singh’s heart, Edwards Lifesciences, is being sued by Singh and his family, and has accepted responsibility for the injury. But what is now being decided is how much Edwards must pay, and if the Providence Medical Center bears any blame. Singh’s lawyers contend that Edwards knew the device might be dangerous and the company’s actions were so offensive, that the jury should award damages.
The device in question is the Vigilance monitor, which controlled the catheter. Edwards produces products that treat cardiovascular disease, and made both the monitor and the catheter. Part of the computer code written for the Vigilance monitor is the center of the lawsuit. Alleging that Edwards knew about a software error which might cause the catheter to overheat, Singh’s lawyers claim that Edwards didn’t warn hospitals of the hazards. The software problem was discovered in 1998 and a fix was developed in 1999. However, by 2003, Edwards had still not removed the useless piece of computer code.
The same problem occurred in Japan in 2002, in which the filament of the catheter began smoking while still outside a heart patient’s body. The hot end was removed by doctors who witnessed the catheter overheat.
- Edwards is also being sued by the hospital. Providence spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a three-year investigation to find out what went wrong, as well as court fees. However, Edwards contends the hospital shares some of the blame for using a defective cable in the operation and for having no procedures to inspect and replace these cables.
End Result
While Edwards “voluntarily” recalled thousands of Vigilance monitors in 2006, Singh’s tragedy didn’t have to happen. Even if Edwards’ scientists and engineers believed the faulty computer code probably wouldn’t hurt anyone, they knew it might. For a company who is supposed to be a leader in creating products that help people continue to live quality lives, it seems apparent that they should have known better.
Stories of people like Paramjit Singh give a face to disastrous events like this. How many other unsuspecting victims are there who don’t know what to do, or whose families don’t know where to turn? Going up against a billion dollar company, like Edwards, seems daunting, but there are lawyers out there who know how to give you a voice. If you feel that a defective product has caused you, or someone you know, harm, please contact an experienced injury lawyer who can help answer your questions.
