Why Report a Defective Medical Device to the FDA

 Posted on April 23,2014 in Defective Medical Devices

Consumers and patients who have been in injured by defective devices or other unsafe products frequently report these issues to the FDA, as they should. Recent cases relating to defective medical devices as well as products outside the realm of healthcare demonstrate that while it's the federal government's job to investigate these claims and promote safe standards across the board, this process is often a lengthy one.

In some cases, manufacturers appear to act as if they can get away with unsafe products, leaving individuals at high risk while continuing to make a profit. In terms of medical devices, heart defibrillators, vaginal mesh implants, and knee and hip implants are just a few examples of products that were designed to help actually harming patients.

In the consumer sector, both GM and Toyota have recalled high numbers of automobiles after serious reports of driver injury and even death. In all these cases, the government frequently finds that the manufacturer knew about the dangers long before a recall or product fix was implemented.

If you have been injured by a defective medical device or any dangerous product, it's important to report the issue to the government, but you should also get counsel of your own. Too many families have discovered too late that the government regulators and investigators often take years to pull products off the market that have a history of harming individuals.

Personal injury lawsuits are an alternative route that tends to get companies to take action. For too long, many of these companies have enjoyed their product defects “flying under the radar”, continuing to put people at risk while the defect is investigated. One of the most important things you can do for your own case while at the same time preventing future incidents is to contact an Illinois defective device attorney today.