Widow Says Fresenius Concealed Cardiac Arrest Risk of Dialysis Products

Caren Ballard has filed a lawsuit against Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc., alleging their dialysis products caused the death of her husband, Alvin Ballard.

According to the GranuFlo lawsuit, Alvin Ballard required weekly dialysis treatments from January 2006 until his death in November 2011. Dialysis is a process that uses mechanical means to take over the function of failed kidneys. As a part of the dialysis process, products like GranuFlo or NaturaLyte are used to create a dialysis fluid. Dialysis fluid has chemical properties which can draw biological waste products from the blood across specially-made membranes. Fresenius both operates dialysis centers and sells their dialysis products to unaffiliated dialysis centers.

It has been alleged that Fresenius dialysis products like GranuFlo and NaturaLyte can alter blood chemistry, creating a condition called alkalosis by increasing the amount of bicarbonate in the blood. In alkalosis, the pH of the blood rises above safe levels. Many of the body’s chemical reactions depend on a stable pH range, and changes in blood pH can interfere with the body’s function.

According to the GranuFlo lawsuit, Alvin Ballard was dependent on dialysis for five years, during which time his dialysis equipment used NaturaLyte and/or GranuFlo. After a dialysis treatment in November 2011, he reportedly suffered from cardiac arrest and died. His widow’s GranuFlo/NaturaLyte lawsuit alleged that Fresenius was aware of the risk of alkalosis and related heart problems associated with the products but actively concealed it.

To support the allegation that Fresenius was aware of the risks, the text of the NaturaLyte lawsuit cites a study Fresenius performed from January to December 2010. This study found that hundreds had died in Fresenius-operated dialysis centers from heart conditions, while suffering alkalosis. Per the NaturaLyte lawsuit, Fresenius issued a memo in November 2011 to Fresenius-affiliated dialysis centers warning them of this risk, but did not send any notification elsewhere until an unknown party leaked the memo to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012. This leaked memo triggered a series of external warnings, and the eventual recall of these products.

The GranuFlo/NaturaLyte lawsuit is Caren Ballard, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Alvin Ballard v. Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-12948-DPW, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Help for Victims of Kidney Dialysis Injury, Death

If you or a loved one suffered a heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, metabolic alkalosis or other injury after undergoing kidney dialysis with GranuFlo and/or NaturaLyte, you may be eligible to take legal action against the manufacturer of the dialysis drugs. Filing a lawsuit may be the only way you’ll be able to obtain compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages. Learn more and obtain a free case evaluation at the GranuFlo/NaturaLyte Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation.