Here in the United States, we praise the work of modern medicine and trust the manufacturers of medical supplies as well as the doctors responsible for our health. What happens when that trust is breached and a defective medical device is used within our bodies? Just ask the thousands of individuals that claim the Johnson & Johnson DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System are responsible for their injuries sustained after receiving the hip implant.
Johnson & Johnson recently agreed to settle these lawsuits brought against them for $4 billion. The settlement has been in the works for some time now, with the product recall occurring in 2010, and the New York Times reporting on the rising complaints of injured patients in 2011. Patients who received the replacement experienced damaged tissue and other crippling injuries caused by the shedding of the metal device’s metallic debris. And as if the medical bills, pain, and suffering were not enough the first time, many patients were forced to return to their doctors for a second replacement in less than five years.
An estimated 93,000 patients received the ASR devices manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Of those, 7,500 existing lawsuits are estimated to be resolved by this recent $4 billion settlement. This settlement does not prohibit those patients whose artificial hips have yet to become defective, either. If you have received one of the ASR implants and sustain an injury as a result of the device in the future, you will be entitled to compensation from Johnson & Johnson separate from this settlement.
If you have received either of the ASR implants, DePuy is recommending that you visit your surgeon and undergo yearly monitoring to make sure that it is functioning properly. Any unexplained hip pain or if it feels like the hip implant is loosening may indicate that the hip replacement is failing and should be reported to your surgeon immediately.
Contact us today if you have become injured as a result of your DePuy hip replacement. Our defective medical device attorneys are currently evaluating cases concerning the defective hip implants, including the ASR XL Acetabular System used in hip surgeries performed in the United States.
