Medtronic Insulin Pump Recall

Medtronic insulin pumps are designed to help those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes monitor their glucose. While these products are meant to assist people with diabetes and ensure a healthier and more convenient life for them, certain products were recently recalled due to severe side effects, such as health issues that require hospitalization and even death.

If you were or are currently using a Medtronic insulin pump and have suffered serious complications, you may be able to file a lawsuit. To better understand your options, you can seek the assistance of a defective product lawyer who can help you determine the best way for you to recover compensation for damages that you suffered.

What Is the Medtronic Insulin Pump Recall?

medtronic insulin pump recall

The Medtronic insulin pump recall is a Class I Recall from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It pertains to the MiniMed 600 Series Insulin Pumps, which were distributed between May 2015 and December 2020.

Class I recalls are the most serious types of recalls. Class II and III recalls are issued when a product defect may have less risk of causing severe complications. However, with a Class I recall, the product being recalled is believed to contain defects that can cause serious health problems or death.

What Caused the Insulin Pump Recall?

The Medtronic insulin pumps were recalled due to a clear retainer ring that was not working properly. These rings are designed to lock into place and ensure that the proper amount of insulin is being distributed to the user. When the ring works improperly, it can lead to either hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia can come on rapidly, and when it does, it can be life-threatening. Per Mayo Clinic, some of the most common side effects of hypoglycemia are:

  • Irritability and anxiety
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Shakiness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Pale appearance
  • Dizziness

Symptoms of Hyperglycemia

Unlike hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia symptoms develop over days. Because of this, your blood sugar could remain high before you ever notice that you are having a problem. 

Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

  • Urinating more often
  • Increased thirst
  • Blurred vision
  • Weakness and severe exhaustion

Later, you may start to develop abdominal pain, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. If you experience severe diarrhea and vomiting that does not go away, you may be suffering from hyperglycemia. (Mayo Clinic)

If you are using a 600 Series Medtronic insulin pump and you start to experience any of these side effects, you should notify your doctor right away. If you allow the symptoms to go untreated for too long, the problem could progress to a debilitating point.

Who Has Been Affected By the Recall?

Anyone with diabetes who has used either a Medtronic MiniMed 630G or 670G could be affected by the recall. Both of these 600 Series products are designed to help those with type 1 diabetes deliver the proper amount of insulin into their bodies. However, they were not functioning properly because of a design defect. In total, over 460,000 devices were recalled. 

It is vital that doctors are aware of the dangerous side effects that these products can cause. If your doctor prescribes you a Medtronic insulin pump, be sure to voice your questions and concerns, especially if you are assigned a Model 630G or Model 670G.

Has Anything Been Done for Those Patients Who Were Affected?

Medtronic began replacing all recalled insulin pumps with an updated pump that had a black retainer ring. These pumps were provided at no charge. The ring offered a more secure lock for the device and fixed the product’s flaw of administering the incorrect amount of insulin.

What Should You Do if You Are Using a Recalled Pump?

Medtronic provided recommendations for customers who were using their recalled pumps. They suggested that everyone using one of the recalled devices with a clear ring get in contact with Medtronic to get a replacement sent to them.

Additionally, the company offered advice for those with and without damaged rings. If you have a damaged ring, you should:

  • Stop using your pump immediately. 
  • Contact Medtronic for a replacement pump. 
  • Speak with your doctor about manual injections. 
  • Remember not to insert the reservoir back into your pump while connected. 

If the reservoir locks into place correctly and the retainer ring is operating as it should:

  • Continue using the pump until you receive a new one. 
  • Follow instructions from Medtronic about replacing your pump. 
  • Monitor your new pump and retainer ring, especially after replacing the insulin reservoir. 

If you still have concerns, even after receiving a replacement insulin pump, you should speak with your doctor about the possibility of using a different insulin pump.

Can You File a Lawsuit?

If you used one of the recalled Medtronic insulin pumps and you suffered injuries related to improper insulin balance, then you may have a claim against Medtronic. By hiring an attorney for your mass tort lawsuit, you provide yourself with someone who can help you determine how to move forward with a lawsuit and how much it is worth. 

When you choose a mass tort lawsuit lawyer to represent you, they will want to know what complications you suffered and how severe they were. The damages that you can recover include both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are items that have a definitive monetary value associated with them. These types of damages include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Lost future income

All medical expenses that you were forced to pay as a result of your malfunctioning insulin pump are recoverable. These expenses include any medicines, doctor’s visits, hospital stays, or surgeries that you need.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are damages that do not have a definitive monetary value associated with them. These damages can include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or loss of companionship in the event your loved one passes away from using the product.

Your attorney will be able to determine how much your non-economic damages are worth by reviewing your current situation as well as past lawsuits that were filed against insulin pump manufacturers.

How Does Working With a Defective Product Lawyer Help?

By working with a product liability lawsuit lawyer, you put yourself in a position to reach the best settlement possible. There are many benefits to working with an attorney, especially when facing a complicated lawsuit such as the case against Medtronic. An attorney can:

Work On Your Behalf

When you choose an attorney to represent you, they will be the one to work on your behalf. This will allow you to recover from your injuries, seek medical attention for any illnesses you suffered, and continue to live your life without having to spend all of your time and energy on your lawsuit.

Keep You Apprised of the Latest News

Your insulin pump lawsuit attorney will keep you updated on the latest status of insulin pump lawsuits, including whether a class action lawsuit or multi-district litigation (MDL) has been filed. They will stay on top of recent settlements to ensure that you are in line to receive the compensation you deserve.

Gather Evidence and Establish Liability

To present a lawsuit, you must first prove that your damages were caused by the party that you wish to sue. Product liability refers to any claim for damages brought by a plaintiff against a company in the chain of manufacturing. A business can be liable if a product’s defects directly cause a plaintiff’s injuries and they suffer damages as a result. (Legal Information Institute) 

So, if you suffered health complications because of your Medtronic insulin pump, it still must be proven that your injuries resulted from the product. To prove this, your attorney will work to gather evidence and compare your situation to the experiences of others who are also filing lawsuits.

Adhering to the Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is different in every state. The statute limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit against a person or company for damages caused by a defective product.

For more information about how long you have to file your lawsuit, speak with your Medtronic insulin pump lawsuit attorney about the specific statute in your state.

Most Attorneys Offer Free Consultations

One convenient aspect of working with an injury attorney is that most of them provide their prospective clients with free consultations. This allows you to speak with a professional regarding your situation and determine if they offer the best option to take on your case. 

Free consultations allow you to speak with multiple lawyers and decide who you feel is best to represent you in your Medtronic lawsuit. It is best if you pick someone with experience handling product liability cases who also knows about current and past insulin pump lawsuits.

Background on Medtronic Lawsuits

Even before issuing the recall, Medtronic had known that the MiniMed 600 Series insulin pump had caused thousands of injuries among patients. Many people have been seriously affected by these product defects, and many have already filed lawsuits. 

Several plaintiffs have brought a lawsuit against Medtronic in 2020 through the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiffs are arguing that these insulin pumps were not safe for use as intended and that they suffered serious damages as a result.

As of November of 2022, there has not been a mass tort lawsuit brought against Medtronic regarding its insulin pumps. However, there could be a mass tort lawsuit brought forth in the future if people keep coming forward with severe health complications. Right now, one way to seek compensation against Medtronic is to choose a lawyer to represent you and file an individual lawsuit against the manufacturer.

How Much Is My Lawsuit Worth?

The amount of compensation that you receive as a result of your lawsuit will depend on the severity of your injuries, as well as how expensive your ailments were to treat. If you were hospitalized, needed surgery, or suffered organ damage, then you will be able to recover more in compensation than someone who simply had the defective product but did not suffer serious negative effects.

At this point, lawsuits are still in the very early stages, and results for lawsuits regarding the 600 Series are pending. This makes it challenging to know how much you could receive in compensation. However, it is safe to assume that, depending on the severity of your issues, you could recover compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. In major product liability cases where plaintiffs face significant injuries, it is possible to see settlements range from tens of thousands of dollars to even six-figure amounts. 

National Diabetes Statistics

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 28.7 million people, equivalent to 8.7% of the U.S. population, had been diagnosed with diabetes. Of those with diabetes, roughly 1.6 million reported using insulin to control their type 1 diabetes.

These numbers illuminate just how many people rely on insulin pumps in the U.S. and why a recall of the nature that Medtronic has seen can be so devastating. 

If you are prescribed an insulin pump and you start to suffer adverse effects, whether there was a recall of your product or not, speak with your doctor. There are numerous insulin pumps available that may be able to help you.

Contact a Mass Torts Lawyer Today

If you were using a Medtronic 600 Series device between 2015 and 2020 and you suffered any negative health conditions during that time period, then you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Medtronic. These devices were designed to help those with type 1 diabetes, but when working improperly, they caused dangerous health issues for their users instead. By working with a lawyer, you can ensure that you stay apprised of all developing details regarding the Medtronic insulin pump lawsuit. Your mass torts attorney will be able to review recent settlement totals, related lawsuits, and any other pertinent information to ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve. Depending on the state in which you live, the statute of limitations may vary, so do not wait to contact an attorney today. When you are ready to seek the legal assistance of a Medtronic insulin pump lawsuit attorney, fill out the contact form on our website.