Number of Product Recalls on the Rise

 Posted on September 24, 2014 in Defective Medical Devices

When complicated medical technology hits the market and is adopted by medical professionals, issues with associated surgeries are bound to occur. There are several reasons for this, and difficulties with the manufacturing of the product itself are not the only ones. By some reports, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not always fully vet products before they are released to the public. Hence, many devices end up recalled. According to The Wall Street Journal, the number of recalled devices continues to increase each year, and have in fact increased by almost 50 percent between 2003 and 2012.

Manufacturer recalls, not mandated by the FDA, often come too late to those who have already used the recalled device. One such example occurred in 2007 via the Metronic recall of defibrillator wires. These wires had been implanted in more than a quarter-million patients before the recall was issued, and thus resulted in a handful of patient deaths. However, Wanda Moebius, a senior vice president at the industry trade group AdvaMed, told The Wall Street Journal that medical device companies are taking a more patient-centric and cautious approach to FDA reporting.

Steve Silverman, director of the FDA medical device center's office of compliance also noted to The Wall Street Journal that the number of recalled products lags behind the number of medical devices that hit the market during the same time period. “The FDA said the numbers of medical devices increased by about 25 percent from 2008 to 2012.” While this may be true, many critics of the increased number of recalls claim how a more rigorous or thorough review of products could help to decrease the number of annual product recalls, as well as the dangers associated with them.

If you or someone you know has been injured or become ill due to a defective medical device or drug, you may be eligible for compensation. Do not go through it alone. Contact an Arlington Heights defective medical device attorney today.