Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog

Evidence points to the fact that Johnson & Johnson knew there was a serious problem with their product, but rather than stopping distribution, they sold off what was left in their inventories.

According to a recent report by the New York Times, in 2009, executives from Johnson & Johnson decided to “phase out” a defective hip implant and sell off what was already manufactured, just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration asked the company for added safety data about the implant. At the time, the FDA also alerted the company to the fact that blood tests of some recipients of the implant showed a "high concentration of metal ions" that it found to be "concerning." Nevertheless, the company continued to peddle its stockpile.

Johnson & Johnson is an American pharmaceutical and cosmetic conglomerate that disseminates packaged goods across more than 175 countries. DePuy Orthopedics is the devision of Johnson & Johnson responsible for manufacturing the implants in question. Johnson & Johnson is the largest healthcare company in the world, and has approximately 250 subsidiary companies, which include numerous household-known brand names of medications, first-aid supplies, toiletries, and beauty products.

Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary companies, sells products to the public. As a result, their customers have an inherent right to expect that products and medical devices distributed by the company are safe. Under Illinois product liability law, when dangerous or defective products are sold to consumers and those products cause injury, illness, death, or any other kind of harm to the customer, the producer of the good may be held legally responsible for the injury and may be required to pay for damages caused by the injury. The liability is compounded when the company manufacturing the defective good is aware of the problem, but fails to do anything about it or continues to sell it to the public. That’s exactly what happened here.

When the FDA sent its letter to officials at Johnson & Johnson, the agency privately announced that it would reject the corporation’s application to sell the artificial joint in the U.S., and that agency reviewers had found problems with study data submitted by DePuy to support its claim that the artificial hip was safe and effective, reported the New York Times.

Despite the fact that the Food and Drug Administration had expressed concerns about the implants in 2009, it was not until August of 2010 that DePuy recalled the devices. The New York Times reports that, in the meantime, prior to the recall, executives for Johnson & Johnson devised a plan to “phase out” the problematic products as they depleted their inventory.

Ultimately, late in 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics issued a voluntary recall of their hip replacement systems after studies found that many patients who received these hip implants suffered from symptoms including pain, swelling, and difficulty walking, and had to undergo a revision surgery to correct painful issues with the implants.

Flaws in the design of the product were responsible for the painful and debilitating symptoms in the hip implant systems. Problems with the device occur either when the implant becomes loosened from the bone, or when the implant becomes dislocated or fractured, causing ball and socket components in the implant rub against each other and become damaged over time. When this occurs, metal particles are released into the bloodstream and some patients may suffer a reaction to the particles, causing fluid build-up around muscles and joints. The resulting accumulation can lead to swelling, pain, and may damages nerves, muscles, joints and bones in the area of the hip implant.

According to the New York Times’ report, in an eight-year period, more than 93,000 patients worldwide received the defective model – approximately one-third of them in this country. Moreover, according to the DePuy Orthopaedics website, one in eight patients who received the defective hip replacement product needed a second surgery.

Illinois product liability law holds manufacturers of products liability for the goods they produce and distribute to the public. Companies are responsible for testing their merchandise prior to putting it the market for public use, and ensuring that the goods are safe for consumer use. When customers put their trust in the hands of companies who manufacture medical devices and supplies, they have the right to expect a safe, effective product that won’t leave them worse off from its use.

Chicago product liability lawsuits can be brought against medical device manufacturers such as DePuy Orthopaedics for their negligence in designing a defective product. If you or a loved one received a DePuy ASR System hip implant and underwent further surgery, or if other injuries or medical complications arose, you may be able to seek compensation for pain, suffering, lost wages and medical expenses. Contact an attorney to be apprised of your rights under the law.

Once again, Johnson & Johnson, the American pharmaceutical and medical device conglomerate, is the subject of yet more instances of defective products.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the latest scare came to light when investigations found that Johnson & Johnson continued to sell their Animas brand of insulin pumps after learning of malfunctions with the devices that later prompted them to make design changes. Despite known failures, defective products made their way into the hands of consumers who were injured as a result.

Customers have an inherent right to expect that products and medical devices they use are safe. When dangerous or defective products are sold to consumers and those products cause injury, illness, death, or any other kind of harm to the customer, the producer of the good may be held legally responsible for the injury and may be required to pay for damages caused by the injury. Moreover, in some cases, Illinois personal injury law affords the opportunity for the trier of fact to award punitive damages, or damages that send a message to companies to be more careful when manufacturing their products.

Johnson & Johnson is an American pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturer that disseminates packaged goods sold in more than 175 countries. The corporation is the largest healthcare company in the world, and has approximately 250 subsidiary companies, which include numerous household-known brand names of medications, first-aid supplies, toiletries, and beauty products.

In 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, issued a voluntary recall of two of their hip replacement systems, after studies found that many patients who received these DePuy hip implants suffered from symptoms including pain, swelling, and difficulty walking, and had to undergo a revision surgery to correct painful issues with the implants. Moreover, according to the DePuy Orthopaedics website, one in eight patients who received the defective hip replacement product, needed a second surgery.

When interviewed last year about the Johnson & Johnson hip replacement systems, our Chicago personal injury attorney Steve Levin said, "clients who have problems may have to undergo revision surgeries. The redo can present problems as well. It doesn’t always work and it has a greater chance of failure. A person who could have a lifetime of pain," says Levin.

When products are recalled from the market, the intention is to protect customers from potential harm caused by defective or dangerous products. Essentially, the idea is to prevent more pain and suffering on the part of the consumers. Nevertheless, the company may be held responsible, and the situation may give rise to an Illinois personal injury lawsuit.

Illinois products liability law holds manufacturers of products liability for the goods they produce and distribute to the public. Companies are responsible for testing their merchandise prior to putting it the market for public consumption, and ensuring that the goods are safe for consumer use.

When customers put their trust in the hands of companies who manufacture medical devices and supplies, they have the right to expect a safe, effective product that won’t leave them worse off from its use.

Many readers of our Illinois personal injury lawyer blog are well appraised of the DePuy hip recall that was issued last August in response to growing evidence that the metal-on-metal devices were a danger to patients who had received them. Recently, national regulators have begun questioning the safety of all similar hip implants, including those not manufactured by DePuy. Specifically, according to an NPR story, last month the United States Food and Drug Administration asked at least twenty manufacturers to conduct more throughout analysis of the safety of their metal-on-metal hip implants. The FDA is specifically asking these companies to report more detailed information on how long the hips last and the side-effects that some patients are experiencing.

The instigation for this new call was likely the growing list of complaints that the body has received from patients of all stripes who have suffered complications following their hip replacement surgery.

While metal-on-metal implants have made headlines for their potential problems over the past year, hip implants come in a variety of forms. Many other versions use ceramics, plastics, and metal in various ways to help replace the ball and socket of a hip. The metal-on-metal devices have posed particular problems because of wear on the metal in the rubbing between the two parts of the device. The main issue is the increasing risk that the device will let loose small metal particles into the patient’s body—including the surrounding tissue and bloodstream. Various complications exist when that happens. The metal particles could cause infection, necrosis, and allergic problems. In the worst cases, enough metal is released to affect a patient’s heart and neurological system.

All those who have had hip replacements should be aware of warning signs. Medical professionals urge these individuals to pay attention to numbing or swelling around the area of the implant. If changes are noticed it is important to visit with a doctor to ensure that no long term complications develop.

Continue reading "FDA Requests More Information on Defectively Designed DePuy Hip Implants" »

News about the defective hip implants given to patients by the DePuy company continues to roll in. This week the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging heard testimony on the Depuy recall as well as other medical device problems and complications. Mass Device reports that the hearing was part of a larger investigation by the federal legislative body into the approval process currently available for medical devices and the effect that process has on overall patient safety. As the DePuy hip recall made clear, devices that are rushed to the market and given to unsuspecting medical patients pose huge risks that circumvent the very purpose of the regulatory process.

The hearing put Johnson & Johnson--the parent company of DePuy--in the middle of the federal investigation evaluating that medical device approval process. Besides hearing from those executives, the committee was briefed on the situation by one of the victims of the recall—many Illinois patients found themselves in a similar circumstance to the victim who attended the hearing.

Following the first-hand account of hardship, a national researcher discussed her new data which indicates that there are more recalls of devices that are approved through the 510(k) pre-market notification program. The less stringent alternative process allows devices to reach consumers sooner abrogating many of the usual requirements of the Food and Drug Administration’s more comprehensive PMA protocol.

The subcommittee holding the hearing explained, “Internal reviews by FDA officials and other outside sources have found troubling lapses in the procedures by which a number of medical devices were approved. The results of these investigations caused procedural and management changes to be implemented at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health in recent months.”

Continue reading " Senate Holds Hearing to Investigate Defective DePuy Hip Implants" »

Stories of hardship and suffering of those who were given defective DePuy hips implants continue to be heard across the country. The State Journal-Register recently shared the story of one Illinois hip recall victim whose life has been turned upside down by the medical device problem.

The 58 year old construction worker loves horseback riding and water skiing. However, it’s unclear whether he will ever be able to do those things again. His problems began last year when the Illinois victim had hip revision surgery in early March. Later that year he had blood tests performed which indicated dangerous levels of chromium in his bloodstream.

The metal particles had entered his body from the DePuy hip implant that he had gotten the previous March. The metal-on-metal device has since been discovered to have caused dangerous complications in thousands of patients who received the product.

The Illinois victim ultimately required a second hip implant operation—a dangerous revision surgery that itself poses complication risks. He is now unable to put any weight on that side of his body. The man hopes to attend therapy, but he must wait a few more weeks before further medical tests are taken to understand the best way to begin therapy.

The DePuy hip implants problem was uncovered last year, prompting the official recall in August of 2010. However, complaints about the devices go back to 2005. Nearly 100,000 patients received the specific metal-on-metal implant in question in the six years it was used. At least 12,000 of those patients will likely face severe complications as the device fails, requiring corrective surgery. Many of those patients may not be aware of their risk.

The failure of the devices caused metallic particles to be released in patient bodies. The particles then may enter the bloodstream ultimately risking a range of problems from deafness and dementia to heart failure. The consequences cannot be overstated.

Continue reading "Defective DePuy Hip Implants Continue to Affect Illinois Victims" »

WHEC.com recently announced a DePuy hip replacement recall lawsuit was filed by a man who required a second hip replacement surgery only a year and a half after the man received his hip replacement made by DePuy Orthopaedics. The man received a hip implant made of cobalt and chromium, but the metal rubbed together and the metal shavings made their way into his blood stream. He suffered from inflammation and muscle atrophy before receiving a letter informing him about the hip replacement product recall. The plaintiff’s DePuy hip recall lawyer said that the company wanted to continue to make money off of the hip implants as long as they could. As a result, a lot of people have received further injuries from the faulty hip implant and required multiple surgeries. More than 100,000 faulty hips were implanted worldwide. Accordingly, multiple DePuy hip product liability lawsuits are being filed across the country.

The hip replacement product recall was announced in August 2010 when DePuy Orthopaedics announced a voluntary recall of two hip replacement systems, the ASR XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR Hip Replacement System. Studies involving the faulty hip implants found that many patients who received the DePuy hip implants suffer from pain, swelling, and difficulty walking in addition to other symptoms. Many have required revision surgery to correct painful issues with the implants. If you or a loved one received a DePuy hip implant and underwent further surgery or experienced other complications, contact an experienced products liability lawyer at Levin & Perconti at 877-374-1417 to discuss your legal options.

Read more about the DePuy product liability lawsuit at WHEC.com.

Nationwide, many product liability lawsuits have been filed alleging defects and flaws with the prosthetic hip devices. The multi-million dollar product liability lawsuits filed show that too many patients - upwards of 13,000 patients – have either reported problems with their prosthetic hip device or risk experiencing pain and failure far sooner than the normal lifespan of hip replacements would ordinarily suggest. Historically, hip replacements have been expected to last up to 20 years. But, the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System was recalled last year when reports indicated that one of every eight DePuy hip implant patients required revision surgery within five years of receiving the DePuy system.

The DePuy product liability victims have reported pain, infection, and mobility issues with the failing hip replacement system. Additionally, the DePuy hip replacement recall lawsuits are alleging that metal debris originating from the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System leave metal debris that can introduce toxic levels of metals, such as chromium and cobalt, into patients’ surrounding bone, tissue, and bloodstream. As one hip recall plaintiff stated, the recall has “come too late for thousands of Americans…who will now live with the consequences of these faulty devices for years, if not the rest of their lives.” Litigants point out that DePuy began receiving adverse reaction reports as far back as 2007, but waited three years to pull the trigger on the DePuy hip replacement recall. One attorney indicated that his clients who have had DePuy hips replaced as soon as a year or two following the original surgery.

DePuy product recall victims have been affected by this recall in Illinois. Chicago personal injury attorney Steve Levin was recently interviewed about DePuy hip replacement lawsuits. Follow the link to Lawyers and Settlements to read more about the DePuy product recall allegations.

When Johnson & Johnson recently announced its earnings for this quarter earlier this week, an important point highlighted was that it included a charge of $922 million to cover DePuy hip recall litigation costs and potential product liability lawsuit settlements. Following last year’s DePuy hip replacement product recall, Johnson & Johnson and their subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics face an increasing number of product liability lawsuits over DePuy ASR hip replacements. The DePuy hip implants were linked to a higher than usual failure rate within a few years of the implant, often requiring additional revision surgery.

Johnson & Johnson’s recent earnings report demonstrated a significant drop and his earnings were greatly affected by the DePuy hip recall litigation set aside. The set aside amount of almost $1 billion will cover only some of the company’s anticipated DePuy hip lawsuit settlement costs, litigation defense expenses, and other DePuy hip recall costs. It is expected that thousands of cases will be involved in the product liability litigation as DePuy hip recall lawyers continue to investigate claims and file new claims for individuals who received one of the defective hip implants. Experts estimate that the drug company will eventually have to pay out much more than the $922 million it set aside to address the claims filed by people who face a risk of DePuy hip complications.

Continue reading "DePuy hip implant recall leads to millions set aside for potential settlements" »

Recent news about hips have addressed DePuy Hip Implant recalls, but this article and research study is about a different issue regarding broken hips. So, medical studies have demonstrated that suffering a stroke is already known to increase the risk of breaking one’s hip. Now, new research hints that the reverse of the previous studies might also be true. A recent study has found that individuals with broken hips had more than a fifty percent increased risk of having a stroke within a year of their injury when compared to similar patients with no such fractures. However, the new research finding is not enough to be one hundred percent certain that hip fractures, which account for greater than 320,000 hospital admissions each year in our country, may actually cause a stroke. This finding has important ramifications as the nation’s third leading cause of death.

Continue reading "Broken hip related to heightened risk of stroke" »

Another DePuy hip lawsuit has been filed and more are likely to join it as DePuy patients experience failure of their faulty DePuy hip implant device. Most recently, the DePuy product liability lawsuit was filed on behalf of a man who received one of the DePuy Orthopaedics hip devices that was eventually subject to the product recall. The DePuy hip implant lawsuit requests that the defendants pay the cost of removing the faulty DePuy hip device and further requests that defendants cover all consequential damages caused by the DePuy hip implant.

The DePuy hip implant plaintiff alleges that the defendants knew or should have known about the defective hip implants. The patient received the hip implant in April 2009, roughly sixteen months before the DePuy ASR hip implants were recalled due to a high failure rate. What prompted the recall is the short life of the hip implants – although most hip implant devices are expected to last 15-20 years, around 12 percent of patients receiving the DePuy ASR hip implant experienced failure in less than five years. Failure like these often require revision surgery and each revision surgery is more complex than the last and carries a higher risk of complications. Further complicating these revision surgeries is that debris can come loose from the DePuy hip device and can be absorbed by surrounding tissue. The condition, called metallosis, can cause the surrounding tissue to die and can lead to the failure of the hip implant. Product liability lawsuits filed so far have involved these complications from the hip implants.

Read more about the recently filed DePuy hip implant lawsuit by following the link.

Recently released data from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales shows that women are more likely than men to require a second hip replacement surgery after receiving one of the recalled DePuy hip device. As our readers are well-aware, DePuy recalled its ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacements in August 2010 after the devices were linked to higher than normal failure rates. Now, a recent study found that the hip size of the receiving patient also plays a role in how soon a revision surgery may be required. The risk of revision is highest in patients who have ASR femoral head sizes below 50 mm in diameter, which affected mostly female patients.

The recalled DePuy hip implants had been sold internationally for more than six years and more than 90,000 people have undergone hip replacement surgeries with the ASR hip systems. Common complications associated with the recalled hip placements include a loosening of the implant with the body, bone fracture near the implant site, dislocation of the implant that causes a misalignment of hip components and metallosis, a condition caused by the metal-on-metal rubbing of the recalled hip implant. One in every eight DePuy hip replacement patients, an outstanding number, will need to undergo revision surgery within five years of the original operation.

Continue reading "DePuy hip devices’ failure rate may be higher in women" »

A voluntary product recall that was all over the news from DePuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, involved two of its DePuy hip replacement implants. Its website states that data received by the company shows that more people than expected who received the ASR Hip System experienced pain or other problems. The two recalled hip replacement systems are the ASR XL Acetabular System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System.

Continue reading "DePuy hip replacement lawsuits coming" »

As our readers are aware, DePuy Orthopedics issued a product recall for two of its metal-on-metal hip implant devices due to a device malfunction causing a high rate of revision surgeries and metal debris from the devices’ components spreading throughout a patient’s body. Studies confirm that any individual who has received one of these hip replacements have a potential DePuy hip replacement lawsuit against DePuy. In an effort to limit DePuy’s exposure and figure out how many potential product liability claims exist, DePuy has encouraged patients to sign consent forms, which provide DePuy the opportunity to obtain valuable information about that individual patient’s case before a product liability lawsuit is filed. In many situations, DePuy has actually sent form letters to the orthopedic physicians who have performed the surgeries in order for the doctors to send the letter to their patients.

The form letters sent to patients who received DePuy hip implants request patients to contact DePuy in order to obtain a claim number and consent form for patients to sign. In some particular instances, the treating surgeon has ‘required’ their patients to contact DePuy in order to get a claim number before the surgeon agrees to see their patient for a follow-up appointment. However, patients must be aware that if they sign this consent form and subsequently decide to purse a product liability lawsuit against DePuy, they may have negatively affected their claims. However, they can revoke their consent at any time by notifying in writing the person or organization that provided the consent form. DePuy is working with Broadspire to obtain consent forms, but these provide little in return and should be avoided.

See our related blog posts:

Important Information for DePuy Hip Implant Patients

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers are very familiar with the faulty DePuy hip implants and found it interesting to learn that the first DePuy hip implant lawsuit was filed in Hawaii this week. A 51 year-old woman has filed a DePuy product liability lawsuit over problems she is having with the recalled DePuy implant. The woman had surgery in August 2009 to replace her left hip; she started feeling pain only three months later.

According to the product liability plaintiff, the hip implant hurt significantly, causing her to be unable to stand or sit up on a chair without pain. She added that she required medication in order to sleep at night. As our readers are aware, DePuy issued a preoduct recall for their hip implant in August of this year. The DePuy hip replacement lawsuit plaintiff is having replacement surgery next month to replace the recalled implant.

The product was recalled after data showed that an outstanding 1 in 8 patients who received the implants needed corrective surgeries within five years. The devices were expected to last 15 years before needing correction or replacement. Almost 100,000 patients worldwide have received the faulty recalled implant. The hip implant is not durable because the metal ball-and-socket joint wears prematurely, creating debris that can cause damage to the surrounding bone and tissue.

Click the link to read more about the DePuy hip implant lawsuit.

With the recent blogs about the DuPuy hip implant recalls, the Chicago product liability lawyers at Levin & Perconti found some pertinent articles on other hip implant concerns. Earlier this year, in March 2010, The New York Times addressed metal on metal hip implants. Some orthopedic surgeons have cut or completed stopped using the popular artificial hips after concerns raised that the devices cause severe tissue and bone damage in some patients. When the tissue and bone damage occurs, the hip replacement requires revision surgery within a year or two. Metal on metal hip implants have become widely used with the belief that they would be more durable than prior types of plants. One orthopedic surgeon reported that they have seen soft-tissue destruction and destruction of bone from the faulty metal on metal hip implants. These artificial hips, intended to last 15 years or more, need early replacement far more frequently for reasons like dislocation than because of problems caused by metallic debris. Surgeons say that when medical particles are the culprit, procedures to replace the devices can be far more complex and can leave some patients with significant complications. Doctors have been injured to use the metal on metal devices only with great caution, if at all.

Recently, in August 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, issued a voluntary product recall for their hip replacement systems, the ASR XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. DePuy issued the DePuy hip implant product recall after studies found that patients who had received the hip implants suffered from collateral symptoms such as swelling and difficulty walking and often had to undergo revision surgery.

Follow the link to the New York Times to read more about the metal on metal hip implants.

Another DuPuy hip implant product liability lawsuit has been filed in federal court. According to the NBALaw Blog, a DePuy hip implant lawyer filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court on behalf of an elderly woman who was implanted with a recalled DePuy hip replacement system. DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, announced a worldwide product recall of its ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System after reports surfaced indicating that systems were failing at a higher than expected rate. A study revealed that 1 out of every 8 patients who had been implanted with a recalled Dupuy hip device had to have revision surgery within five years. That is 12-13% of the individuals who received the DePuy hip implants.

The product recall involved the ASR hip systems that may loosen or dislocate after implantation, which causes pain, fracture, swelling, and less mobility in the patient who received the DePuy hip implant. The ASR system utilizes a ball and socket component that moves against one another. The metal on metal contact, over time, may cause metal debris and could result in damage to the bone, soft tissue, and nerves.

Product liability lawsuits may be brought against medical device manufacturers such as DePuy Orthopaedics for their apparent negligence in designing this defective product that has caused one out of every eight patients to require revision surgery. If you or a loved one has received a DePuy ASR System hip implant and required further surgery or have suffered other personal injuries or medical complications arose, you may be able to seek compensation for pain, suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. The Chicago DePuy hip implant recall lawyers at Levin & Perconti can help.

More information about the recently filed DePuy hip implant lawsuit is available by following the link.

The Wisconsin Law Journal reports today that the number of class-action and individual civil lawsuits over DePuy Orthopaedics hip implants are on the rise. One DePuy hip recall lawyer estimates that there will be over 4,000 lawsuits filed against the negligent manufacturer whose faulty medical devices have failed at a very high rate.

In August, DePuy Orthopaedics recalled its ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems after a British study revealed that one in eight patients who had the ASR hip implants had to undergo a second revision surgery to correct painful issues with the DePuy implant. Many patients suffer severe pain and difficulty walking because the metal components of the device are prone to rubbing together and causing tiny particles of metal to be released into the tissue surrounding the hip as the metal wears. In addition to the pain caused by the defective hip implant, recipients are also forced to endure the significant risks and long recovery associated with a second surgery.

Many of lawsuits already filed allege that DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson corporation, were aware of the device's high rate of failure early on but did not recall the product or notify physicians in a timely manner. As a result, over 93,000 hip implants were used on patients.

Our Chicago injury lawyers will continue to keep readers posted on developments surrounding the DePuy hip implant lawsuits. We believe that is important to make patients and families aware of the ongoing issues with DePuy hip replacements systems and also hope that the corporation is held accountable for the negligent design of the device.

If you or a loved one suffered complications or were forced to undergo a revision surgery as the result of a faulty DePuy hip implant, you may be entitled to recover damages for medical bills, lost income and your pain and suffering. Since 1992, Levin & Perconti has represented victims injured or killed by faulty medical devices and consumer products and can help you seek justice. Contact us to speak with an experienced injury attorney in a free and confidential consultation.

As we have reported, a number of patients who received DePuy Orthopaedics ASR Hip implants are now coming forward to seek justice for the pain, suffering and expenses they experienced due to faulty artificial hips. According to a report by Bloomberg News, by the end of 2008, DePuy and its parent company Johnson & Johnson had received 300 complaints of implant failure, however the company did not recall the ASR XL Acetabular or ASR Hip Resurfacing systems until August 26, 2010. Over 93,000 patients received ASR hip implants, and a British study found that one in eight patients required corrective surgery to relieve pain and difficulties walking.

This massive medical device recall will certainly leave many patients wondering what they should do. It is important for victims to realize that corporations can be held accountable for negligent design, manufacturing or marketing of a product or device. Victims who suffered pain and the risks and rehabilitation associated with a second revision surgery can take measures to be compensated for their pain, their suffering, their loss of income and their medical bills. Contact a DePuy hip implant attorney if you or a loved one experienced injury because of a faulty hip replacement system.

In the wake of a voluntary product recall on August 26, DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of health care giant Johnson & Johnson, is now facing a number of class action and individual lawsuits surrounding the ASR XL Acetabular System for hip replacements. The Champaign News-Gazette reports that 13 recipients of the hip implants in Illinois have sued the manufacturer after having to endure unnecessary pain, complications and corrective surgeries that required ongoing rehabilitation.

According to the DePuy Orthopaedics website, one in eight patients who received the ASR hip replacement have had to go back under the knife for a revision surgery. Hip replacement surgeries typically require extensive recovery and rehabilitation and many of the Depuy hip implant recipients must endure this process twice because of the faulty design of the metal hip implant.

The article notes that doctors at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign performed almost 300 hip replacement surgeries using the DePuy hip systems. A hospital spokeswoman said that ten percent of these patients were forced to endure a correctional surgery. A physician at the hospital recalls that the DePuy system was widely used when it was first developed because it was metal and thought to be more durable. However, two years later, he began to see a pattern of issues and discontinued use of the DePuy hip implant system.

In these cases, the root of the problem was the design of the device. Metal particles from the implant can rub off of the device over time, causing damage to the tissues surrounding the implant. When this occurs, patients experience pain and difficulty walking.

When manufacturers create faulty products and injuries occur, it is crucial that companies are held accountable for their negligence in the design, marketing and manufacturing of defective medical devices and consumer products. If you or a loved one suffered further injuries or complications due to the defective DePuy hip system, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering, economic losses or medical bills. Contact Levin & Perconti to discuss your potential case with a DePuy hip implant lawyer by phone at 877-374-1417 or by completing our online contact form. We have represented victims injured by defective medical devices and products and can help you receive fair and reasonsable compensation.

http://www.levinperconti.com/lawyer-attorney-1668889.htmlThe USA Today recently revealed a hip replacement product recall that may affect many consumers. Johnson & Johnson’s artificial joint business DePuy Orthopaedics issued a hip replacement product recall of the ASR™ XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. The recall comes only two days after the government warned that Johnson & Johnson has been illegally marketing two other products, marking the eleventh Johnson & Johnson product recall since September 2009.

The DePuy hip implant recall is being issued because data that is about to be released showed higher-than-expected rates of patients needing a second hip replacement procedure after receiving the ASR™ XL Acetabular System or DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. This is a big issue because hip replacement is a major surgical procedure where the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant. Recovery generally takes two to four weeks to walk with a cane and four to six weeks to walk unassisted. Here, with these artificial hip replacements, one in eight patients will need a revision surgery within five years. That is required when an artificial joint does not fit perfectly, causing pain and difficulty walking.

Johnson & Johnson earlier issued a product recall of millions of Acuvue TruEye contact lenses sold in Asia and Europe because some users complained of stinging or pain when they inserted the lenses. Johnson & Johnson remains under scrutiny by the FDA, Congress, and federal prosecutors over eight previous U.S. recalls of nonprescription medicines since last September, including millions of bottles of Tylenol, pain relievers, and cold medicines for children and adults.

To read more about the DePuy hip replacement product recall, visit USAToday.com. If you believe that you or a loved one may have suffered injuries because of a faulty DePuy hip replacement device, contact a Chicago injury lawyer at Levin & Perconti. We have experience representing victims who have suffered injuries or death due to poorly- designed and poorly-manufactured medical devices, and may be able to help you recover damages for lost wages, pain, suffering, disfigurement and medical bills. All consultations are free and confidential, and there are no fees unless we successfully resolve your case.