Another Medical Device Maker Charged With Improper Marketing

We have spent a lot of time on this blog talking about pharmaceutical companies and their often inflated claims of what their drug will do. We don't want you to get us wrong, pharmaceutical companies are not the only ones that will often use improper marketing practices. Take for example a medical device maker by the name Synthes. The company, along with four of its executives, was indicted recently on federal charges. Charges filed in Federal court claimed the company promoted bone filler products for purposes that were not approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). While the bone filler was approved for use in general bone repair, that is not the case for spinal conditions. Authorities expressed their concern regarding potential leakage of the bone filler into the bloodstream of patients where it could cause and irreparable damage and possibly death.

United States Attorney, Michael L. Levy said "They (Synthes) put their profits ahead of responsible business practices and the truth." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. The longer we practice law the more surprised we are by companies like Synthes and others that continue to seek to deceive the public via untruthful advertising and marketing practices.

We at westonlawyers.com marvel we hear about situations such as these. Unfortunately it seems that they are all too common. That's why it is laughable to us when we hear the medical and pharmaceutical community accusing attorneys of filing frivolous lawsuits and of being the impetus behind high premiums for medical malpractice insurance. To the medical community we would say “Start holding one another accountable”. They must set higher standards for the procedures they use, the devices they produce, and the medicines they prescribe. A dose of extra caution can save a lot of heartache down the road for victims and for their families. In today's marketplace, the only remedy the consumer often has when their rights have been violated is a legal remedy. We will continue to vigorously defend the rights of people when they have been violated. And we will continue to inform the public of wrongdoing at every turn.

We agree with the quote by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Everyone sooner or later sits down to a banquet of consequences." All of us should be careful of our actions for each of them will be followed by consequences. That’s a good lesson for the medical and pharmaceutical companies as well as, the rest of us. to us and we will be happy to respond to them here.