Medical Device Failure

Medical devices, from hip and knee replacements to pacemakers and insulin pumps, are designed to restore mobility, improve independence, and help patients fully participate in daily life.

For patients in Atlanta, that can mean regaining the ability to walk comfortably through Piedmont Park, navigate the Beltline’s trails, enjoy concerts at the Fox Theatre, or simply commute safely across the city. When these devices function properly, they allow people to remain active in Midtown, run errands in Buckhead, or keep up with demanding jobs in the Metro area.

But when a medical device malfunctions, fails prematurely, or is defectively designed, the results can be life-altering. Instead of supporting mobility and health, a defective device can cause severe pain, infection, nerve damage, cardiovascular complications, or the need for emergency surgery.

Prieto, Marigliano & Prieto, LLC represents injured patients throughout Atlanta and Georgia who have been harmed by unsafe medical or dental devices, helping them pursue compensation through product liability and negligence claims.

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What Are the Most Commonly Used Medical Devices?

Patients in Metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia rely many different medical and dental devices, both surgically implanted and externally used. Failures involving any of these devices may form the basis of a product liability claim.

Common medical devices include:

• Hip and Knee Replacements: These artificial joints can fail due to poor design, metal debris, or premature wear, leading to pain, instability, or the need for revision surgery.
• Pacemakers and Defibrillators: Electrical malfunctions, battery failure, or defective wiring can result in dangerous heart rhythm issues or sudden device shutdown.
• Insulin Pumps and Glucose Monitors: Incorrect dosage delivery or inaccurate readings can cause severe hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or diabetic emergencies.
• Surgical Mesh: Mesh used in hernia or pelvic surgeries may erode, migrate, or cause chronic pain and infection.
• IV Filters and Stents: Device fracture, migration, or blockage can injure blood vessels or vital organs.
• Breast Implants: Implant rupture or leakage can cause pain, inflammation, infection, or capsular contracture.
• Dental Implants and Abutments: Faulty dental components may loosen, fracture, or fail to integrate with bone, causing infection or nerve damage.
• CPAP Machines and Respiratory Devices: Defective seals, electronics, or toxic materials may impair breathing or expose users to harmful chemicals.

What Causes Medical Devices to Fail?

Medical device failures often stem from design flaws, manufacturing defects, or errors made by healthcare providers during installation, adjustment, or maintenance.

Common causes of device failure include:

• Defective Design: A device may be unsafe from the start because its engineering, materials, or structure make failure likely under normal use.
• Manufacturing Errors: Mistakes on the production line—such as contamination, faulty wiring, or improper assembly—can weaken or damage the device.
• Inadequate Testing: Some devices reach the market without proper long-term testing, making serious complications appear only after widespread patient use.
• Improper Implantation or Placement: A surgeon may install the device incorrectly, causing malfunction or damage to surrounding tissues.
• Lack of Maintenance or Monitoring: Some devices require regular adjustments or follow-up care, and failing to monitor them can allow problems to escalate.
• Failure to Warn About Risks: Manufacturers must disclose known hazards; when they don’t, patients and providers may unknowingly use the device unsafely.

What Are Common Symptoms of a Failing Medical Device?

Medical device failures often cause symptoms that can worsen quickly without prompt evaluation. Common warning signs of medical device failure include:

• Sudden or Worsening Pain: New or escalating pain may indicate mechanical failure, inflammation, or tissue damage around the device.
• Device Movement or Instability: A shifting implant or loose component often signals structural failure or incorrect placement.
• Infection or Redness at the Implant Site: Heat, swelling, and discharge may indicate an infection caused by a failing device or contaminated materials.
• Electrical Malfunctions: For pacemakers or insulin pumps, patients may notice shocks, skipped beats, dosage inconsistencies, or device alarms.
• Reduced Mobility or Function: Joint replacements or dental implants may lose stability, making normal movement difficult or painful.
• Systemic Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, inflammation, or unexplained illness may signal complications like device-related toxicity or internal injury.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to get immediate medical attention to determine the cause and whether you need to have your medical device removed.

What Are Complications of Medical Device Failures?

When a device fails, the resulting complications may be severe and sometimes life-threatening. Complications of a failing or defective medical device may include:

• Organ Damage: Migrating stents, filters, or implants can puncture or injure internal organs and blood vessels.
• Infection or Sepsis: A contaminated or malfunctioning device can lead to severe infections requiring hospitalization or IV antibiotics.
• Nerve Injury: Implant or dental device failures may compress or damage nerves, causing numbness, burning, or permanent sensory loss.
• Device Breakage or Fragmentation: Broken components may lodge in soft tissue, bloodstream, or bone, requiring emergency removal.
• Revision Surgeries: Failed devices often require one or more corrective surgeries, which carry additional risks, costs, and recovery time.
• Cardiac or Respiratory Emergencies: Pacemaker, defibrillator, and respiratory device failures can result in life-threatening arrhythmias or breathing distress.

Who Can I Hold Liable for My Medical Device-Related Injuries?

Medical device failure claims may involve multiple liable parties. These cases fall under product liability law, negligence, or both.

Parties that can be held liable for a medical device failure include:

• The Device Manufacturer: The company that designed or produced the device may be liable for defects, poor materials, or inadequate safety testing.
• The Device Distributor or Supplier: Businesses involved in selling or distributing the device may share responsibility if the defect occurred in the supply chain.
• The Implanting Surgeon or Dentist: A provider may be liable if improper placement, misdiagnosis, or negligence contributed to device failure.
• The Hospital or Surgical Center: Facilities may be responsible for sterility breaches, improper storage, or inadequate equipment maintenance.
• The Repair or Maintenance Contractors: Some devices require calibration, software updates, or maintenance that, when performed incorrectly, can cause malfunction.

When Is a Medical Device Failure Considered a Medical Emergency?

Certain failures require immediate medical attention, especially in cases involving cardiac, respiratory, or neurological risks.

A medical device failure may be an emergency when:

• You experience sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, or changes in heart rhythm. These symptoms may indicate pacemaker or defibrillator malfunction and must be addressed immediately by healthcare professionals.
• You notice severe swelling, bleeding, or signs of infection at the implant site. Rapid-onset infection can escalate into sepsis, or systemic infection in the blood, which can be life-threatening.
• Your device appears to have shifted or broken. Migration or fracture can damage organs or blood vessels.
• You experience numbness, loss of function, or paralysis. These may indicate nerve compression or damage from a failing implant.
• Your device issues alarms, stops functioning, or gives unexpected readings. For insulin pumps or infusion devices, failures can result in immediate and life-threatening medical emergencies.

Where Should I Get Treatment for My Medical Device Failure?

Atlanta offers several options for urgent care if you believe your medical device is failing or has already failed. Local providers who can treat medical device failures include:

• Grady Memorial Hospital: As Atlanta’s Level I trauma center, Grady treats emergencies involving device migration, severe infections, and cardiac device malfunction.
• Emory University Hospital Midtown: Specialists can evaluate failing implants, provide advanced imaging, and coordinate urgent surgical intervention when necessary.
• Piedmont Atlanta Hospital: Piedmont’s emergency department can assess complications involving orthopedic implants, pacemakers, and infusion pumps.

Keep any and all medical records and imaging from your visit. These documents will serve as important evidence throughout the lifecycle of your product liability case.

What Compensation Is Available for My Medical Device Failure?

Compensation can vary depending on the severity of the injury, the cost of treatment, and the long-term effects of the failure.

Possible damages for medical device failures that cause serious injuries and complications may include:

• Medical and Surgical Costs: This includes revision surgeries, hospitalizations, imaging, medications, and long-term rehabilitation.
• Lost Wages or Reduced Earning Ability: Serious complications may prevent you from working temporarily or permanently.
• Pain and Suffering: Device failures often cause chronic pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
• Future Medical Needs: Many patients require multiple revision surgeries, ongoing therapy, or future implant replacement.
• Permanent Disability or Disfigurement: Long-lasting injuries or surgical consequences may justify significant compensation.

How Can a Lawyer Help With My Medical Device Failure Claim?

Product liability and medical device cases are complex and evidence-heavy. It’s common for injured patients to be overwhelmed when attempting to seek compensation on their own.

Our firm helps during this often-confusing process by:

• Gathering Medical and Device Records: We’ll obtain implant logs, surgeon notes, imaging, device serial numbers, and maintenance records to identify how and when the device failed.
• Consulting Independent Experts: We’ll speak with engineers, surgeons, and biomedical specialists to evaluate whether the device was defective or improperly implanted.
• Identifying All Liable Parties: We’ll determine whether the manufacturer, surgeon, hospital, or distributor contributed to the failure of your medical device.
• Calculating Your Damages: We’ll assess your present and future financial losses, medical costs, and long-term complications.
• Negotiating With Insurance and Manufacturers: We’ll handle all communication with the insurance companies and pursue fair compensation while protecting you from high-pressure tactics.
• Preparing for Litigation: If settlement negotiations fail, we’ll build a strong courtroom case supported by expert testimony and detailed evidence.

Contact Our Atlanta Medical Device Failure Lawyers

If you were injured by a malfunctioning medical or dental device, Prieto, Marigliano & Prieto, LLC can help you pursue justice and the compensation you and your family deserve.

Our attorneys represent injured people across Metro Atlanta and handle complex product liability claims involving defective or dangerous medical devices. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.

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