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Infusion pumps are commonly used in hospitals to intravenously (IV) deliver fluids, medication or nutrients. The pumps can administer both small and large amounts of fluids over a period of time, making them more effective than manual administration by the nursing staff.
Commonly injected medications and liquids include:
There are many safety features that are intended to keep patients safe. These features include an anti-free flow device, an air in line detector and a drug library that limits drugs and should help avoid medication errors.
Problems With Infusion Pumps
Though the benefits of modern infusion pumps cannot be dismissed, too many recalls over the past four years, 87, have lead the FDA to further investigate the safety problems associated with infusion pumps. Why is a device meant to help hurting, even killing so many? There have been at least 710 deaths linked to infusion pump malfunction in Wisconsin and nationwide.
One of the major issues with defective pumps is that they fail without warning. This failure causes inaccurate flow issues. These include back flow and over-infusion, even free flow. Any of these events should trigger an alarm within the device. However, too often the failures do not trigger an alarm and the patient is harmed, even killed.
What the FDA is Doing
The FDA has finally taken notice of this serious problem. Infusion pumps, along with IVF devices and defibrillators are under close scrutiny by the FDA. The government agency is talking a look at the safety procedures that these medical device companies are using. They believe that the failure of so many devices may indicate an industry-wide safety issue.
Injured by a Medical Device
Know that if you have been injured or a loved one has been killed by a defective or bad medical device there is something you can do. Too many times doctors and big pharma make it seem as though these mistakes are inevitable. However, you know that a mistake has been made. You know that the mistake, the defect, has caused you serious harm and grief. You are not alone. Across Wisconsin and the nation injured parties are banding together to fight against the dangerous indiscretions of the pharmaceutical industry. Alone you may not be heard but together we can fight and win.
Contact your Milwaukee, Wis. medical class action attorney at Hupy & Abraham for your free consultation.