A story in the Greenville News out of South Carolina concerns a local man who filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of his artificial hip.
The report says Tony R. Bishop had the all-metal M2a Magnum Hip System, manufactured by Indiana-based Biomet, implanted in 2006 after he fell off a horse.
Bishop eventually had it removed last month in a four-hour surgery, after “it caused bone and tissue destruction and toxic levels of cobalt and chromium,” the report says.
All-metal hip implants, featuring both a ball and a socket coated in a mixture of cobalt and chromium, were initially introduced as more durable alternatives to the older plastic and ceramic models. But they’ve since generated global concerns over their tendency to break down after only a few years, and to shed toxic metal debris in patients’ bodies.
For example, implants manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics were recalled in 2010 after a number of studies showed nearly half needed replacement within six years. Widespread lawsuits against DePuy cite internal documents indicating that the company continued to market the implants despite being aware of their problems.
Similarly, Bishop’s lawsuit alleges Biomet concealed serious complications and other “bad data” about the company’s devices prior to the surgery.
Bishop, a 41-year-old former janitor, is no longer able to work, one of his lawyers said. Damages are expected to far exceed $75,000, according to the lawsuit.
You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns from a DePuy hip implant. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a DePuy hip lawyer to discuss your legal rights.
See the story here:
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20121204/NEWS/312040067/Man-sues-hip-implant-manufacturer
