DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., which sells joint replacement devices and other orthopedic surgical equipment, is facing thousands of DePuy lawsuits for its hip implants, alleging that the devices are defective and can break and erode inside the body. A wave of lawsuits was filed by patients who experienced pain, metal poisoning, infections, medical complications and other injuries as a result of DePuy’s faulty hip implants and the company’s alleged failure to warn the public about their dangerous nature. Here are five reasons you may be able to be part of the lawsuits according to our friends at Cohen & Cohen.
1) Women and Men Who Had a Hip Replacement
Step one to figuring out if you are part of the people who qualify for the lawsuit is to determine whether or not you had a hip replacement. This goes for both men and women; both are eligible for this lawsuit based on DePuy’s faulty equipment. Next, if you have noticed pain since your hip replacement or other ill health effects, then you might be part of this case. Keep reading for the rest of the qualifications.
2) If Your Surgery Was in 2010 or Later
Now that you’ve said yes to the first two pieces of the puzzle (you had a hip replacement, and since your surgery you have been experiencing ill health effects), the next piece is to know when your hip replacement surgery took place. If your surgery was between 2010 and 2016, then you qualify to be part of this case. You will definitely need to get records from your doctor and surgeon documenting that your equipment came from DePuy.
3) If Your Surgery Was Used as an Experimental Procedure
If you had surgery between 2010 and 2016, there’s a chance your procedure was part of an experiment. This is because, during this time, Johnson & Johnson (DePuy’s parent company) was running a clinical trial using a new metal-on-metal hip implant. The trial ended early, in 2011, after it became clear that the implant was causing serious health problems in patients. However, Johnson & Johnson continued to sell the implant until 2016, when it finally pulled it from the market. If you received this implant during this time period, you could be part of the DePuy case.
4) If You Suffer from Complications after Your Surgery
If you have needed a second surgery to revise or replace your hip implant, you may be entitled to compensation. You may also be able to participate in the lawsuit if you have suffered from any of the following complications:
- Hip Dislocation – Hip dislocation is when the head of your femur pops out and gets stuck out of socket, this is a very painful complication that can require revision surgery and can leave lasting damage.
- Loose Joints – Loose joints occur when there is too much space between two bones which cause them to grind against each other. When this happens it causes pain and loss of mobility- often requiring revision surgery as well as more intense rehabilitation with additional therapy sessions.
5) Anyone Who Suffers from Metal Poisoning
If you suffer from metal poisoning, you may be eligible to participate in the DePuy case. Metal poisoning can occur when metal shards from a defective hip implant begin to leach into the bloodstream, causing serious health complications. Symptoms of metal poisoning include joint pain, skin rashes, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you should contact a lawyer to see if you qualify to participate in the case.
Contact a lawyer immediately to see if you qualify to be part of these lawsuits.