When Medical Devices Fail: Is that Medical Malpractice in Minnesota?

If a Medical Device Fails, is that Medical Malpractice in Minnesota?

 

Medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps are relied on by patients.  In fact, many times these medical devices are ensuing the a patient will stay alive.  Other medical devices like IV pumps, PCA drips, defibrillators, anesthesia machines, blood pressure monitors, and other hospital-related equipment is also necessary for a patient’s well-being and care.  However, sometimes these medical devices fail.  Sometimes a healthcare provider will not realize that these devices have failed either, making the mistake magnified and result in additional pain and suffering.

 

Whenever a medical device fails, there could be multiple people or entities liable.  Damages could be very high, particularly if the device is a life-sustaining device like a pacemaker.  Victims should ensure their rights are protected and their lives are saved when a medical device fails them.

 

Common Causes Why Medical Devices Fail

 

Technological advancements in medicine have improved healthcare greatly.  Medical devices are one of the largest beneficiaries of these advancements.  This is particularly true of implantable medical devices and hospital equipment which is heavily relied upon.  Some medical devices have become so advanced, like the Da Vinci machine, where a surgeon could be thousands of miles away and perform a life-saving surgery remotely.

 

However, no technology is perfect and there could be very serious errors or breakdowns which cause the medical device to fail.  When this happens, a victim can be permanently damaged and even killed.  For example, here are some common types of medical device failures which could be caused by Minneapolis medical malpractice:

 

• Improperly implanted medical devices like pacemakers;
• Surgical errors in implanting, tweaking, modifying, or otherwise adjusting the medical device;
• Faulty medical devices which give raise to products liability cases;
• Using the wrong type of medical device or not a strong enough type like an insulin pump;
• Failing to properly maintain hospital equipment like heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, and other devices;
• Not testing medical devices like PCA pumps to ensure they are administrating the proper dosage;
• Manually and improperly disabling certain devices like bed alarms;
• Defects in the medical device, like a faulty heart pump that does not work once implanted;
• Improperly programming medical devices such as IV pumps, PCA pumps, or other devices which could cause overdoses or become ineffective;
• Software related errors due to not upgrading the system before using them; and
• Many other errors.

 

Medical Device Errors in Minnesota Can Have Deadly Consequences

 

A medical device that fails or results in an error can cause the wrongful death of a victim.  If this happens to you, contact our Minnesota medical malpractice lawyer.  We handle cases throughout the state, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, and many other cities.  If you believe you may have been a victim of medical malpractice, call (612) 444-3374 to learn what your rights to compensation may be and to schedule your free appointment.  You may also contact us using our easy and convenient “contact us” box at the bottom of our website.  If we accept your case, we will conduct a thorough review of your case and advise you whether there may have been a serious medical mistake causing your injury.   There is no risk, and you do not owe us money unless we win your case.

 

We also handle cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.  Our Oregon office number is (541) 385-1999.