This article is from page 12 of the 2013-10-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
HIP replacement patients from County Clare gathered in the Old Ground Hotel yesterday (Monday) to hear from a law firm that is taking a group action against the firm that manufactured their faulty hip implant.
Personal injuries law firm Peter McDonnell and Associates are already representing 30 Clare patients who received a hip manufactured by De Puy ASR, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, between 2003 and 2010.
In 2006 the company ceased to sell any more of the implants in America, but continued to import them into Ireland and Europe.
On August 24, 2010 there was a worldwide recall on the hip implants, with patients reporting side affects from the prosthetic.
The implant was constructed of metal, and those with the implants are now subjected to on-going blood tests and scans amid fears of cobalt poisoning. Those that are found to have a high level of cobalt in their blood are then advised to have the DePuy hip removed and replaced with an alternative.
Mr McDonnell said that while to date DePuy has paid for the replacement costs of removing the hip, after care for patients, scans, blood tests and other associated costs, patients must take a case to cover any costs resulting to further damage as a result of metal poisoning.
The legal firm behind the suit un- derstands there are 170 more Clare people affected by the faulty implant and have advised them that it is not too late join the civil action.
DePuy ordered a recall of the medical device in 2010.
One woman from Kilrush who attended yesterday’s meeting, and did not wish to be named, said she was very worried.
In February 2009 she received her DePuy hip replacement, but after the operation suffered great discomfort.
In October that year, the surgeon operated on her hip again in a bid to fix the problem.
“That was two in the afternoon, at one that night I was back in surgery and had to have the whole thing replaced,” she said.
As it was 2009 she once again received a metal hip replacement and is now concerned about the longterm affect.
“I have had the blood tests but I never got the results, and my doctor can’t read them. I am worried,” she said.
Mr McDonnell said that the reading of the blood tests differ greatly from America to the British reading used in Ireland and can lead to a lot of confusion even among the medical profession.
The Kilrush lady said she was now considering yet another surgery, and would be looking for more blood tests and scans.
As there are no class actions each person must file an individual claim, according to the law firm.
When it is over a per centage of the claim is paid in fee to the firm.