Patients who become seriously injured by defective medical devices have a clear legal recourse: They can bring a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer, or even against the surgeon who first implanted the faulty device. In the case of surgical staplers, however, many people may have been hurt without receiving the justice they deserve, due to a secret FDA exemption for surgical stapler manufacturers.
At Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, we help people who have been injured because of manufacturer negligence – and our experienced product liability attorneys never back down from a challenge. If you believe that a surgical stapler led to catastrophic injuries or the loss of a loved one, our New York team can take your claim all the way to court. Bringing over 30 years of experience and a strong commitment to justice, our attorneys can handle even the most complex medical device claim and increase your chance of recovery.
Helping Clients Across the Nation
To schedule your complimentary case evaluation, call (212) 684-1880 today.
Surgical staples are meant to be a healing aid, rather than a source of additional harm. Used in both internal and external procedures to seal wounds under high tension, surgical staples have the power to save lives when designed and used correctly. However, when they backfire, the results can be devastating, and range from internal bleeding and infection to death.
Why do surgical staples cause injuries? Here are the most commonly cited reasons:
If a surgeon fails to exercise due diligence on the operating table, or if the manufacturer of a life-saving medical device ignores key product defects, our legal system allows injury victims to hold them accountable. Of course, in order to do that, there must also be clear evidence that a product is prone to causing injuries.
In the case of surgical staplers, it has often been difficult for victims to receive justice, due to the fact that only 84 malfunctions had ever been reported in the public FDA database. Then, in March 2019, the FDA was forced to reveal that they had a separate, secret database just to track these stapler malfunctions, after Kaiser Health News published a full report online.
According to that KHN report, thousands of device malfunctions were intentionally hidden from the public, with up to two-thirds of all surgeons admitting that they either personally witnessed a stapler malfunction, or had heard of a colleague who experienced it. In all, more than 10,000 surgical stapler malfunctions – many of which caused the patient’s death – were tracked through this secret FDA system.
In withholding crucial information from physicians, the FDA may have helped the surgical stapler companies to avoid scrutiny – and as a result, allowed countless patients to suffer life-altering injuries. Now that the secret database has become common knowledge, many victims are choosing to pursue product liability claims against the two main stapler manufacturers: Medtronic and Ethicon.
Nothing can ever make up for the pain and loss of your injuries, but by holding these manufacturers accountable, you may be able to find some degree of peace. To that end, our compassionate New York surgical stapler attorneys are ready to fight for justice, and secure the maximum compensation for your claim.
Have you been injured by a defective surgical stapler? Call (212) 684-1880 for a free consultation at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP.
We fight tirelessly to deliver results and we are not afraid to go to trial.
We are leaders and educators in legal issues involving personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability.
We have the experience to handle your case all while providing individualized attention.
D LJuly 9, 2024Tom Giuffra was effective and professional on my recent case; he got a better outcome than I was hoping. Very positive experience and highly recommend.Richard KennedyMay 3, 2024I would recommend Edward Ruffo to the highest degree possible for anyone in need of a top-notch medical malpractice lawyer. Over the past six years, he has provided me with exceptional service and support. From day one, Mr Ruffo was incredibly attentive, always taking the time to explain complex legal processes in a way that I could understand. Moreover, he even gave me his personal cell phone. Allowing me to reach out, whenever I had questions or needed further clarity. What truly sets Mr Ruffo apart though, is how tirelessly he fought on my behalf. He went above and beyond in all matters, and allowed me to focus on my health while he took care of the rest. If you're looking for a lawyer who will truly go the extra mile for you, look no further.Thomas ZdazenskiApril 29, 2024Edward Ruffo was the lawyer I chose to represent my family after losing my mother to nursing home negligence resulting in her death.From the first time I spoke to him, he demonstrated a true passion for his job. He also demonstrated a strong ability and willingness to listen, displayed an excellent knowledge of the law, possesed excellent communication skills, was very patient, hardworking and persevering. His expertise in the area of law that he practices is superb. He is informative and is available whenever I need to speak to him or his staff. Any information imparted to me is easy to comprehend and explained in understandable terms. Mr Ruffo has worked tirelessly on my mother's case and everyone at his firm has been kind, patient and supportive. Mr Ruffo's paralegal , Nathalia Eusebio is one of the most kindhearted and personable people that I have ever had the priviledge of talking to. I cannot wait to meet her in person. She is always available to answer any questions that I have when I call the office, is friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I would recommend this attorney group to anyone who requires assistance with litigation.Kenneth WilhelmMarch 5, 2024Tom Giuffra is truly one of the very best! He gets huge verdicts for his clients and I would highly recommend him.Jay FabioDecember 13, 2023Mr.Giuffra helped me quickly reach a happy ending to a difficult time. He handled everything with the utmost professionalism and quickly/efficiently a resolution was established.Michael GreerMay 24, 2023I completely recommend working with this firm. I specifically worked with Tom and I’m very appreciative to him for handling my case and getting me a positive outcome.stephanie argentoDecember 13, 2022Thank u to Tom and Victoria for all they have done for me. They did an amazing job!!!!