How Common Are Medical Device Injuries?

Published on July 10, 2023

Medical devices are innovative, and life-saving, and have helped to extend life expectancies worldwide, making it possible for people to live longer with chronic diseases. They also allow seriously ill or injured people to remain mobile and enjoy a higher quality of life. However, like all human-designed instruments and electronics, medical devices do not always function as promised or as intended. Sometimes design flaws, assembly mistakes, early degradation, or improper installation result in serious injuries caused by medical devices.

Medical devices are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and manufacturers must rigorously test these devices before they reach the market. Medical providers must also give patients detailed information before installing a device in order to obtain informed consent. But when something goes wrong at any point in this process, the patient with the medical device could be seriously or even gravely injured. How common are medical device injuries? A Phoenix medical malpractice attorney can help.

Are Faulty Medical Devices Common?

According to reports collected by the FDA, there were 1.7 million reported injuries from medical devices between 2008 and 2018. Some of the statistics on medical device injuries are unsettling, including the following:

• Insulin pumps and hip replacements were the top two devices associated with injuries reported to the FDA between 2008 and 2018, with 103,104 hip replacement injuries and 94,825 injuries
• Spinal stimulators caused 78,172 injuries
• Surgical mesh caused 60,795 injuries
• Implanted insulin pumps caused 60,561 injuries
• Defibrillators caused 59,457 injuries
• Over 800,000 deaths have been linked to medical device injuries in the past decade
• 32 million Americans have implanted medical devices
• There are 190,000 medical devices on the market in the U.S.

Some research indicates the actual number of injuries from medical devices may be significantly higher than reported since investigators have identified large gaps in the reporting process. Other medical devices associated with a significant number of injury reports include gastrointestinal scopes, power morcellators, DaVinci surgical robots, IVC filters, and NuvaRing birth control implants.

How Do Defective Devices Cause Injuries?

When mistakes occur during the design, manufacture, assembly, or implant process, a faulty medical device can cause serious injuries. Injuries associated with medical devices can include:

• Initial injuries from failed or faulty devices
• Medical complications
• Problems from premature device failure
• Toxic exposure from chemicals released from degrading implants
• Long-term injuries from devices that break down and/or migrate inside the body

Patients may suffer serious complications from medical device injuries requiring expensive corrective medical treatments. In some cases, defective medical devices may cause permanent, life-altering injuries.

How Can Patients Protect Themselves Against Medical Device Injuries?

Before making the decision to utilize an implanted or external medical device, it’s important to weigh all your options and get a second opinion. To minimize the risk of experiencing a medical device injury, follow these recommendations:

• Be sure to tell your doctor about all of your medications
• Read all of the literature associated with the device and familiarize yourself with common side effects and warning signs of problems with the device
• Ask your doctor about non-invasive alternatives

If you have an implanted medical device, be sure to report any new symptoms to your doctor. The FDA also has a MedWatch program for patients to report problems with medical devices and check for recalls.

Victims of defective medical devices may be able to gain compensation for their damages by filing a defective medical device lawsuit.