Robert J. Boumis  |  April 22, 2014

Category: Legal News

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GranuFlo lawsuit, cardiac arrestA new lawsuit has been filed against Fresenius, alleging that the company’s dialysis fluids are dangerous.

GranuFlo and NaturaLyte

GranuFlo and NaturalLyte are two similar products. Both are produced by Fresenius, a medical supply company. Both of these products are designed as mixes to create dialysis fluid. Dialysis fluid is used during the process of dialysis. Within dialysis machines, the patient’s blood is run through semi-permeable tubes bathed in dialysis fluid. The fluid’s properties draw biological waste, taking over the function of failing kidneys. However, the fluid is alleged to alter some of the carefully-balanced chemical properties of blood, promoting dangerous complications.

One allegation in the GranuFlo/NaturaLyte litigation is that the dialysis fluid can cause life-threatening changes to blood chemistry. Specifically, it has been alleged that dialysis fluid created with GranuFlo/NaturaLyte could dangerously increase blood pH, a condition called alkalosis. The vast array of chemical reactions in the human body depends on having a relatively stable chemical environment. Raising the blood pH can sufficiently interfere with the ions that run the heart muscles, potentially causing cardiac arrest. This is one of the key allegations in Fresenius litigation.

The Latest Lawsuit

Donna Boyd of Indiana has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Joseph Boyd. Per the text of her lawsuit, Joseph Boyd died after using Fresenius dialysis products. Details in the lawsuit are limited, but it does state that Joseph Boyd died after suffering heart problems.

Legal Action

The Boyd lawsuit joins others in litigation against Fresenius. These lawsuits allege that Fresenius was aware of the risk associated with its dialysis products. The lawsuits further allege that Fresenius was not only aware of these risks, but continued to produce and promote the products. To support this assertion, many lawsuits cite a November 2011 memo, which makes references to “increased bicarbonate levels” (alkalosis), and the accompanying risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The memo was initially only distributed to Fresenius-affiliated dialysis centers, although GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are widely used outside of those centers. In fact, it was not until an anonymous source leaked the 2011 memo that Fresenius discussed the issue publicly, culminating in a March 2012 recall of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.

The legal action against Fresenius has taken the form of a multidistrict litigation or MDL. MDLs are a type of group lawsuit, similar to the more familiar class action lawsuit. Group lawsuits, like class action lawsuits and MDLs are designed to allow a number of allegedly-injured parties to seek redress. Group lawsuits like MDLs and class action lawsuits are designed to streamline the legal process. The main difference between MDLs and class action lawsuits is that class action lawsuits start out as a group lawsuit, while MDLs typically start out as individual lawsuits which are later coordinated into a single legal action. MDLs are more common than class action lawsuits in drug and medical supply lawsuits. This is because medical supplies are typically used across the country, and when they are allegedly defective, individual lawsuits are often filed by individuals without connection to each other. This cases may later be coordinated into an MDL.

The Fresenius MDL is formally titled In Re: Fresenius Granuflo/NaturaLyte Dialysate Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2428, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Take Action Now

If you or a loved one suffered from serious heart problems after using Fresenius dialysis products, you need to take action quickly to ensure that your rights are respected. Submit your information now and the attorneys that work with Top Class Actions will review it and determine whether you can pursue compensation.

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