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Insulin Pump Recall Leads to Deaths


According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Medtronic insulin pumps are facing a recall due to a flood of over 26,000 reported malfunctions. The malfunction led to thousands of injuries and at least one death. Ultimately, Medtronic is recalling over 300,000 insulin pumps as part of the Class I recall. Affected products include the Model 630G and Model 670G.

The malfunction issues stem from a loose reservoir that would not lock into the insulin pump due to a broken retainer ring. For many victims, the retainer ring broke due to accidentally dropping the insulin pump. This malfunction ultimately led the pump to deliver an incorrect amount of insulin; either too much or not enough for the patient. If the insulin cartridge is not locked into the correct place, the device can ultimately interrupt the amount of insulin given to the patient.

This is a disastrous mistake due to the nature of diabetes and the importance of a proper dosage of insulin. Receiving too much insulin or not enough can lead to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, which can result in severe health issues or even death. According to a representative of Medtronic, the organization improved their production of the insulin pump to prevent future issues from occurring. Updates made on the insulin pump include a better design. The organization claims that the new pump is less fragile, leading to a lower risk of it breaking. Medtronic also claimed that it improved the pump retainer ring.

What Should Patients Do?

Patients with these medical devices should examine them to see whether the reservoir locks into place or if the retainer ring is broken. If not, the patient is still able to use the device as normal. However, patients should plan to examine the device often, especially after an accidental drop. If patients find that their medical device is broken, they should immediately stop using the pump and instead inject insulin manually. Patients can also contact Medtronic to have their insulin pumps replaced if it is broken. Any victims who faced an injury or fatality from the Medtronic insulin pump should immediately contact a defective medical device lawyer to obtain justice and entitled compensation.

Philadelphia Defective Medical Device Lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler Help Those Affected by Defective Medical Devices

If you or a loved one was affected by a defective medical device, contact a Philadelphia defective medical device lawyer at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. Our lawyers work closely with victims to obtain damages from liable parties when a defective medical device leads to an injury or fatality. Contact us online or call us at 215-569-4000 for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, we proudly serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including Delaware County, Chester County, and Philadelphia County.