Fresenius Medical Care and DaVita Healthcare are facing numerous dialysis class action lawsuits filed by individuals who were injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte. Before GranuFlo and Naturalyte were recalled, hundreds of people suffered from life-threatening bicarbonate overdoses, heart attack, cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest, or death.
Do I have a Dialysis Class Action 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. If you or a loved one was injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing or joining a dialysis class action lawsuit in Texas.
UPDATE: Granuflo Class Action Lawsuit In California Contains Hundreds of Claims
August 30, 2013 — Granuflo class action lawsuit in California now contains hundreds of lawsuits. Click here to read more.
June 19, 2013 — A GranuFlo class action lawsuit has been filed in Pennsylvania. Click here to read more.
March 6, 2013 — Four separate dialysis class action lawsuits were filed for injuries associated with GranuFlo and Naturalyte. All of the plaintiffs suffered from heart attacks, cardiac arrest, or cardiopulmonary arrest shortly after treatment at a DaVita dialysis clinic.
The following dialysis class action lawsuits have been filed against DaVita:
- Donald Thornton (.pdf)
- Melvin Nunes (.pdf)
- Donald Young (.pdf)
- Armando Moreno (.pdf)
What are GranuFlo and Naturalyte?
GranuFlo Dry Acid Concentrate and Naturalyte Liquid Acid Concentrate are products that are used during hemodialysis, in which patients with end-stage kidney failure have their blood mechanically cleaned and excess fluid removed. During hemodialysis, the acidity-alkalinity of the blood must be balanced before the blood can be returned to the patient. Doctors normally add a bicarbonate concentrate (an alkaline chemical) with an acid concentrate (such as GranuFlo or Naturalyte).
These dialysis products were created by Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s largest provider of dialysis treatment products and services, and sold to dialysis clinics throughout the United States (such as DaVita Healthcare). Currently, there are class action lawsuits are pending against Fresenius and DaVita.
What is the problem with GranuFlo and Naturalyte?
Many individual lawsuits and class action lawsuits allege that GranuFlo and Naturalyte are unreasonable dangerous, defective, and unsafe. The problem is that Fresenius formulated GranuFlo and Naturalyte with sodium diacetate, a chemical that is rapidly converted to bicarbonate by a patient’s liver. When a doctor measures the dose of GranuFlo or Naturalyte, he or she must adjust the dose of the bicarbonate concentrate to compensate for the “extra” bicarbonate that comes from GranuFlo or Naturalyte. If the doctor does not adjust the dosage, the patient can suffer a bicarbonate overdose.
Dialysis Injuries from GranuFlo and Naturalyte
Currently, dialysis class action lawsuits involving GranuFlo or Naturalyte have been filed by people who suffered from heart problems after being treated with these products. An overdose of GranuFlo or Naturalyte can cause metabolic alkalosis (blood pH above 7.35 – 7.45), which can interfere with electrical activity in the heart.
GranuFlo and Naturalyte are associated with the following injuries:
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Heart attack
- Cardiopulmonary arrest
- Cardiac arrest
- Permanent disability (weakness, shortness of breath, pain, etc.)
- Death
What is a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class action lawsuit (also known as a “class suit” or a “representative action” is a type of civil lawsuit. The “class” is a large group of people with similar injuries who consolidate their individual claims into one collective claim against a defendant. One plaintiff is typically selected as the “class representative” or “lead plaintiff,” whose name is the only one that appears on the case. If the case is settled or a jury awards damages, the compensation is typically split equally among the class members.
Is a Dialysis Class Action Lawsuit Right for Me?
The only way to find out is to talk to a lawyer about filing or joining a dialysis class action lawsuit. Although there can be benefits to joining a class action lawsuit, you may decide that an individual personal injury lawsuit will actually give you the best chance of maximizing your individual recovery. Even if a class action lawsuit is awarded a multi-million dollar settlement, if there are a lot of people in the class, your compensation could be significantly lower than your actual damages.
If you were injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte, you could receive compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost income
- Permanent injuries
- Disability
- Loss of consortium for your spouse
- Wrongful death of your loved one
- Punitive damages
- And more
Do I have a Dialysis Class Action 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 dialysis class action lawsuit review.