Medical device failure occurs in less than one percent of patients. However, when a failure does happen, it can be incredibly harmful and possibly deadly. While there are many reasons medical devices can fail, here are five of the most common.
- Contamination: This can occur if any type of foreign object or debris enters the device. Contamination can cause major infections and serious complications.
- Improper use of materials: If the incorrect materials are used in manufacturing, a device may malfunction. Oftentimes when this occurs, the material used was initially considered safe but is later found to be harmful. A recall usually occurs at that point, but sometimes it can be too late and significant damage has already occurred within the patient.
- Failures in the molding process: Molding occurs during manufacturing, and if the molding in the device is improperly completed, a device can malfunction.
- Manufacturing and product design issues: Sometimes a product is launched before proper and substantial testing is completed. Companies must be patient, test thoroughly and conduct serious quality control before ever releasing a device into the medical community.
- Excessive stress overload: If too much pressure or stress is put on the device it can malfunction and once again cause the patient serious issues.
If you have been the victim of a medical device failure, it’s in your best interest to contact a defective products attorney. Devices aren’t the only medical product to fail us as patients. Pharmaceuticals can also cause damage for similar reasons.
Read this article regarding a lawsuit involving defective birth control pills.