Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) and two other House members have called for congressional hearings to determine what is being done to protect patients from two potentially deadly medical devices—lap-bands and vaginal mesh implants.
As we have reported on this blog, five Southern California patients have now died after undergoing Lap-Band weight loss procedures at outpatient facilities affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN.
“We believe the Committee should hold hearings to examine whether FDA device regulation has been ineffective in protecting the public from dangerous medical devices like the Lap-Band,” Waxman and Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) said in the letter.
Waxman told the Los Angeles Times that he hopes the House committee holds the hearings because “the evidence is clear that there are devices on the market today that pose dangerous risks.” The issue should be taken up immediately because this year Congress is expected to reevaluate how medical devices such as the Lap-Band are regulated, Waxman stated.
“The fundamental mission of the FDA is to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices,” he said. “That is why it’s critical that we understand how unsafe devices get on the market and how to protect patients from these risks.”
If you o r someone you love has been seriously injured by a dangerous or defective medical device, don’t hesitate to contact a San Diego product liability attorney at the Law Offices of Robert Vaage for a free consultation.
The lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Vaage in San Diego provide knowledgeable legal representation in the areas of product liability, personal injury/negligence, medical malpractice, elder abuse, and employment discrimination
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