The MRL/Welch Allyn AED 20 Automatic External Defibrillators are being recalled. The medical devices are used by medical and emergency personnel to treat pediatric and adult patients that have suffered heart attacks.
Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc. announced the recall. It said that the defibrillators might display a “Defib Comm” error message that would result in the device’s terminal failure to function properly and give an unconscious patient the proper electric shock needed to restore normal heart rhythm.
The FDA is calling this a Class I recall, which is the most serious level of recall and indicates that the product defect could cause wrongful death or serious injury. Medical and emergency personnel are being told to stop using the AED 20 Automatic External Defibrillators right away.
This is not the first recall initiated by Welch Allyn. In June, 580 medical devices were recalled because the internal electrical connection could potentially fail. 30 cases reported the malfunction, which delayed patients’ resuscitation.
If you or someone you love is seriously injured because of a defective medical device, you should speak with a products liability attorney right away.
The manufacturers of medical devices are legally responsible for making sure that their products are safe for use. They have to notify consumers of any possible risks that can result in injury or death. If the manufacturer fails to do so, they can be held liable for any injuries and wrongful deaths. The re-sellers and distributors of defective medical devices can also be held legally responsible.
Every year, thousands of people in the United States are affected by a defective medical device—either through injury, misdiagnosis, medical error, or wrongful death. Aside from this current recall, over 236,000 defective defibrillators have been recalled in the past two years.
Welch Allyn Defibrillators that are part of the recall:
RL/Welch Allyn AED 20 Automatic External Defibrillators, serial numbers between 205787 and 207509
Other defibrillators that have been recalled include defibrillators by Guidant, Medtronic, and St. Jude.
Class I Recall Issued for Welch Allyn Defibrillators, News Inferno, September 18, 2007
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