On February 6th, the FDA released an important public health announcement regarding lymphoma. According to the agency’s latest findings, breast implants increase a woman’s risk of developing this deadly condition.
If a doctor fails to warn you about these risks, does that make them liable for a medical malpractice lawsuit?
Read on to learn more about the implications of the FDA’s report.
What are the Implications of the FDA’s Release?
The FDA confirmed that over 457 women suffered from the condition of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, deadly cancer. Nine of these individuals lost their lives fighting the disease. These individuals were among the 660 total reports of cancer, but they all had an additional factor in common. They all previously had undergone breast implant surgery.
What Health Care Providers Need to Know these Risks?
The FDA was very specific about warning doctors about the real risk breast implants to pose. They penned a letter directed at the following medical fields:
- Plastic surgery
- Cosmetic surgery
- General surgery
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Internal medicine
- General practice/family practice
- Oncology
- Gynecology/Obstetrics
- Physician’s Assistance
- Nurse Practitioners
- Emergency Medicine
The FDA specified that patients diagnosed with this condition were often seeking treatment for breast-implant symptoms like asymmetry, lumps, swelling, and pain. Doctors must recognize these symptoms as indicative of masses, fluid and scar tissue surrounding the healed breast implant.
Medical Malpractice Claims After Breast Augmentation or Implants
The FDA’s news release notes how both the patients and providers need to have the most complete information about breast implants before making the decision to undergo the surgery. This new information comes after the World Health Organization also confirmed the connection between lymphoma and breast implants in 2016.
Doctors now have an obligation to test for lymphoma when the symptoms listed above occur in breast implant patients. Tests that should be performed include biopsies, chest x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound imaging.
If your doctor was negligent in ordering these tests or recognizing the early symptoms of lymphoma, then it may be possible to pursue a medical malpractice claim against them.
The manufacturers of these breast implants include Sientra, Allergan/Actavis and Mentor/Johnson & Johnson. There have been a few lawsuits against these manufacturers related to the development of lymphoma after using their products.
Contact a Haddonfield Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Consultation About Your Breast Cancer Case in New Jersey
Were you or a loved one injured due to medical malpractice in New Jersey? Then you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for guidance on how to proceed. The Haddonfield medical malpractice attorneys at The Law Offices of Andres, Berger & Tran are prepared to assist you with your legal claim. We represent victims of negligent surgeons, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists throughout New Jersey. Call us today at 856-317-6558 or email us to schedule a consultation. Our main office is located at 264 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
