DePuy Synthes has agreed to pay $120 million to settle the multistate lawsuits that allege that the company made false claims and engaged in deceptive marketing for its metal-on-metal hip implant devices.
The attorneys general of 46 states sued DePuy Synthes and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, claiming that DePuy engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in marketing its ASR XL and Pinnacle Ultamet hip implant devices. The investigation was led by South Carolina and Texas. The 46 states that brought the suits will share the settlement.
This settlement is in addition to the $2.5 billion that Johnson & Johnson paid in 2014 to settle thousands of lawsuits brought by hip replacement patients that accused the company of selling defective implants that cause injuries and the need for additional surgeries. Similar lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson and DePuy in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany, and Italy.
DePuy voluntarily recalled 93,000 of its ASR hip implants in 2010, saying that 12% of them failed within five years. DePuy took its Pinnacle devices off the market in 2013, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration strengthened its artificial hip regulations. Metal-on-metal hip implants have been linked to build-up of metal ions in the blood, groin pain, allergic reactions, bone erosion, and tissue death.
According to the settlement agreement, DePuy is required to maintain a post-market surveillance program and update procedures to track complaints over hip implants. The company must also reevaluate, and revise is marketing and promotion strategies for hip implants. DePuy must now base its claims about the longevity of its hip implants on the latest available data.
DePuy and Johnson & Johnson have denied any wrongdoing or liability. In a prepared statement, the company said, “DePuy Synthes remains committed to meeting the current and future needs of orthopedic surgeons and patients.”
what about the people?who have had surgery? who lost jobs,and been dealing with pinnacle hips for over 6yr.
Do the 46 states that split the 120 milion devide that up with the consumer’s in there states?
I have a DePuy pinnacle left hip replacement and I have been having a harder time the last six months or so in walking any distance. The cobalt levels in blood tests have not be high nor have I had revision surgery.
What are MY options under this settlemen if any?
You need to see an attorney as soon as possible. Let them advise you of your rights.
I had a pinnacle implant that poisoned my body with cobalt and has resulted with groin pain, dysphaisa acalesia, and a neurological muscle disease after 2 revision surgeries. I am pallitive and require care daily.
I received two of the DePuy Metal on Metal cobalt-chromium hips in 2008 and 2010. Last year the right hip, the older of the two, started to get painful. I had surgery to replace it after blood tests revealed serious amounts of the metals in my blood. Surgery revealed extensive damage to surrounding tissue and also sciatic nerve involvement. Although there was no discomfort in the left hip it was replaced five weeks ago to prevent similar damage and blood poisoning. Surgery revealed more tissue damage and nerve involvement than the first even though is was two years newer and had not caused pain. If you ascertain that your hip replacement was one of these in question, see your Orthopaedic Surgeon immediately for blood testing and evaluation. Cobalt Chromium levels in your blood can cause depression a dementia, let alone damage to bone, cartilage and muscle surrounding the hip.
I had a complete revision surgery only after 11 months.
Will I receive more compensations.
When will the pay out start.
I was just told by my Doctor I have the same issue. Has anyone been compensated?