Medtronic has issued a defective product recall for some of its LifePak CR defibrillators because humidity may cause them to malfunction. According to a news report, these defibrillators were manufactured and distributed between July 9 and August 19, 2008. Defibrillators are medical instruments that are designed to fix abnormal heart rhythms by delivering electric shocks. Company officials say the recalled products may break down in humid conditions and may fail to analyze heart rhythm accurately. As a result the defibrillator may fail to send the required electric shocks or delay sending it, which may result in serious personal injury or death to patients. The company has not yet announced the scope of this defective product recall.

Defective Medical Devices

This is not the first product recall for Medtronic, which manufactures a variety of medical devices. In June of this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert regarding certain Medtronic Kappa and Sigma Pacemakers stating that wiring problems in these defective medical devices could make them potentially lethal to patients. FDA officials said continued use of these defective medical devices will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Products Liability Issues

Defibrillators are commonly used all over the United States by emergency personnel including firefighters, paramedics, lifeguards and even police departments in emergency situations. The defibrillator works by connecting a small electrode between the heart and a computer in the device. This device monitors the heartbeat and if it detects an arrhythmia, it activates a built-in pacemaker to stabilize the heart rate. If this fails, the defibrillator sends a jolt to the heart. A defibrillator failure in an emergency situation can be devastating to a patient. A defective defibrillator could be potentially lethal to a patient during an emergency.

There is no question that the manufacturers of these defective medical devices must be held accountable for putting these defective products in the market and putting lives in danger. If you have suffered serious personal injury or have lost a loved one as a result of these defective Medtronic defibrillators or pacemakers, please contact a reputed California products liability lawyer to find out more information about how to pursue your rights. The best product defect attorneys will always provide a comprehensive initial consultation at no charge.

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