Guidant defibrillators are one example of a defective product that has received much media attention.  On June 17th, 2005, the FDA announced that Guidant Corporation issued a recall for certain models of defibrillators after reports of life-threatening malfunctions. Defibrillators are used by heart patients to periodically send shock signals to the heart in order to counter the effects of arrhythmia.Some defect in the design of these products can cause the wiring to short-circuit and fail to perform as intended. 

50,000 Guidant defibrillators were in use throughout the world at the time of recall!

• Prizm 2 DR, Model 1861, manufactured on or before April 16, 2002
• Contak Renewal, Model H135, manufactured on or before Aug. 26, 2004
• Contak Renewal 2, Model H155, manufactured on or before Aug. 26, 2004
• Prizm AVT
• Vitality AVT
• Renewal 3 AVT
• Renewal 4 AVT

Recent lawsuits arising from injuries sustained from use of Guidant defibrillators claim that the Guidant Corporation knew of the potentially harmful defects of their products and continued to sell them even after more predictable models were made available. 

Guidant’s 2004 defibrillator sales totaled $1.8 billion!
With a cost of $25,000 per defibrillator, it’s easy to see why Guidant and other manufacturers of defective products may have allowed dangerous products on the market.

Short-circuiting of Guidant defibrillators has caused three deaths to date, including 75 year-old Jacksonville resident Bobby Smith, and  21-year-old Minnesota college student Joshua Oukrop. 

What led to the extensive Guidant defibrillator recall?
The company received reports of over 45 device malfunctions and two linked deaths. An estimated 29,000 distributed devices contained defective insulation that did not properly protect the wires.  If the insulation deteriorated, the potential for short-circuiting was great.  The second phase of the recall included additional models that contained programming errors, resulting in failure.

What restitution has Guidant made?
The company offered to provide free defibrillator replacements.

What type of defibrillator do I have?
You should have been given ID cards for your device.  If you are unsure, ask your doctor.  He or she can provide you with the medical make and model and device information.

If I have a recalled Guidant model, what happens next?
You and your doctor will discuss how best to proceed.  The FDA recommends that your doctor review your individual case to determine whether or not a removal and implantation of another model is the best option.  As any surgery carries a risk of infection, some patients may choose to take their chances with the current model. 

For more information on cardiac arrhythmia, talk to your doctor or visit the Heart Rhythm Society.

If you or a loved one uses a defibrillator, and you’re not sure if it is one of the recalled models, contact your doctor as soon as possible for more information.  If you decide you want more information about Guidant defibrillators and defective product law, set up a personal consultation with a product liability attorney.  Make sure you have the make and model of your defibrillator available. 

If you or a family member suffered injury after use of a Guidant defibrillator, contact the product liability lawyers at Hannon & Boyers for your free legal consultation.