Widow Sues Fresenius Over Husband’s Heart Attack Death

Widow Sues Fresenius Over Husband’s Heart Attack Death

By Robert J. Boumis

Minnie Chesney of Tennessee is suing Fresenius Medical Care over the death of her husband, Clifton Chesney, who died after undergoing dialysis treatment at a Fresenius clinic using GranuFlo and/or NaturaLyte.

On April 15, 2011, Clifton Chesney went to a Fresenius Medical Care clinic in North Knoxville. A few days later on April 18, he experienced chest pain and was rushed to the hospital. He died later that day of a heart attack. 

Fresenius has suffered from issues with bicarbonate in their dialysis solutions. Bicarbonate can alter blood pH in dialysis patients. When blood pH gets too high, many reactions within the body stop functioning normally. Unfortunately, this can include the ion channels in heart muscle, meaning an elevated blood pH can cause serious heart issues, including heart attacks like the one Clifton Chesney suffered. 

The issues with Fresenius dialysis products like NaturaLyte and GranuFlo have received federal scrutiny. In May of 2012, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a Safety Communication, warning that they had found evidence of issues with blood pH connected with NaturaLyte and GranuFlo. This Safety Communication was followed up with a full recall of these products. 

Additionally, evidence exists that Fresenius knew about these risks long before the GranuFlo recall and Safety Communication. As far back as 2001, internal Fresenius memos make reference to blood pH issues associated with NaturaLyte and GranuFlo.

Chesney alleges in the GranuFlo lawsuit that Fresenius knew about the risks of serious complications like her husband’s heart attack but failed to act on this information. The GranuFlo lawsuit presents studies and internal memos to support this assertion. The lawsuit further alleges that despite this knowledge, Fresenius continued to promote, manufacture and sell GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, concealing the danger from the public, despite the risk of deaths like Clifton’s. 

Chesney is seeking compensatory damages for injuries, interest, and legal fees. The case also seeks punitive damages — that is monies paid by the defendant that do not necessarily go directly to the plaintiffs. These damages serve to punish offenders and discourage further misconduct. 

The GranuFlo lawsuit is Minnie Chesney, et al. v. Fresenius Medial Care, Case No. 3:13-cv-00508, United States District Court For The Western District of Tennessee Knoxville Division. 

Were You or a Loved One Injured from Fresenius Dialysis Treatment?

If you, or someone you care about underwent dialysis with Fresenius products, and went on to suffer from serious health problems, you probably have a lot to cope with. The loss of a loved one requires coping, emotionally and financially. And even patients who survive cardiac issues face challenging recoveries. But whatever situation you find yourself in, you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps you can take to regain control over your situation. 

You can start by visiting the Kidney Dialysis Heart Attack, GranuFlo & NaturaLyte Recall Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a review by a legal specialist with a background in this type of litigation. This initial consultation is completely free of charge. From here, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation if you qualify.