Nine Plaintiffs Sue Fresenius Medical Care for Negligence

Nine Plaintiffs Sue Fresenius Medical Care for Negligence

By Amanda Antell

A group of nine plaintiffs from across the United States are suing Fresenius Medical Care for the wrongful deaths of their loved ones. 

Each of the plaintiffs accuse Fresenius Medical Care of negligently and knowingly providing their deceased loved ones with a dangerous dialysis product in order to maintain their profit. The drugs in question are GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. None of the plaintiffs, decedents or their physicians knew about the possible side effects of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte concentrates, according to the lawsuit.

The following plaintiffs are suing Fresenius for negligence, false advertising, misrepresenting a product, and concealing information:

• Louisiana plaintiff Annette Cooks is suing for the wrongful death of her mother, Lovie Cooks. Cooks’ mother was receiving a routine dialysis treatment using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysis concentrates, and suffered sudden cardiac death as a result.
• Massachusetts plaintiff Jose Cruz is suing for the wrongful death of his wife, Marina Cruz, who suffered from sudden cardiac death after receiving GranuFlo and NaturaLyte in a routine dialysis treatment.
• Texas plaintiff Betty Deckard is suing for the wrongful death of her husband, Frank E. Deckard, who suffered multiple medical complications which eventually lead to his death. He was receiving NaturaLyte and GranuFlo concentrates at the time.
• Texas plaintiff Jessica Harris is suing for the wrongful death of her mother, Barbara Harris, after she used GranuFlo during a routine dialysis procedure. 
• Virginia plaintiff Martha Jones is suing for the death of her husband, Stanley Jones Jr., which occurred during a routine dialysis procedure after using GranuFlo.
• Texas plaintiff Nancy Ledezma is suing for the wrongful death of her sister, Trinidad Ledezma, after she had died during a dialysis procedure using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.
• Texas plaintiff Durlene McCowen is suing for the wrongful death of her husband, Walter J. McCowen, after he suffered sudden cardiac death after using GranuFlo in a routine dialysis procedure.
• Texas plaintiff Elfriede Moosegian is suing for the wrongful death of her husband, Harry Moosegian, after he had suffered sudden cardiac death after using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte concentrates.
• Texas plaintiff David Sutherland is suing Fresenius for the injuries he suffered from taking GranuFlo concentrates during treatment. 

Overview of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte Complications 

Fresenius Medical Care began selling GranuFlo and NaturaLyte in the U.S. in 2003, after the FDA approved them as dialysis treatments. Fresenius marketed the products as safe and effective, implying no dangerous side effects or consequences. Unfortunately, soon after the products were released, injury reports were submitted to the FDA indicating sudden cardiac death and other deadly complications.

GranuFlo is a dry dialysis concentrate that is used in hemodialysis treatments to help prevent kidney failure. NaturaLyte is its liquid cousin, which provides the same service. Both concentrates are dissolved into a mixture which is then filtered into the body. This initiates bicarbonate in the blood stream, which neutralizes the kidneys. Many medical experts believe that it is this very function that causes sudden cardiac death and other side effects.

The elevated bicarbonate levels cause potassium levels to rise uncontrollably, which can lead to hypokalemia. This condition causes the blood to slow down, which allows clots to form, leading to the overwhelming complications.

The NaturaLyte/GranuFlo Recall

According to court documents, an internal memo was sent to all of the Fresenius medical clinics and physicians on November 4, 2011, warning their Fresenius employees that there was a six to eight times greater of a risk of patients suffering from sudden cardiac attack after using GranuFlo or NaturaLyte. This memo was leaked to the FDA on March 29, 2012, which sparked a Class 1 recall of these products and a thorough investigation into the company.

Upon further investigation, the FDA discovered that Fresenius had done an in-house study of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte in their association with sudden cardiac death and other complications. 

Over 900 deaths were indicated in the reports, and Fresenius did not tell clinics and doctors who were not employed by them, nor did they inform the general public. Additionally, no mention of these possibilities was indicated on either the NaturaLyte or GranuFlo warning labels.

GranuFlo and NaturaLyte were recalled from the market later that year in 2012, but only after millions were exposed to the drugs’ dangerous side effects. Fresenius is the largest dialysis medical company in the world, with over 1,800 dialysis centers in the United States alone. To this day, Fresenius still faces criticism over their questionable ethics regarding GranuFlo and NaturaLyte warning labels. 

This collective lawsuit against Fresenius is Annette Cooks, et al. v. Fresenius Medical Care, Case No. 4:13-cv-01654-JCH, in the circuit court of St. Louis, Missouri 22nd Judicial Circuit. 

File a GranuFlo or NaturaLyte Lawsuit Today 

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a GranuFlo or NaturaLyte injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Kidney Dialysis Heart Attack GranuFlo and NaturaLyte Recall Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned GranuFlo 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 and NaturaLyte lawyers working this investigation do not get paid until you do.