GranuFlo Lawsuit Claims Pending In Federal GranuFlo Recall Litigation In Massachusetts Allege GranuFlo And NaturaLtye Dialysis Drugs Caused Patients To Suffer Life-Threatening Heart Side Effects, Including Heart Attack, Stroke And Sudden Cardiac Death.
The litigation underway in Massachusetts federal court for product liability claims filed in the wake of the 2012 GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysis drug recall has grown to include more than 1,700 GranuFlo lawsuits, Wright & Schulte LLC reports. According to a new Case List issued by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on May 15, 2014, at least 1,717 complaints have been filed on behalf of patients who were allegedly injured by GranuFlo or NaturaLyte in the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts. (In re Fresenius GranuFlo/Naturalyte Dialysate Litigation, MDL No. 2428)
GranuFlo Lawsuits
According to court documents, all of the GranuFlo lawsuits filed in the District of Massachusetts claim that the use of the two dialysis products prior to their 2012 recall placed patients at an increased risk for catastrophic cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes and sudden cardiac death. Among other things, plaintiffs allege that Fresenius Medical Care had been investigating the heart problems associated with GranuFlo and NaturaLyte long before the GranuFlo recall was announced in 2012. They point out, for example, that the company issued a memo to its own dialysis clinics in November 2011, warning doctors to adjust the dosage of GranuFlo to avoid metabolic alkalosis and associated side effects.
GranuFlo, a powder, and NaturaLyte, a liquid, are dialysis concentrates that neutralize acid in the blood in kidney failure patients. In March 2012, Fresenius Medical Care reported the serious risks associated with GranuFlo and NaturaLyte in an Urgent Product Notification that it sent to dialysis clinics throughout the country. By June 2012, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) had determined that the danger posed by GranuFlo and NaturaLyte was serious enough to warrant it’s most urgent safety warning, and Fresenius’ March Notification was given Class I status. According to the FDA, potential side effects associated with the two medications include:
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Cardiopulmonary Arrest
• Dangerously Low Blood Pressure
• Sudden Cardiac Death
According to a report from The New York Times, the 2011 internal Fresenius memo cited in GranuFlo lawsuits revealed that 941 patients treated at the company’s dialysis centers had experienced cardiac arrest during 2010, and that elevated bicarbonate levels were associated with a significant increased risk of cardiac arrest. According to court documents, plaintiffs question why this important information was withheld from thousands of dialysis clinics outside of the Fresenius network that also used GranuFlo and NaturaLyte to treat patients.
[graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/fresenius-memo.pdf, Fresenius Medical Care Memo, March 29, 2013]
Dialysis patients or their surviving family members may be eligible to file a GranuFlo lawsuit if they suffered a sudden, serious heart problem during or after a dialysis treatment that involved the administration of GranuFlo or NaturaLyte. Wright & Schulte LLC is offering free legal consultations to anyone interested in filing a GranuFlo recall claim. To learn more about GranuFlo lawsuits, or to arrange for a free legal consultation, please visit yourlegalhelp.com.
About Wright & Schulte LLC
Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright & Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free GranuFlo lawsuit case evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com or by calling 1-800-399-0795.
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