New Jersey IVC Filter Lawyer​

IVC filter manufacturers, namely C.R. Bard and Cook Medical, promoted the use of this device for preventing pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis without long-term studies analyzing the safety and effectiveness of the filter. Lawsuits allege that the companies ignored, hid and failed to disclose research possibly suggesting that the filters could be dangerous, and marketed them despite lack of safety data. Even after hundreds of reports of IVC filters causing serious and fatal injuries, around 250,000 patients still get the devices each year.

IVC filters remain in use despite serious potential safety risks because they are one of the only solutions for blood clots for patients who cannot take blood thinners. IVC filters can serve the life-saving purpose of catching blood clots before they travel to the lungs and plug the pulmonary artery. Unfortunately, IVC filters do more harm than good in some patients. A relatively high number of complaints about IVC filters causing adverse events have reached the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since about 2005, making this medical device a significant risk to patients.

Most complaints have reported IVC filter migration, in which the filter does not stay where the surgeon implanted it in the inferior vena cava vein. Device migration can cause serious complications and wrongful death. The issue of pieces of the filter breaking off was the second-most common complaint, followed by vein or organ perforation and filter fracture. The inability to remove the IVC filter once it’s served its purpose is also a potential issue, as the device can lodge in the IVC, protrude through a blood vessel, or have an abnormal position. If you or a loved one suffered any of these complications, talk to a New Jersey product liability attorney at our firm.