Medical devices give many patients a new lease on life, allowing them to retain their independence and live longer than might otherwise be possible. Unfortunately, there’s a growing list of medical devices that don’t work as intended — or don’t work at all. Some medical devices even malfunction within the body, exposing patients to severe pain or serious side effects that could seriously harm them in the long run. When companies make these devices defective out of carelessness or a cynical attempt to save a few dollars, patients have the right to strike back with a defective medical device lawsuit.

Like other consumer products, defective medical devices may be defective by design, by manufacture or by the manufacturer’s failure to warn customers of serious side effects. Unlike other consumer products, defective medical devices are used right next to the body, sometimes inside the body, which means fixing a problem is often harder than simply throwing the product away. In the case of one defective automatic defibrillator, patients were experiencing strong, unpredictable electrical shocks from a product implanted directly into their chests; many were shocked multiple times before they could remove the devices. Other types of potentially defective medical devices include:

• Pacemakers, endograft devices and defibrillators
• Artificial hips, knees and other joints
• Metal screws and plates in the body
• Intrauterine devices and other birth-control implants
• Pumps
• Breast implants and other cosmetic implants
• DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Lawyers

Panish Shea & Boyle is a national leader in defective products law. All three name partners have won multimillion-dollar judgments in cases involving defective autos, auto parts or helicopter parts. Partner Brian Panish has served on plaintiffs’ steering committees for two defective drug class actions. All together, the firm has won more than 150 verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more, including several that set new national records for their size.

Panish Shea & Boyle lawyers are consistently recognized for excellence in consumer law. Our attorneys have been repeatedly designated Super Lawyers, Who’s Who, Rising Stars and have been nominated multiple times for Trial Lawyer of the Year. All of our lawyers are active in professional legal organizations, and name partners frequently write and speak to other trial lawyers.