subject: The Depuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement System [print this page] In the late 19th century, DePuy Orthopaedics manufactured splints using synthetic material instead of wooden splints typically used to set fractures. Throughout the next 115 years, the company built its reputation as an innovator in the medical device industry, and solidified through the companys acquisition by Johnson & Johnson in 1998. With its purchase in 1998 by Johnson & Johnson, it had the benefit of having a huge corporation investing in it financially. With the recall of the ASR hip replacement system a few years later, the company is now facing litigation directed at its Pinnacle hip replacement system. The medical world was quite affected with these medical device issues that doctors are now trying to avoid hip replacement through proper joint alignment.
Multiple problems associated with the DePuy Pinnacle system keep on growing. Currently, the FDA has received over 1,300 complaints associated with the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement. While the majority of the complaints are about the premature loosening of the device, a New York Times report revealed that metal-on-metal devices, such as the Pinnacle system, have an increased risk of causing metal toxicity due to the metal components undergoing constant friction and releasing metal particles into the bloodstream and tissue surrounding the device. DePuy did not account for this risk just like other medical device manufacturers.
In order to protect people from harm caused by defective products, a product liability law became possible. Large companies such as DePuy Orthopaedics are too concerned with making a profit and overlook the safety of their products. This results in people getting hurt and forcing these companies to take responsibility for their negligence in the form of expensive litigation.
Recipients of defective Pinnacle devices have a number of different theories they could use to make their claim. For those suffering from metal toxicity, plaintiffs may claim that DePuy failed to sufficiently warn patients of the risk when the product was publicly distributed. The device failing due to premature loosening shows DePuys inability to establish that the product was durable enough to meet industry standards. Though DePuy has not implemented a recall of the Pinnacle system, many recipients believe there are grounds to pursue a Pinnacle lawsuit.
Filing a DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement lawsuit is a top option patients experiencing pain or symptoms of metal toxicity may consider.
