Many pharmaceutical injury lawsuits are currently underway against Medtronic for their defective Sprint Fidelis leads. In 2007, the company voluntarily recalled their Sprint Fidelis lead after it was discovered that the product was prone to lead fractures.
The Sprint Fidelis leads are used in conjunction with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy-Defibrillators (CRT-Ds). The leads are supposed to deliver shocks to the defibrillators when needed for cardiac treatment. However, fractures in the leads cause them to either transmit unnecessary shocks to their patients or to fail to transmit shocks when appropriate.
Currently, five deaths have been linked to lead fractures in the Medtronic product. Many patients have suffered violent shocks and extreme pain from the defective leads misfiring inappropriately, while others live with the anxiety of knowing that their defibrillators have not worked when needed.
Plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that Medtronic is guilty of negligence in manufacturing a subpar product that is prone to fracture, and that they misrepresented the product by marketing it as safe. There have been more than 225 lawsuits filed against Medtronic to date. Many of them are class action cases.
Medtronic does not recommend replacing a defective lead with a new one, since the risks associated with replacement are greater than the risks of a lead fracture. However, if a Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead was installed with your defibrillator, you should contact your doctor immediately to make sure it has not fractured.
If you live in the Columbus, Ohio area and have suffered an injury as a result of a defective Sprint Fidelis lead, please contact the law offices of Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A. today to schedule a consultation.
