Medical science, coupled with space age materials, has been making replacements for ever more delicate parts of the body. When these medical devices are well manufactured and installed properly, they add years of life and a range of mobility or function to a person.
However, when a medical device fails from a defect or a surgery gone awry, they become cruel torturous sources of pain and injury. It takes no small amount of effort to determine if the problems with a medical device come from a defect or installation.
That’s why it’s important to reach out to skilled medical malpractice attorneys to investigate the matter. Not just of yourself, but for others. A bad surgery hurts a smaller number of people than a widespread defect and it’s important to know which is which sooner than later.
Medical Device Defects
Not all medical devices are replacement parts or intrusive. The majority of medical devices in a hospital are used for diagnostics and testing purposes.
When these devices produce bad data, it leads to bad decisions. Bad decisions result in injury and grind years off a patient’s life and well-being.
Manufacturers bear a responsibility to craft devices to specifications and according to regulations. When they cut corners in terms of materials, quality control, or production speeds, they put the public at risk.
Implanted devices need to work hold up for their specified lifecycle to avoid patients requiring additional surgeries for removing and implanting. They also need to avoid degrading and deteriorating. It doesn’t take much in the way of foreign materials floating in the body to cause major issues.
Implantation Issues
Before a device is implanted it needs to be in good working order and to be sterile. This includes the external housing and any internal parts.
While the external components can become contaminated by the surgical theater or hospital environment, the internal parts are the responsibility of the manufacturer. When facilities get sloppy infections, fevers, and worse are the result for patients.
The surgical team needs to provide monitoring and after care to head-off any problems with rejection and to ensure good working order of the device.
Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the hospital to keep detailed records on all serial numbers of implanted devices and to swiftly contact all patients in the event of a recall or known issue coming to light.
Use and Consent
Finally, doctors have a duty to instruct a patient on the proper use and care of a medical device. These include instruction on how to spot and report problems with function and discomfort.
Where multiple items are available, full disclosure of the pros and cons of each device is necessary to establish informed consent. After a selection, it is also crucial that the right device be implanted and not mismatched to a bookkeeping error.
Get Representation
Medical malpractice is a costly issue for the health care industry and the lives of patients. The public trust that medical devices will not cause more problems than they are intended to solve.
If you’ve been injured by a medical device or misdiagnosis, get help by contacting us immediately. We’re here to help.
