Johnson & Johnson Hip Implant Recall

DePuy Orthopaedics, a unit of  Johnson & Johnson announced a recall Thursday, August 26, 2010 of two types of hip replacement implants.

The news comes after a series of recalls of Johnson & Johnson products this year, including liquid children’s Tylenol in the US and Acuvue contact lenses in Asia and Europe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also sent a critical warning letter to the company regarding illegal marketing of other medical devices, a knee device and another hip implant.

Complaints have been registered with the FDA about DePuy’s hip implant devices, the SR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, for more than two years. These complaints cite early failure of these devices possibly due to debris coming from their metal-on-metal bearings, which inflames and damages tissue inside the hip joint. British regulators issued an advisory on this problem in March, and plans are in place for FDA to study this issue further.

Defective Medical Device Injuries

If you have had a hip replacement recently, find out from your doctor or surgeon immediately if you received one of the recalled Johnson & Johnson ASR hip implants. Patients whose implants fail early or cause injury in any way may be able to initiate a product liability lawsuit against the device manufacturer.

Companies that manufacture medical devices have a responsibility to produce devices that are safe and effective. When you receive medical treatment of any kind, you expect that it will fix a problem, not cause further injury or illness. It is, of course, possible that medical malpractice may have contributed to a few complaints regarding the ASR hip implants, but no such reports have yet surfaced.

Finding a Product Liability Attorney

If you discover that you or a family member has received a recalled DePuy ASR hip replacement implant or has been injured by any other defective medical device, seek the help of a qualified defective products lawyer right away. There may be a deadline for filing a complaint or a defective product injury lawsuit, which could limit your ability to receive proper defective product injury compensation.

An experienced defective product injury attorney will be able to determine if you have a case with a good chance of success and explain your legal options. Your personal injury lawyer will defend your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve for your injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a Johnson & Johnson/DePuy hip replacement implant or any other defective medical device, please contact us for help finding a qualified defective product injury attorney in your area.