Articles Posted in Defective Products

The CPSC and BSH Home Appliances Corp. are recalling approximately 835,000 Tassimo Single-Cup Coffee Makers in the US over concerns that the product poses a burn injury hazard. Some 140 reports have already been filed about the coffee makers spraying coffee grounds, hot liquid, or tea leaves onto people. Already there have been 37 reports of people suffering second-degree burns. One of the victims was a 10-year-old girl who was hospitalized after sustaining burns to her neck and face.

Please contact one of our Boston injury lawyers if you sustained burn injuries because of a consumer product. Altman & Altman LLP represents clients throughout Massachusetts.

Second-degree burns can be painful, cause swelling, redness, blisters, and pain. They can impact hair follicles and sweat glands. Failure to properly treat a deep second-degree burn can cause it to become a third-degree burn, which can affect the dermis, epidermis, and hypodermis. The skin may become charred and numb. Skin tissue and structures can sustain permanent damage and there may be severe scarring. Depending on the severity of the third-degree burns, muscle, fat, and the bone may also be affected.

According to The Telegraph, early findings from a British study on “metal-on-metal” devices indicates that using an all-metal hip implant may up the risk of a patient developing cancer and sustaining genetic damage. Per the study, conducted by orthopedic consultants in England and run by the University of Bristol, the bladders of over one in five patients who were monitored appear to have undergone cellular changes after they received the implant devices.

Obviously, this is more bad news for patients that with “metal-on-metal” hip devices. As our Boston injury lawyers have mentioned before, these hip implant users already have had a lot to contend with over concerns involving early failure rates and the risks of metal poisoning, which could occur should traces of metal enter a patient’s blood stream (this also may increase the chance of cancer), inflammation, and destroyed bone and muscle from metal pieces breaking off because of the friction created by the metal cup and ball.

For this latest study, 72 patients were studied. Genetic damage was found in the bladders of 17 participants. Three of them ended up developing cancer. That this many people experienced changes to their DNA is important to know because it is this damage that could eventually turn into cancer.

If you believe your injuries or health complications may be a result of your all-metal hip implant device, our Boston products liability law firm wants to hear from you. According to the New York Times, as of December more than 5,000 defective implant lawsuits had been filed over all-metal replacement hip implants. Some 3,500 of the products liability complaints involve DePuy hip implants. Johnson & Johnson is DePuy’s parent company. In 2010, the medical device manufacturer recalled some 40,000 DePuy all-metal implant devices. Also, although DePuy’s Pinnacle all-metal hip implants haven’t been recalled, there are some patients who are reporting similar problems.

Hip replacement patients could face increased risk of cancer, The Telegraph, February 4, 2012
The High Cost of Failing Artificial Hips, The New York Times, December 28, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Boston Products Liability Lawsuits Filed Over DePuy ASR Hip Devices, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 4, 2011
Defective Medical Device?: DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Leads to Products Liability Lawsuits, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 29, 2010
Transvaginal Mesh: FDA Wants Manufacturers to Conduct Three-Year Studies on Complications, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 14, 2012 Continue reading

A set of consumer advocate groups has recommended the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall the Bumbo Baby Sitter Seat, a device intended to help babies sit up earlier than they could on their own. At first glance, the product-millions of which have been sold in the United States by the South African Company, Bumbo, since 2003-seems ideal. Maybe even perfect.

The Babies R Us website describes the Bumbo Baby Sitter Seat, available at $44.99 in a variety of colors, as follows:

cleverly designed to support babies and allows little ones to sit up independently. Made from a single piece of latex-free, low-density, lightweight foam, the Bumbo Seat provides a snug and comfortable environment for your baby to sit during feedings, play time or quality time with the family. The Bumbo Baby Seat requires no straps or fasteners to hold your baby in place and helps babies make the transition to sitting upright.

Britax Child Safety, Inc. is recalling 14,220 Chaperone Infant Car Seats due to a defect that could cause the harness straps to fail. The NHTSA says it does not know of any injuries or deaths related to this product defect. In Massachusetts, do not hesitate to contact our Boston products liability lawyers if you believe your child’s injuries were caused by a defective safety seat.

The safety issue involves the rivet that attaches the harness adjuster to the child safety seat. Because the rivet is defective, the adjuster may separate from the the seat, causing the safety straps that are supposed to keep the baby in his/her seat to fail.

Recalled Britax models include the:
• E9L692K • E9L692J • E9L692L • E9L692M
These were made between September 2010 and April 2011.

A child safety seat is supposed to keep its rider properly secured so that in the event of a Massachusetts car crash he/she is protected and the chances of serious injury or death are minimized. Unfortunately, there are car seats that not safe for use and may cause more harm than help.

Common child safety seat defects:
• Latch defects that prevent them from staying secure and locked during an accident • Poor quality straps that can easily tear
• Strap adjusters that allow/cause the straps to fit too tight or too loosely • Seat frame defects
Car seat defects can cause a child to be thrown from the seat, become trapped, or injured.

It is important to know that not all car seats are for every age group or child or can be used with all cars. Also, Child safety seat manufacturers must provide clear instructions on how to use these products.

Consumer Advisory: Britax Recalling 14,220 Child Safety Seats for Safety Harness Straps That Will Not Properly Restrain Child, NHTSA, January 27, 2012
Britax

More Blog Posts:
Boston Child Injuries: Do Some Toys Cause Hearing Problems?, Boston Injury Lawyer, December 26, 2011
Massachusetts Products Liability: $20.6M Andover Wrongful Death Verdict Awarded Against Toys “R’ Us in Fatal Swimming Pool Slide Accident, Boston Injury Lawyer, October 15, 2011
Boston Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Toddler’s Fatal North Attleboro Crib Accident, Boston Injury Lawyer, January 12, 2011 Continue reading

The Food and Drug Administration has written to 33 medical device manufacturers directing them to conduct three-year study into the health complications that may arise from using transvaginal mesh. Between just 2008 and 2010, the federal agency received 1503 reports of adverse occurrences, which is fivefold greater than the two previous years.

Hundreds of women have come forward to file products liability lawsuits over their vaginal mesh implant-related injuries claiming. In Massachusetts, if you are someone who believes that your health complications are a result of your transvaginal mesh procedure, contact our Boston defective medical device law firm immediately.

A medical device of choice for treating stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, transvaginal mesh has been linked to organ damage, chronic pain, urinary tract infection, perineal cellulitis, infection, organ perforation, painful intercourse, and even death. Also, last year the FDA reported it couldn’t confirm that vaginal mesh provided any added benefits compared to other procedures and devices used to treat the same health issues.

Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and CR Bard Inc. are three of the 33 medical device makers who received letters from the FDA calling for the studies. The federal agency wants the manufacturers to study vaginal mesh devices that are currently available for use. (Transvaginal mesh products that aren’t in the market yet don’t have to be included in the study.)

Because vaginal mesh products get their FDA approval through the 510(k) system, they don’t have to be tested on humans first because they are already similar to a medical device that was already approved. It is important to note, however, that the Boston Scientific vaginal mesh device that was FDA approved was recalled over a decade ago.

Transvaginal Mesh
This kind of mesh is a surgical mesh (usually made from polypropylene or polyester). It is often used as a bladder or pelvic sling, to strengthen the vaginal wall and/or provide support to organs that have been displaced. Unfortunately, when health complications arise as a result of transvaginal mesh, the patient may have to undergo additional surgeries and more complications can arise.

J&J, C.R. Bard Must Study Safety of Vaginal Mesh, FDA Says, Bloomberg, January 5, 2012

Looking Into Problems With Transvaginal Surgical Mesh, FDA

More Blog Posts:
Vaginal Mesh Injuries Lead to Boston Defective Medical Device Lawsuits, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 22, 2011
Boston Products Liability?: FDA Considering Tougher Review Process for Mesh Products, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 30, 2011
Defective Medical Device?: Transvaginal Mesh to Treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse May Cause Health Complications, Warns FDA, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 15, 2011 Continue reading