A Louisiana man has filed a product liability lawsuit against GranuFlo maker Fresenius Medical Care (FMC), alleging that he suffered a heart attack and stroke following hemodialysis treatment, in which the company’s GranuFlo or NaturaLyte solutions were used. In the complaint, filed by Ronnie Glasper on January 25 in the U.S. District Court for the …
A Louisiana man has filed a product liability lawsuit against GranuFlo maker Fresenius Medical Care (FMC), alleging that he suffered a heart attack and stroke following hemodialysis treatment, in which the company’s GranuFlo or NaturaLyte solutions were used. In the complaint, filed by Ronnie Glasper on January 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the plaintiff claims that he received the recalled hemodialysis solutions while undergoing hemodialysis treatment in a Louisiana clinic. According to allegations raised in the complaint, FMC knew or should have known about the potential risk of heart attack and cardiac arrest associated with the use of GranuFlo since 2004, when research found that the solution may lead to metabolic alkalosis, which can result in sudden heart problems. If you have experienced a major complication that you believe to be related to FMC’s GranuFlo solution, contact our knowledgeable attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center today.
Risk of Life-Threatening Side Effects With GranuFlo
GranuFlo, a dry acid concentrate, and NaturaLyte, a liquid acid concentrate, are products manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care and commonly used during hemodialysis treatment at clinics throughout the United States. However, both GranuFlo and NaturaLyte solutions have recently been found to increase bicarbonate levels in patients at a much higher rate than most doctors typically expect from treatment, which can have devastating consequences if not properly monitored. In an internal memo issued to FMC-run clinics in November 2011, the company warns its own doctors that as many as 941 GranuFlo patients suffered sudden cardiac arrest in 2010 related to improper monitoring during hemodialysis. Unfortunately, the company inexplicably failed to warn other non-FMC clinics using GranuFlo during treatment about this serious risk.
Contact Our Experienced Attorneys to File a Claim
It wasn’t until after the FMC internal memo was leaked to the FDA that the firm finally issued a GranuFlo side effect warning to the medical community in March 2012, which was then categorized as a Class I recall by the FDA. According to Glasper, FMC failed to adequately warn consumers and medical professionals about the potential side effects of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, which could lead to complications like cardiac arrest, hypoxemia, hypokalemia, hypercapnia, heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension and even death. A growing number of similar product liability lawsuits have been filed against Fresenius over complications associated with its GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysis solutions. If you received GranuFlo or NaturaLyte during hemodialysis treatment, and you have since suffered a stroke, heart attack, or another serious side effect, consult our skilled lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a lawsuit against FMC, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses.