Texas GE Nuclear Medicine System Lawyer

GE Healthcare has recalled several Nuclear Medicine Imaging Systems after an incident in which a camera fell off a machine and killed a patient. GE and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered hospitals to stop using the nuclear medicine systems until they can be checked for safety.

Do I Have a Texas GE Nuclear Medicine System Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was injured by a recalled nuclear medicine sysetm, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit in Texas.

What is the GE Nuclear Medicine System?

GE Healthcare is the manufacturer of Nuclear Medicine Imaging Systems, which are used to create images of internal anatomy.

Patients are normally given an intravenous injection of a small amount of radioactive substance. After a few hours, the patient rests on their back on a special bed. The bed moves slowly into a doughnut-shaped hole. Special gamma cameras and scanners move around the patient and detect radiation. These cameras are located behind panels made of lead, and each panel can weigh hundreds of pounds.

The systems track radiation emitted by radioactive fluids injected into a patient. The scanner builds an image of the patient’s internal organs and deep tissues to help pinpoint many diseases. It is often used as an alternative to MRI and CAT scans.

What is the problem?

A 66 year-old patient being scanned in a Veteran’s Hospital in New York was crushed to death when a GE Healthcare Infinia Hawkeye 4 nuclear medicine system collapsed after bolts securing the machine came loose. The hospital reported that the machine was installed in 2006.

According to GE Healthcare:

“Bolts securing the camera to the gantry were loose, thereby stressing the support mechanism and resulting in the incident. The safety concern is related to a potential patient entrapment or crush hazard if the camera falls during a patient exam.”

FDA Safety Warning for Nuclear Medicine System

On July 29, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class 1 recall of the GE Healthcare Nuclear Medicine Systems because “serious injuries or deaths could occur.”

The FDA warning followed several actions from GE. They became aware of the incident on June 5, they inspected the defective machine on June 17, and issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall to their customers on July 3.

Nuclear Medicine System Recall

GE has issued a recall of all types and all manufacturing dates of products with a similar mechanical design that could have the same defect. The products were sold between October 1992 until June 2013. The recall instructs healthcare facilities to stop using the nuclear medicine systems until a GE representative can inspect the machine and perform any necessary repairs.

Recalled nuclear medicine systems include:

• Infinia Nuclear Medicine Systems
• VG and VG Hawkeye Nuclear Medicine Systems
• Helix Nuclear Medicine Systems
• Brivo NM615
• Discovery NM630
• Optima NM/CT640
• Discovery NM/CT670
• And more

Do I have a GE Nuclear Medicine System Lawsuit in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Texas GE nuclear medicine system lawsuit review.