Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

Recent news of a new medical device has doctors and researchers excited of a possible ground breaking discovery. Doctors say that a “new type of heart pump greatly improves survival of people with severe heart failure,” and could become the first one of these devices to be widely used as a permanent treatment (AP for FindLaw, 11/17). The HeartMate II device is implanted into a patient’s heart to help the heart pump adequately.

Although more research is certainly necessary, in one study, the new device increased the number of patients who survived at least two years four-fold compared to an older pump. The older pump is used now just to keep patients ticking while they await a transplant. However, as with many new medical technologies, there is a substantial cost issue as the device itself runs up an $80,000 bill with an additional $45,000 necessary for the implanting surgery and hospital stay.

Although the new device has potential to enhance many lives, as a Chicago lawyer with medical malpractice and products liability experience, I hope adequate safety testing is completed before the device is used consistently. One very promising study certainly is exciting, but other confirming studies are necessary before a new device is used widely.