Why are there so many lawsuits against pain pump manufacturers?
July 18th, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Pain pumps have been used for years by physicians to effectively deliver pain medication to surgical sites, for example, after shoulder surgery. So why are so many cases suddenly being filed against the manufacturers of pain pumps?
“I think what we’re seeing is that physicians are finally seeing the relationship between pain pumps and chondrolysis – especially since the first lawsuits were filed a couple years ago,” says Frank Woodson, shareholder with Beasley Allen Law Firm. “In addition, literature is now being published about the connection between pain pumps and chondrolysis. The more information that becomes available, the more people are learning what may be causing their shoulder problems.”
Chondrolysis is a condition in which the cartilage in the joint wears away, resulting in loss of mobility and pain. Over the past few years, surgeons began seeing several patients who have had shoulder repair surgery contract chondrolysis. It didn’t take long for doctors to discover what was causing the painful condition.
“This goes all the way back to about the year 2000. People who had surgery seven or eight years ago who thought they had recovered are now seeing that they’re losing their cartilage and they don’t know why,” Woodson says. “For a long period of time, physicians didn’t know why either. However, now that the literature is expanding and more and more doctors are finding out about this, they’re telling patients to contact attorneys to get advice on what recourse they may have.”
Several cases are set for trial this year. “I think you’re going to see juries return verdicts against these defendants and then others will start to file lawsuits as well,” Woodson says.