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[STK]
[IN] HEA MTC MEQ
[SU] DIS SCZ LAW
-- WITH PHOTO -- TO BUSINESS, AND HEALTH EDITORS:
US Drug Watchdog Stresses the Urgency for DePuy Pinnacle All-Metal Hip
Implant Recipients to Ask About a Specific Blood Test that Can Detect
Premature Failure
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Drug Watchdog says,
"We want every US recipient of an all-metal hip implant to call us for
the code for a specific blood test that has been designed to measure
the levels of cobalt, or chromium levels in a recipients blood stream.
If the levels are elevated, the recipient should call us at
866-714-6466 so we can try to explain possible options up to and
including joining one of the class actions that are aimed at
compensation for individuals who have suffered a failure. Not only are
we worried about the actual all-metal hip implant failing, and the
crippling impact this can have on the recipient, we are also
incredibly concerned about what long term elevated levels of cobalt,
and chromium will do to someone's body." http://USDrugWatchdog.Com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75653
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75652
Important note from the US Drug Watchdog: According to the BBC
on February 28th 2012, "The government's health regulator has advised
that patients who have undergone large head metal-on-metal hip
replacements should be monitored annually for life. The Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said around 49,000 UK
patients with large-head hip implants out of 65,000 with all-metal
hips were in a high-risk category. The regulator said that they should
have blood tests to check for metal ions, and magnetic resonance
imaging scans (MRI) if they have raised metal levels or show adverse
symptoms. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17192520
Updates on litigation involving metal-on-metal hip implants
manufacturers that are being sued for premature failures from the US
Drug Watchdog:
* DePuy Pinnacle Case Number U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Texas MDL#2244. Legal sources are now telling the US Drug
Watchdog that in order to be compensated for a DePuy Pinnacle all-
metal hip implant a failure must have occurred that required revision
surgery, or a medical doctor now must be recommending revision surgery
because the device has failed, or because metalosis has been
diagnosed.
* Stryker Rejuvenate Modular &ABG II-recalled June 2012.
* Biomet M2a Magnum Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement U.S. District Court
for the Northern District of California. (Case No. 3:12-cv-3476) filed
on July 2nd 2012. The US Drug Watchdog says, "For some recipients of
the Biomet M2A, and M2 Magnum there may be a looming statute
of limitations issue of April 15th 2014 to get identified by the court
if your hip implant has failed. Please call us for more
information."
* Wright Medical Technology, Inc., Conserve Hip Implant Products
Liability Litigation ("MDL No. 2329"). This is now pending in the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
The US Drug Watchdog says, "If you have a friend or loved one who is a
recipient of a metal-on-metal hip implant that has already failed, or
is showing symptoms of a failure, or if a recipient is concerned about
a premature failure, please call us anytime at 866-714-6466. We want
to make certain all metal-on-metal hip implant recipients get
meaningful help, and assistance." http://USDrugWatchdog.com
For attribution purposes please also refer to the January 2013
notification by the US Food and Drug Administration about all-metal
hip implants:
Media Contact: M. Thomas Martin, 866-714-6466
Read more news from US Drug Watchdog.
SOURCE US Drug Watchdog
-0- 04/17/2014
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75653
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75652
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://usdrugwatchdog.com
CO: US Drug Watchdog
ST: District of Columbia
IN: HEA MTC MEQ
SU: DIS SCZ LAW
PRN
-- PH06943 --
0000 04/17/2014 12:30:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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