Ethicon Surgical Stapler Recall Injury Lawyer & Johnson & Johnson Lawsuit Attorney
Our firm is currently accepting clients who may have been injured (or who may be at risk of injury and future corrective surgery) arising from the use of Ethicon surgical staples. Because of important legal deadlines, if you or a family member suffered complications as the result of staples between 2015 and 2020, we urge you to contact us immediately by calling us at 1.800.366.8653 or by filling out the contact form so that you can preserve your rights to seeking compensation. If you are unsure as to whether these staples were used in your surgery, we also urge you to contact us, and we can determine whether these staples were used in your surgery.
FDA Recall of Ethicon Staplers
In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class 1 recall (the most serious type of recall) of Ethicon surgical staplers.[1] By investigation complaints and returned products, Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon’s parent company) confirmed uncut washers in these staplers and malformed staples occur within several of Ethicon’s surgical staplers due to insufficient firing, which can compromise staple line integrity. The use of the affected products has been reported to cause significant injuries and even death.[2]
If you or a loved one suffered from surgical complications linked to Ethicon staplers between 2015 and 2020, you might be entitled to compensation for you or your family’s physical, financial, and emotional losses. At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock & Wallace, we assist families in seeking compensation to cover future medical care and lifelong needs. Call our office to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We can review the facts of your case, explain your legal options, and tenaciously fight to get you and your loved one every dollar to which you are rightfully entitled.
What Ethicon Staplers Are Included in the Recall?
The FDA recalled the following Ethicon staplers and products:
- Endo-Surgery Curved Intraluminal Stapler with Adjustable Height Staples;
- Endo-Surgery Endoscopic Curved Intraluminal Stapler with Adjustable Height Staples (Product Codes: CDH21A, CDH25A, CDH29A, CDH33A, ECS21A, ECS25A, ECS29A, ECS33A); [3]
- ECHELON Endoscopic Linear Cutter (Product Code: EC60A);
- ECHELON Flex 60 Powered Plus Compact Articulating Endoscopic Linear Cutter (Product Code: PCEE60A);
- ECHELON Flex 60 Powered Plus Articulating Endoscopic Linear Cutter, 44cm Shaft Length (Product Code: PLEE60A); and
- ECHELON Flex 60 Powered Plus Articulating Endoscopic Linear Cutter, 34cm Shaft Length (Product Code: PSEE60A).[4]
Surgeons often use Ethicon Endo-Surgery staplers in the gastrointestinal tract to create connections between structures in surgical procedures, while the Echelon Flex Endopath staplers can be used in open or minimally-invasive surgical procedures, including:
- Gynecologic
- Urologic
- Thoracic
- Pediatric
- General Surgeries
Patients who have had or may undergo surgery involving staplers for internal use may be affected by this recall. If you experienced complications after a significant surgical procedure and are unsure whether a defective stapler was used, contact us today. We may be able to request medical records to determine whether a defective Ethicon stapler was used during your procedure.
What Are the Symptoms of a Surgical Complication from Defective Ethicon Devices?
In general, defective surgical staples can lead to surgical complications, including:
- Improper Placement
- Infections
- Poor Wound Healing
- Leak in a Closure (Anastomotic Leak)
- Wound Reopening
- Allergic Reactions
- Sepsis
- Death
- Bleeding
- Bowel Leakage
- Fistula Formation
- Additional Surgeries
- Placement of a Permanent Ostomy “Bag”
- Life-Long Nutritional Deficiencies
- Digestive Issues
If you underwent surgery and experienced any of these complications, a defective stapler may be to blame for your suffering.
How Do I Know If I Am at Risk from an Ethicon Surgical Stapler Complication?
Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a patient to determine the type of staples used in a surgery, as they are internally placed. As a result, it may be helpful to retain an attorney who can obtain the medical records and review these records to determine what types of stapes were used. At our firm, we have nurses on our full-time staff who are experienced in medical records review, and who assist in understanding the full nature of a surgery.
Additionally, at Olsman MacKenzie Peacock & Wallace, our experienced medical device attorneys can assess the facts of your case and help determine whether you or your loved one may have been affected by the Ethicon surgical stapler recall. In addition to working with our nurses, we also work with physicians and other medical professionals to determine what future medical care may be required, such as having corrective surgery. Physicians can also provide an opinion as to the potential risks that a patient may be facing (in addition to potentially needing correct surgery).
What Damages May I Be Entitled to If A Defective Ethicon Stapler was Used During My Surgery?
Patients affected by a defective Ethicon stapler may be entitled to take legal action through an Ethicon surgical stapler class-action lawsuit. Our team of experienced medical device lawyers can assist in seeking to hold Ethicon (and parent company Johnson & Johnson) accountable for selling these allegedly defective products.
If successful, injured patients and surviving family members may be entitled to recover damages, including for:
- Medical Expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
- Loss of Consortium
- Punitive Damages
- Wrongful Death
- Other Injuries and Damages
In total, clients and their families could recover significant compensation for their injuries and losses.
Fill Out the Form to the Right for a Free Ethicon Stapler Lawsuit Case Evaluation!
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have been affected by the Ethicon stapler recall, please fill out the form below or contact our office to schedule a free consultation. Our dedicated team of injury lawyers can listen to the facts of your case and explain your legal options for seeking justice and the full compensation that you rightfully deserve.
[1] Ethicon Recalls Circular Staplers for Insufficient Firing and Failure to Completely Form Staples, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/ethicon-recalls-circular-staplers-insufficient-firing-and-failure-completely-form-staples.
[2] Ethicon Recalls Circular Staplers for Insufficient Firing and Failure to Completely Form Staples, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/ethicon-recalls-circular-staplers-insufficient-firing-and-failure-completely-form-staples.
[3] Ethicon Recalls Circular Staplers for Insufficient Firing and Failure to Completely Form Staples, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/ethicon-recalls-circular-staplers-insufficient-firing-and-failure-completely-form-staples.
[4] Ethicon Recalls ECHELON FLEX ENDOPATH Staplers for Failure to Completely Form Staples, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/ethicon-recalls-echelon-flextm-endopathr-staplers-failure-completely-form-staples.