Recalled Medtronic SynchroMed Infusion Pumps With Product Defects Have Caused Catastrophic Injuries and Even Death Due To Medication Or Drug Overdoses
On February 17, 2011, Medtronic SynchroMed infusion pumps were recalled due to a design defect that led to refilling errors where doctors unknowingly missed the device and injected powerful drugs straight into patients bodies. That design defect led to hundreds of reported injuries from the Medtronic SynchroMed pump, including deaths.
In January, Medtronic, Inc. sent an “Urgent Medical Device Correction" letter to doctors, hospitals, and health care providers warning them that there was a problem with the pumps that allow a “pocket fill," of medication that could cause serious injury or death due to drug overdose. In that letter, Medtronic indicated that there had been at least 351 reports of pocket fill problems. Due to the machine's design defect, eight people have died and 270 people required emergency care due to serious or life threatening injuries. Additionally, there were approximately 73 other incidents in which there were non-life threatening injuries or Medtronic did not know the outcome after the error.
Medtronic estimates that approximately 1 in every 10,000 SynchroMed drug refill attempts by doctors or health care professionals cause a pocket fill. However, the actual rate of occurrence could be much higher because many medical mistakes are not reported.
The Pennsylvania defective product and Medtronic Pump lawyers of Reiff & Bily together with the legendary Beasley Philadelphia product liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice law firm has successfully represented the rights of injured consumers against some of the world's largest corporations and together have recovered awards on behalf of injured clients in excess of $2 billion dollars. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury and resulting damages as a result of a Medtronic Pump, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595.
