A new IVC filter lawsuit has join the multidistrict litigation against Cook Medical, claiming that the company failed to warn of serious IVC filter side effects connected to their alleged defective devices.

Plaintiff, Francis A., an Illinois resident, brought forth his claims as part of the ongoing multidistrict litigation against Cook Medical through a short form complaint.  Francis says was implanted with the  Gunther Tulip IVC Filter on August 4, 2007, and according to his IVC filter lawsuit suffered serious IVC filter side effects.

The IVC filter lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including failure to warn, design defect, negligence, and breach of express and implied warranties. Francis also filed for punitive damages.

Inferior Vena Cava Filters

An IVC filter, also known as an inferior vena cava filter, is a medical device intended to prevent blood clots from entering a patient’s lungs and heart, but lawsuits like Francis A.’s and various reports in recent years have suggested that these devices can cause serious damage through IVC filter side effects.

IVC filter lawsuits across the U.S. are claiming that the product can be dangerous to patients. Lawsuits allege that the IVC filters are not worth the risk, given that the devices themselves may be more harmful than the clots.

According to adverse event reports received by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past ten years, hundreds of patients have suffered from major IVC filter side effects including punctured organs and filter migrations.

IVC Filter Side Effects

IVC filter placement is inside the inferior vena cava, the largest vein in the human body. The inferior vena cava returns blood back into the heart and then on to the lungs. Blood clots in this vein are therefore extremely dangerous.

However, IVC filter side effects can occur if the device is defective, or if the original IVC filter placement was not done correctly. If an IVC filter is slightly out of position, it can be forced even more out of its proper placement over time.

While the first step in alleviating IVC filter complications like these is IVC filter removal, in some cases this can be too dangerous. However, in a worst case scenario, failure at IVC filter removal can lead to pulmonary embolism, placing the patient at further risk.

Filing an IVC Filter Lawsuit

This IVC filter lawsuit, and many others like it, claim that Cook Medical should take responsibility for their actions and inactions regarding the allegedly defective device. The lawsuits allege that Cook was aware that the Gunther Tulip IVC Filter design could lead to major complications, but continued marketing and selling the product anyway, placing personal profit over patient safety.

The FDA has responded to these claims against the IVC filters’ safety, recommending that the devices only be used on a temporary rather than permanent basis, and only if medications or other treatments are deemed ineffective.

Injured patients have filed lawsuits against a number of IVC filter makers, citing organ damage due to filter migration and breaks, as well as other serious complications.

If you or someone you know has undergone complications due to retrievable IVC filters, such as the Gunther Tulip IVC Filter, you may have cause to file an IVC filter lawsuit.

Filing a lawsuit does not repair the damage, but can help compensate for the physical, emotional, and financial losses felt as a result of these devices.

The IVC Filter Lawsuit is Case No. 1:14-ml-2570-RLY-TAB, in the U.S. District Court for the Indianapolis Division of the Southern District of Indiana.