Lawsuit indicates design defects caused stapler to malfunction, resulting in numerous injuries, long-term hospitalization and weeks of rehabilitation and home health care
The Covidien surgical stapler lawsuit claims the manufacturers deceived the FDA and the public by reporting incidents involving the staplers as malfunctions instead of injuries.
Plaintiff was required to carry an external plastic bag from which he had to empty his bowel contents for four months.
Similar complaints have been filed in the U.S. over Covidien surgical stapler failures, as well as failures by surgical staplers from other manufacturers.
The FDA has received tens of thousands of reports of surgical stapler failing and breaking during surgery, resulting in adverse events and hundreds of patient deaths.
Problems with an End to End Anastomosis Stapler used during a surgical procedure caused a colorectal anastomic leak from an area of “non-functional staples,” resulting in sepsis and the need for additional surgery.
