Godosky & Gentile, P.C. Attorneys at Law

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Could my hip replacement qualify as a product liability case?

On Behalf of | Feb 11, 2015 | Products Liability

When people hear that products are faulty or defective, either by design or manufacturing mistake, they will likely wonder what products such terminology applies to. It may sound too good to be true, but the fact is that almost any product could be grounds for a product liability case as long as a fault or defect in the product has caused you harm. This applies even to medical devices such as pacemakers or metal hip replacements. As inhabitants of one of the largest cities in the country, there are undoubtedly many New Yorkers who make use of such medical devices.

While metal hip replacements gained popularity because they were stronger than hip replacements that were made of plastic or ceramic, a condition called metallosis has caused many manufacturers to reconsider the metal option. Metallosis occurs when the metallic components of the product grind together and the debris contaminates the body. This contamination can cause severe pain and blood poisoning, and should immediately be treated by a doctor. You can read more about metal hip replacements in this article.

Because of how serious the metallosis problem is, there are many precedents of lawsuits being filed by injured parties. In fact, one manufacturer of these parts, DePuy, has been the subject of more than 10,000 lawsuits. Of course, in these lawsuits, it is still the responsibility of the plaintiff to prove that a flawed design caused the injuries, or that they were not adequately warned by manufacturers about the potential dangers.

If you have been injured because of a faulty or defective medical device, consider meeting with an attorney. Not only could you be compensated for your injuries because of the product liability, you could also have a medical malpractice case on your hands depending on the circumstances.