Investigation Shows Company Knew of IVC Filter Injury Risk and Took No Corrective Action

An investigation has determined the brand of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters made by medical device manufacturer C.R. Bard, Inc. could pose a serious health risk to patients. Furthermore, documents show the company may have taken no corrective action despite being aware of the risks of patients suffering an IVC filter injury.

Data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows that during a decade-long span, the C.R. Bard, Inc. Recovery filter was responsible for at least 27 deaths and reports of as many as 300 patients suffering a serious IVC filter injury. A majority of those who were harmed experienced complications associated with the filter breaking or not functioning properly within the body.

NBC News reports that as these injuries and fatalities began to surface, Bard began to look further into the matter. The company funded a study that found their brand of IVC filter posed more of a health and safety risk than any competitor’s product. Furthermore, one Bard employee who helped get the Recovery filter approved by the FDA stated she felt she would lose her position if she voiced concerns about the safety of the company’s product.

Rather than address these issues, Bard continued to sell the faulty filters, distributing as many as 34,000 units to Americans facing serious health problems.

Many patients who suffered an IVC filter injury have gone on to file defective product lawsuits against those who manufactured and distributed the products that harmed them. Visit our website to learn more about what legal options may be available to you if you or a loved one have been harmed by a faulty medical device.