Two Sisters File GranuFlo Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Two Sisters File GranuFlo Wrongful Death Lawsuit

By Jessica Tyner

GranuFlo lawsuits continue to be filed, with a recent lawsuit filed by two sisters in California who lost their mother to GranuFlo. In late March 2013, the sisters joined forces to seek compensation for the wrongful death of their mother, just one of the many victims of GranuFlo who were given the drug as an integral part of her kidney dialysis treatment.

It had been exactly one year since the FDA had recalled GranuFlo after receiving numerous complaints about death and cardiac arrest. Just like so many of the other victims, their mother was being treated as a Fresenius Dialysis Center, conveniently also the maker of GranuFlo. Their story isn’t rare, and it just strengthens the link between the dialysis drug and unusual heart complications among dialysis patients treated with the drug.

Why Was GranuFlo Necessary?

During kidney dialysis, the blood has to be neutralized, which is exactly what GranuFlo aims to do. It does the job well — too well, considering it leads to heart complications, heart attacks and even death at an alarming rate. There are a number of GranuFlo victims banding together in class action lawsuits and mass tort drug injury lawsuits after either suffering from GranuFlo side effects or losing a loved one to the drug.

While the FDA recalled GranuFlo in 2012, there are still plenty of victims who deserve compensation for the pain, suffering, loss or ongoing medical care needed after suffering GranuFlo complications. Heart attacks and other GranuFlo-caused heart issues can lead to a lifetime of complications. Other times, survivors are left heartbroken and looking for answers when kidney dialysis in itself is supposed to be relatively safe.

GranuFlo’s Corner on the Dialysis Drug Market

When a company like Fresenius both manufacturers a drug and is the leader to supplying it (since kidney dialysis has to be performed by professionals), that often leads to problems. Plaintiffs like the two sisters claim that Fresenius did one of two things: Either the company didn’t adequately test the side effects of GranuFlo, or it did and chose to hide them from physicians and patients alike.

There’s evidence that Fresenius knew how dangerous GranuFlo was and decided to keep that information hidden. In 2011, the company issued an internal memo to a few select Fresenius centers detailing the possible side effects of GranuFlo. That was the extent of their “warning.” According to many critics, this is a sign that they wanted to cover up the evidence and allowed numerous patients to continue receiving the dangerous drug.

Has a Heart Condition Happened to You or a Loved One During Dialysis?

Fresenius has the most kidney dialysis centers in America, so if a person has undergone dialysis, there’s a good chance it was at one of these clinics or a clinic using GranuFlo. If you or a loved one suffered a heart-related issue while undergoing kidney dialysis, it’s possible that you have a GranuFlo legal claim.

Do you want to know more about your rights and options? Visit the Kidney Dialysis Heart Attack, GranuFlo & NaturaLyte Recall Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation page right now. You’ll be given the opportunity to submit your information for a free legal review from an experienced drug injury attorney who will contact you if you have a case. Any resulting consultation or legal help will be done at no out-of-pocket cost to you.