DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement System, Lawsuits and Compensation

In the late 19th century, DePuy Orthopaedics manufactured splints using synthetic material instead of wooden splints typically used to set fractures. Throughout the next 115 years, the company built its reputation as an innovator in the medical device industry, and solidified through the company’s acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in 1998. The benefit of having a huge corporation with a good financial investment was given to DePuy Orthopaedics after it was purchased by Johnson & Johnson on 1998. A few years later, the company faced litigation directed at its Pinnacle hip replacement system just after a few years its ASR hip replacement system was recalled. The medical world was quite affected with these medical device issues that doctors are now trying to avoid hip replacement through proper joint alignment.

Multiple problems associated with the DePuy Pinnacle system keep on growing. Over 1,300 complaints have been received by the FDA regarding the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement. Although the majority of these complaints focus on the premature loosening of the device, more disturbing news was claimed by the New York Times report that metal-on-metal devices such as Pinnacle carry the increased risk of metal toxicity in recipients due to constant friction of the metal components releasing metal particles into the soft tissue surrounding the device or into the bloodstream. This is a risk that medical device manufacturers like DePuy did not account for.

In order to protect people from harm caused by defective products, a product liability law became possible. Large companies such as DePuy Orthopaedics are too concerned with making a profit and overlook the safety of their products. Subsequently, people get injured, and the companies are faced with the consequences of their negligence in the form of expensive lawsuits.

A number of different theories could be used by recipients of defective Pinnacle devices to make their claim. As regard metal toxicity, plaintiffs could claim that DePuy failed to adequately warn patients of the risk when the product hit the market. Reports of the device failing due to premature loosening indicate DePuy’s negligence in establishing that the product was durable enough to meet industry standards. Despite the fact that DePuy has yet to implement a Pinnacle recall, there are many possible bases for a Pinnacle lawsuit.

Pursuing a case against DePuy through filing a DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement lawsuit is an option of patients experiencing pain or symptoms of metal toxicity may have.

References:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/28/health/alignment-hip-replacements-pack/index.html?eref=rss_health&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_health+%28RSS%3A+Health%29