Wrongful Death - Guidant Recall

Guidant Defibrillators and Pacemakers Are Recalled

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The Guidant Corporation made 3.8 billion dollars in 2004, 1.9 billion of that came from its successful and widely distributed Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices.

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Indianapolis-based Guidant has recalled 136,950 Guidant Defibrillators and Pacemakers. The company said about 63,000 of the devices had been implanted, with nearly 50,000 still in use. Guidant stated that the devices could, without warning, develop a short circuit that would prevent them from delivering the shock when needed. There have been reports of at least 45 malfunctions and are thought to have caused several deaths.

Guidant Pacemakers send electrical pulses to the heart to accelerate a slow heart beat, and have a seven to 10 year life span before they must be replaced.

Guidant Defibrillators are small devices implanted into the body to regulate the heartbeat in people with risk of heart problems.

There were approximately 45 malfunctions and two deaths associated with this short circuit.

Without proper circulation, patients may experience irregular heartbeats, fainting, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Patients should understand that an FDA recall does not necessarily mean that the device will be removed from the market or that the device needs to be removed from the patient. Recall actions can also include correcting or modifying the device.

It is important for each patient to contact his or her doctor to discuss the best course of action, including whether or not to replace the device. This decision will depend on many factors, including the patient's condition and medical history.

Replacing the device may be advisable in some cases, but in other cases the risks associated with replacing the device, including the chance of infection or injury during replacement surgery, may be higher than the risk that the device will malfunction.

Since Guidant was incorporated in 1994, they have sold more than 50,000 ICDs. Quality began to suffer in 2002, when Guidant discovered that the insulation on some of the wiring in three models of ICD could accidentally short out and prevent the unit from functioning properly. Instead of halting production and recalling the units, Guidant decided to continue to sell faulty devices and address the malfunction in later models.

If you or your loved one uses Guidant brand defibrillators, you could be in serious danger. Consult your doctor immediately, and then please consider contacting our lawyers right away.