Medical negligence claim launched over 'lethal' heart implants
Personal Injury 10 Nov 2010
A medical negligence claim has been launched by a group of five UK patients following a £165 million personal injury compensation settlement in the US.
Users of the Sprint Fidelis defibrillator made by Medtronic say the device - which administers small shocks and is designed to maintain healthy heart rhythm - could have killed them, with one individual stating he was left paralysed by 35 jolts in a single day, the Daily Mail reports.
Fitted with a model in 2007, Mr Pitt states: "I blacked out when it went off. It is only supposed to go off when one is unconscious so you are not supposed to feel anything. It really was terrifying."
The medical negligence claim follows the blaming of 13 deaths on the product, which tests have revealed is seven times more likely to malfunction than rival models.
Medtronic has agreed to the settlement, but nevertheless will not accept blame for the malfunctioning device and continues to fight the case in court.
Published by Rose Orlik
