Costly Recalls Plague DePuy

Not long after discontinuing their ASR Hip Implant Devices, DePuy Orthopedics of Johnson and Johnson have voluntarily issued a global recall of their defective line of products. This covers ninety three thousand patients that received the flawed implant during hip replacement surgery. The company faces a decline in shares, risky stocks, and a variety of expensive lawsuits as a result. In light of the DePuy hip recalls, DePuy Orthopedics has opted to compensate the medical costs for the recipients of these devices, which could involve secondary “revision” surgery, tests, and other treatments. Even the devices that appear to be functioning correctly should be medically examined. Annual monitoring of the device is strongly suggested for the implants that will remain with the patient. Others have had them removed due to serious side affects and rejection.

In the medical device market, there have been many different companies in similar positions to that of Johnson and Johnson today. Another manufacturer of knee and hip implants settled for one billion dollars in relation to their products. Experts expect more legal action to plague the company as time goes on, despite the compensation offers made by the company. Because so many patients will require additional surgery, they can expect to lose wages with absence from work and other costs that aren’t offered by DePuy. This alone is motivating patients to seek legal action against the company.

Considering there are ninety three thousand patients that have received DePuy hip implants, the company will be covering heavy losses for medical expense compensation. In addition to this, costly settlements and legal suits are also likely to occur in the near future.