If you have used or currently use an I-Flow Shoulder Pain Pump (also called an ON-Q® PainBuster® Post-Op Pain Relief System), then you should know that I-Flow released a statement last month that was not entirely true. The statement said that I-Flow’s pain pump was cleared by clinical studies. However, I-Flow did not mention that the pain pump was never approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) because they could never verify it's safety on shoulder joints. I-Flow submitted three requests for FDA to approve their pain pump, but they were all rejected. Sadly, the FDA's decision did not prevent doctors from continuing to use these pain pumps "off-label" as a way of speeding up recovery time after surgery. To stem this activity, FDA issued a warning in November of 2009 that ordered manufacturers of these devices to change their labels as a way of discouraging doctors from using them.
I-Flow Pain Pump Lawsuits
Since then, numerous lawsuits have been filed against I-Flow by people who have developed a rare but painful injury called Post Arthroscopy Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL). The settlements awarded to these victims have been considerable. Last month, an Oregon jury awarded a $5.5 million verdict to Matthew Beale, a Portland father of four, for the injuries he sustained after his doctor prescribed the use of an I-Flow pain pump. Last January, an Oregon woman was awarded a $5.5 million settlement as compensation for PAGCL, and more than 150 other cases are currently being reviewed.
If you or a loved one is suffering from PAGCL as a result of a defective shoulder pain pump from I-Flow or another manufacturer, let the lawyers at Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz get you the help you need. We can assess your legal options and determine your elgibilty toward filing a lawsuit. Contact us today for a free consultation, or call us at 1-800-223-8897.