GranuFlo Recall Lawsuits Continue to Pour In

Two years after Fresenius Medical Care recalled its dialysis products NaturaLyte and GranuFlo over concerns that they were linked to over 900 deaths, lawsuits related to the products continue to be filed.  Since the 2012 GranuFlo recall, over 400 dialysis patients and their families have filed lawsuits in courts across the country. The cases have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) and multiple GranuFlo class action lawsuits have been filed.

Law firms note that many GranuFlo recall lawsuits and GranuFlo class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of patients who allegedly suffered heart attacks, strokes, and other life-threatening events within 72 hours of using either GranuFlo or NaturaLyte.  One of the most recent GranuFlo lawsuits came from a woman in New York who filed her product liability lawsuit against Fresenius Medical Care on Jan. 31.

Like many people who filed product liability lawsuits against Fresenius, the woman alleges that she suffered near-fatal consequences after using GranuFlo during her last dialysis session.  Her lawsuit stems from an almost immediate heart attack in February 2013, after she had GranuFlo administered during her dialysis treatment.  She is suing Fresenius for not adequately warning her or physicians about these possibilities, and for failing to have adequate warnings on the products’ labels.  The charges she is bringing against the company include: negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Similar lawsuits and GranuFlo class action lawsuits continue to be filed in federal and states courts across the country, illustrating that the GraunFlo and NaturaLyte litigation movement is far from over.  The GranuFlo and NaturaLyte recall occurred in June 2012, following the release of an “Urgent Product Notification” by Fresenius Medical Care. The notification warned dialysis clinics about the possibility of sudden cardiac complications occurring if either product is dosed inaccurately.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified this as a Class I recall, which is the most serious type of recall. That classification indicates that the product in question can cause serious injury or death. This recall had also caused the FDA to launch an investigation against Fresenius in regarding its handling of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.

This investigation involves an internal memo that had been sent to Fresenius-owned clinics and doctors in 2011, warning them of the associated risk.  This put Fresenius under scrutiny because the memo was not sent to dialysis clinics or physicians outside of Fresenius.

Overview of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte Complications

Fresenius Medical Care is the largest dialysis provider in the world, with 1,800 clinics in the United States.  This company is most famous for their dialysate concentrates GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, which are used in dialysis procedures in patients with failing kidneys.  Both concentrates work converting the body’s  sodium diacetate to bicarbonate, which allows for artificial kidney function and filtration. However, medical experts have discovered that there are consequence to raising the patient’s bicarbonate levels; the body’s potassium levels rise, which causes the blood flow to slow down.

With the blood slowing down, this allows for the possibility of blood clot formation, which could lead to the fatal side effects reported: sudden cardiac death, stroke, or heart attack.

GranuFlo Lawsuits, Class Action Lawsuits Grow

According to court documents, more than 460 GranuFlo and NaturaLyte lawsuits have been filed since the GranuFlo recall.  The majority of these claims have been filed in the GranuFlo MDL located in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.

Several GranuFlo class action lawsuits have also been filed. A class action lawsuit is a group legal action filed by multiple plaintiffs against a single defendant. Unlike the GranuFlo MDL, where plaintiffs file an individual lawsuit, a GranuFlo class action lawsuit represents dozens, sometimes hundreds, of plaintiffs. A personal injury lawyer with experience in GranuFlo injuries can help victims and their families determine the best form of legal action to pursue against Fresenius.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a GranuFlo or NaturaLyte injury, you have legal options.  Please visit the Kidney Dialysis Heart Attack Issues GranuFlo Lawsuit & NaturaLyte Recall Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation.  There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned GranuFlo or NaturaLyte lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process with no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The GranuFlo or NaturaLyte attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.