Miss. Woman Blames GranuFlo, NaturaLyte for Husband’s Death
By Amanda Antell
Mississippi plaintiff Mary Jane Brinkley is suing Fresenius Medical Care for the wrongful death of her husband, Thomas Brinkley. She alleges that in direct consequence of using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, her husband suffered from sudden cardiac complications, which ultimately resulted in his death.
According to her GranuFlo/NaturaLyte lawsuit, Brinkley’s husband was undergoing a routine dialysis treatment session on Dec.2, 2011, when he suddenly started experiencing chest pains. Despite receiving emergency medical care, he ultimately died from sudden cardiac death.
Overview of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte Complications
Fresenius is the largest dialysis business in the world, with 1,800 clinics in the United States. This company employs thousands of doctors and provides dialysis treatment to millions of patients around the world. The products that this company is most famous for are GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysate mixtures, which are used for patients with failing kidneys. These products were approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, and have since been the most widely used dialysis treatment mixtures in the United States.
GranuFlo is a dry dialysis concentrate that works by using sodium diacetate, which elevates the body’s bicarbonate levels. NaturaLyte works the same way, but is a liquid concentrate that is diluted before it is used in dialysis treatment. However, scientists have discovered a fatal drawback in the treatment with GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. These treatments cause elevated bicarbonate levels, causing potassium levels to rise. These elevated potassium levels cause the blood flow to slow down, increasing the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can lead to fatal consequences such as sudden cardiac death, stroke or heart attack.
On March 29, 2012 Fresenius admitted to knowing about these side effects after an internal memo describing an in-house study was leaked to the FDA. The study reported more than 900 deaths of patients using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. However, this memo was initially only sent to company-owned clinics and physicians even though GranuFlo and NaturaLyte were widely used in dialysis centers throughout the world.
This memo initiated a Class 1 recall of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte from the U.S. market. While helpful, many patients believe this recall came too late, which have led to many unnecessary deaths, and grieving from their friends and family. Brinkley is one of these grieving plaintiffs. She is seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
The GranuFlo/NaturaLyte lawsuit is Mary Jane Brinkley v. Fresenius Medical Care, Case No. 3:13-cv-00259-MPM-SAA, in the Circuit Court of Tippah, Mississippi.
File a GranuFlo or NaturaLyte Lawsuit Today
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, GranuFlo & 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 at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The GranuFlo or NaturaLyte attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.
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