For decades Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS) have been hailed as a safe alternative to treat debilitating pain in patients that fail to respond to pain medications or other nonsurgical options.
These small implantable devices allow patients to send electrical impulses to spinal cord nerve fibers in areas of pain, arguably masking the pain signals delivered to the brain. Each year, an estimated 50,000 SCS devices are implanted into new patients.
According to the manufacturers of SCS implants, complications are rare and usually limited to infection, bleeding, electrode migration, device damage, dural puncture or spinal cord trauma.
However, recent reports indicate many patients with SCS devices have suffered other severe injuries or complications from the implants, including:
In many cases patients must undergo additional surgery to remove the device and its electrodes, and even continue to suffer effects for years after they are removed as their nerves are resistant to unlearn the electrical impulses.
Although the makers of these SCS devices have known about the additional injury risks for years, they failed to warn patients and doctors. Therefore, lawyers believe they will be responsible for compensation to those injured.
Latest Information on the Spinal Cord Stimulator Litigation
No. Lawyers expect thousands of victims will eventually file lawsuits against the four manufacturers of SCS devices, however, the claims are likely to be consolidated into a special multidistrict litigation court rather than a Class Action Lawsuit.
In order to handle the volume of cases in the most efficient manner possible, cases with similar injuries alleged to have come from one type of product, like the SCS injury lawsuits, are often consolidated into specific courts like these.
Instead of creating a single class action lawsuit for Spinal Cord Stimulator injuries, these multidistrict litigation (MDL) courts allow those affected to band their individual cases together in a special court to seek damages against the companies.
This process is usually more beneficial for victims than a class action lawsuit. In a class action lawsuit, one group of lawyers gathers class participants who must share whatever is awarded. However, the individual participants in an MDL are able to select their own lawyer, exercise more control over their case and whether it settles, and reap higher award amounts for their separate lawsuit.
DrugNews works only with lawyers that are integrally involved in medical device MDL litigation or are active on the influential MDL Plaintiff Steering Committees.
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries or required removal surgery after receiving a Spinal Cord Stimulator, it's important to have your case examined by a legal expert to see if you have the right to recover damages.
Our qualified medical device injury lawyers will fully investigate your case, reviewing medical records, safety warnings and recent studies that your doctor may not normally discuss.
Most states allow you several years to file a lawsuit after you suffer an injury or discover it may be linked to a dangerous product. However, you should begin the process as early as possible to make sure your lawyer has time to get necessary records and prepare your case.
DrugNews works only with attorneys and law firms that have successfully handled tens of thousands of lawsuits involving injury or death from drugs and medical devices. And, we can connect you directly to a lawyer or patient advocate today, so you'll be able to decide if you want to proceed.
We make it easy to get help, find out if you qualify, and quickly file a claim. Our service is offered at no cost to you, and you won't pay anything to your attorney unless you receive an award. Also, our qualified lawyers can handle most aspects of your case without you ever having to leave your home.
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