Alaris Infusion Pumps
Infusion pumps have contributed greatly to the world of medicine. These pumps are meant to ease the process of administering drugs to patients who receive daily doses of intravenous medications, eliminating the need for painful injections. There are some potential risks regarding the use of these infusion pumps, even though they are designed to be a benefit to patients to make them more comfortable. This is especially true when it comes to the infusion pumps manufactured by Alaris; One-thousand three-hundred of the Alaris infusion pumps were seized at their manufacturing plant by the FDA in August of 2006. Defects were found in its design that resulted in the infusion of more than the prescribed dosage of medication into the bloodstream. This over-infusion of medication leads to overdose and can possibly result in the affliction of serious injuries or even death.
The Alaris infusion pump has a touch-sensitive keypad that was found to sometimes bounce when pressed to register a medication's infusion rate. This key bounce defect occurs when a number is registered twice, even if the keypad was pressed once. An example of this is when, instead of registering the number four, as was pressed by a user to indicate that his medication's infusion rate is at four millimeters per hour, 44 is registered because of the key bounce. The pump would then deliver ten times more medicine into the patient's bloodstream than was intended.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the seizure of the Alaris infusion pumps after their February 2006 inspection resulted in the discovery of violations committed by the manufacturer in the quality of the products. When FDA labs confirmed the key bounce problem, all of the products that violated their stringent regulations were seized. Only the pumps found at the site were seized, though, and the distribution of the other units that were found not to have the key bounce problem was not stopped. Hospitals that used the Alaris infusion pumps were told to follow a procedure to check the pressure, among other inner workings of the product, and to cease using it if an error or problem was present.
If you are using an Alaris infusion pump, you should be wary about the continued use of the product. In addition to consulting your doctor, it might also be advisable to contact an experienced lawyer. A good lawyer will answer all of your questions regarding the device, its defects, and the possible implications of its continued usage. But, if you suspect that additional ailments that you or your loved one are now experiencing may have been caused by your Alaris infusion pump, then getting a lawyer to help you make a claim against the company is necessary, and should be done as soon as possible.
There are now many lawyers and attorneys who specialize in lawsuits regarding defective medical products. Choose one who has extensive knowledge about the Alaris infusion pump so he or she can better evaluate your case thoroughly and determine if your current injuries or problems were really caused by your infusion pump. It is best to provide lawyers with the medical evaluation of your doctor as well. If it is determined that your conditions or injuries are a result of the defects in an Alaris infusion pump, then your lawyer will represent you in contacting the manufacturer of the medical device and filing a claim against them. He or she will be your voice when it comes to the possible settlement of your case.
In most cases, you will not have to worry about upfront attorney fees. Many lawyers specializing in defective medical devices offer free evaluation of potential personal injury cases. Clients who decide to proceed with their cases will not be charged for the services rendered by these lawyers until the case is won and compensation is received. Get your life back and the compensation you deserve contact a lawyer today.
