Canadian Families Recognize IVC Filter Danger

Publish Date : 03/01/2016

Two class action lawsuits have been filed in Canada against Cook Medical, an American IVC filter manufacturer. While suits against IVC filter manufacturers have been proceeding in the United States for some time, this is the first time that they have been pursued in Canadian courts. These suits allege that filters can migrate, puncture veins and lungs, and that pieces can break off and embolize. This type of embolism can cause serious heart damage and death.

IVC Filters were introduced to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart and causing serious damage. They were seen as a safe alternative for patients who could not be treated with blood thinners. The filters work by catching the clots and allowing the body to break them down so that they cannot proceed to the heart and brain.

One of the plaintiffs in the Canadian case is Wendy Kopeck, a woman from Red Deer, Alberta. Kopeck had a filter implanted in August, 2013. In October, 2015, Kopeck went to have the filter removed, but her doctors decided that the procedure would be too risky. A subsequent PET scan revealed that the filter had broken with part of the device poking a hole in the jugular vein and the rest migrating to her small intestine. As a result of the device’s defects, it can now never be removed, and Kopeck must stay on blood thinners for the rest of her life.

These problems come on the heels of a number of adverse reports from the FDA involving IVC filters. Because of the problems with the filters, the FDA has recommended that doctors seriously weigh the the risks and benefits for each patient before implanting the devices. The agency has also recommended that IVC filters be removed within 29 to 54 days.

If you or a loved one has an IVC filter, give us a call. We know that this is a stressful time, and we would love to help you get the compensation and peace of mind that you deserve.

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