More deaths related to Guidant Devices
February 2, 2006 10:14

Guidant Corporation is back in the news, and not all news is good news. The FDA reports several recent patient deaths associated with short-circuits in the company's heart devices. Families are now having devices checked for problems after a patient's death. This is revealing that many of these deaths were due to the device. Earlier deaths may have gone unnoticed, showing, perhaps, why Guidant did not want to announce the recall of its units. The Justice department is investigating Guidant's handling of this situation. Devices involved include: Prizm 2 DR, Contak Renewal, & Contak Renewal 2. The FDA is continuing to investigate Guidant as well.

"When carmakers recall a vehicle, they provide a replacement part and cover the cost of the labor to install it. But producers of expensive medical devices have found a better way - they often have others, like taxpayers and insurers, pick up the labor cost. Last year, for example, when Medtronic and Guidant recalled certain heart defibrillators, both companies provided new devices free and agreed to reimburse patients up to $2,500 in out-of-pocket expenses for replacement operations. About 24,000 heart patients had such procedures; some 19,000 of them with Medtronic devices and an estimated 5,000 with Guidant units. Neither producer, however, offered to pick up hospital and doctor bills. Instead, publicly funded plans like Medicare and private insurers are typically paying them. The total cost of those surgical operations is unknown, but estimates suggest the figure will mount into the tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars."
By Barry Meier