Guidant Defibrillator
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 415
On July 18, 2005, Guidant Corporation voluntarily recalled certain pacemakers manufactured between November 25, 1997 and October 26, 2000 due to a potential leak in a seal within the device leaking, thereby allowing moisture to affect the electronic circuits. Also certain defibrillator models were recalled. These devices can develop an internal short circuit without warning, resulting in failure to deliver a shock when needed.
Guidant Corporation has recalled 88,000 defibrillators and recalled or issued safety warning for more than 200,000 pacemakers. Recipients of these implanted devices being recalled were notified of the problem. Thousands have undergone surgery to replace the defective device.
Currently more than 100 class-action and individual lawsuits are pending against these manufactures. Part of the claim for damages against the manufactures allegedly rose from their failure to notify physicians and patients of these problems as well as other timeliness issues.
"Newly unsealed court documents show Guidant Corp, drafted a letter warning doctors of a dangerous electrical malfunction in some of its devices designed to restore a normal heartbeat, but the letter was never sent. The company sent a routine "product update" after learning of a short-circuiting problem which occurred in two defibrillator models - a flaw that could prevent a device from delivering a potentially lifesaving shock to the heart."
Guidant offers they were concerned in creating undue alarm which could potentially lead to surgical removal of the implants.
Guidant Defibrillator article.