Cardiac issues are a leading cause of death in the United States. People may experience heart attacks or arrhythmia that put them in the hospital or worse. Medication is helpful in some cases, but chronic cardiac issues may require more invasive interventions that offer long-term solutions.
Those with significant heart health concerns may undergo surgical procedures to implant pacemakers. These devices help regulate the rhythm of the heart and also gather data to support future medical care.
Patients need to trust these devices with their lives. Unfortunately, not all of them work as intended consistently. When pacemakers fail due to defective design or manufacturing issues, patients could suffer life-altering consequences.
Pacemaker issues can cause emergencies
There are multiple well-established medical device manufacturers that produce pacemakers and similar cardiac implants. Sometimes, issues with quality control or design can lead to pacemakers failing or behaving in ways that put patients at risk. When manufacturers learn about issues with medical devices, they often initiate recalls to inform patients and medical professionals of the risks.
Product recalls usually result in patients receiving information about known defects, such as software problems and battery issues. They may then need to undergo revision procedures to repair or replace the defective pacemaker installed in their initial procedure. In some cases, patients do not receive timely notice about defects and recalls. Other times, they may experience medical events while waiting for a repair or replacement procedure.
In such cases, those harmed by defective medical devices may have grounds for a civil lawsuit. Reviewing medical records and information about a pacemaker defect with a skilled legal team can help patients or their family members demand justice in the civil courts.