RECALLED MEDTRONIC INSULIN PUMPS – WHAT THEY KNEW, WHEN THEY KNEW IT

Recalls seem to be all over the news from children’s toys that can cause choking hazards to car parts that can crack and lead to accidents. However, these important notices shouldn’t be ignored or put off, especially if it involves a medical device that you are using on a daily basis. Recently, several models of Medtronic insulin pumps were recalled and failure to correct this problem could lead to serious injuries or even death for diabetic patients.

WHAT THEY KNEW

MiniMed insulin pumps are about the size of a small cell phone and are usually worn on a belt or stored in a pocket. This device is necessary for certain diabetes patients because it delivers much needed insulin to keep the body working properly. Unfortunately, incident reports have been filed alerting that many patients are experiencing infusion set tubing blockages which can deliver too much or not enough insulin. The wrong insulin levels can cause fainting, seizures, a coma or even death. This has caused the FDA to issue a Class 1 recall which is the most urgent.

WHEN THEY KNEW IT

On September 12, 2017, the FDA announced that Medtronic is conducting a voluntary recall of specific lots of infusion sets used with all models of Medtronic insulin pumps. However, this is hardly the first time Medtronic has been in the news for faulty insulin pumps.

In 2009, Medtronic was required to perform its first recall by the FDA of its Quick-set infusion sets because these models were known to deliver improper insulin doses. In 2013, Medtronic issued another recall, this time for The SynchroMed II and SynchroMed EL Implantable Drug Infusion Pumps. Additionally, the FDA wrote a warning letter to Medtronic stating that their quality control inspection did not pass and that there were many violations committed in their factory.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Medtronic is no stranger to the legal system. Over the last five years they have been taken to court many times on behalf of injured patients and families whose loved ones have died due to malfunctioning insulin pumps. If you or a loved one suffered from hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, other diabetic related injuries or death because of a faulty Medtronic insulin pump, you may be able to make a legal claim against Medtronic. For years they have been distributing problematic devices that have caused life threatening injuries. Contact us today to see if you are entitled to financial compensation to help pay for your medical bills, lost wages and other fees you may have accumulated.

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