Second Medical Opinion Recommended For DePuy Hip Recall

Numerous questions came to the minds of the people who have received defective units of the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System when DePuy Orthopaedics voluntarily recalled the devices. There is even reason to believe that DePuy knew of the ASR's problems since 2007 but have failed to take appropriate action. Only a seasoned DePuy hip lawyer can give you the answers to all your questions. However, some of them will be addressed here to provide comprehension to those who have yet to hire legal help. Questions about the DePuy recall include the following:

Does my orthopedic surgeon have a financial interest in DePuy? As the DePuy ASR recall gained worldwide recognition, the manufacturer's past offenses began to resurface. One such case is the doctor kickback scandal where consultants and institutions were paid more than $50 million in money and items of value to promote their company. The U.S. Department of Justice fined them a hefty amount and made DePuy agree to publicly post paid consultants in their website. Surgeons who have accepted such compensation from DePuy are liable to feel obligated towards the company.

If revision surgery is necessary, do I have to receive a replacement hip manufactured by DePuy? As you begin to discuss medical options with your doctor, it becomes apparent just what brand of product your physician prefers. If he pushes you to choose a devise from DePuy, regardless of how uncomfortable you are with the idea, he is likely to have financial ties with the company. There is a wide selection of hip replacement products out for sale. Eventually, what hip replacement you would decide to have implanted is entirely up to you.

Should the surgeon who installed my original hip replacement perform the revision surgery to replace my faulty device? One out of eight recipients of the DePuy hip replacement devices are necessitated to undergo a second bout of surgery or a revision surgery. A doctor who is financially affiliated with the company would likely favor the company's product as he has an obligation to use the devices on his patients. The second opinion of another orthopedist is urged from the recipients to ensure that you will receive the optimal medical attention you certainly have a right to. This is just to avoid any conflict of interest that might arise from having a doctor who has ties with the company as well as broaden your options regarding your surgery.

The queries above are deemed reasonable and perceptive. As you face tremendous doubt concerning the interests of those whom you should trust, it is never a poor idea to be extra careful. Any more questions you might have regarding your hip recall lawsuit are best discussed with your DePuy lawyer. Good thing a free consultation is offered to ASR recipients who wish to be compensated for their losses. Check out the Hip Replacement Recall Information website today.

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Hip Replacement Recipients Encouraged to Obtain Their Medical Records

Since DePuy Orthopaedics recalled its ASR hip replacement devices back in August 2010, many people have been wondering whether or not their hip replacement procedures were performed using one of these devices. The only way to be completely sure is to contact the surgeon who performed the procedure to determine the risk factor of the device failing.

Many patients are learning that access to medical records can prove problematic. In the United States, patients are entitled to view almost anything in their records, with very few exceptions. None of these exceptions is relevant to records of a hip replacement surgery. Most requests for access can be honored during an informal doctor/patient consultation, or by requesting to pick up the records from the physician’s office. In some cases, however, gaining access is proving difficult. If patients meet with difficulty obtaining records from their physicians or their staffs, steps can be taken to obtain the pertinent details. Very often, a request in writing may be required, in addition to nominal costs for copying records and the required postage needed to deliver them to a patient. If a request goes unanswered, patients are advised to contact the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to file a complaint. A patient should also make inquiries to any state-level agencies that could prove helpful in these circumstances. Filing a complaint could result in the physician getting reprimanded and ordered to turn over the records per the patient’s request.

The Rottenstein Law Group has highly skilled hip replacement lawyers advocating for patients affected by the DePuy hip recall. An integral part of the process is having access to medical records that prove patients were harmed by negligence on the part of DePuy Orthopaedics and its parent company, Johnson and Johnson. Patients are advised to be persistent, yet calm, in their efforts to obtain their medical records. Victims are also advised to consult the Web site the Rottenstein Law Group has established to keep patients updated on the latest news about the DePuy hip recall lawsuit.