GranuFlo Attorneys
GranuFlo Lawsuit
People with kidney disease or kidney failure can easily swap “war stories” about their regular dialysis treatments. An average dialysis session can last several hours, and visits are often required several times a week. All this time in dialysis means that kidney patients rely heavily on their treatment providers to use safe and effective equipment and procedures during dialysis, including a safe “dialysate,” the liquid mixture that filters impurities out of the blood as it passes through the dialysis machine.
In recent years, many dialysis centers have begun using GranuFlo, a dialysate manufactured by Fresenius Medical Centers and used in their own machines as well as by other dialysis providers. However, GranuFlo use has been linked to serious medical complications, including fatal or debilitating heart attacks. If you or someone you love has suffered a heart attack or other cardiac problem during or after dialysis, the GranuFlo attorneys at Farah & Farah may be able to help.
Negative Effects of GranuFlo Use
During dialysis, the patient’s blood runs along one side of a divided tube, while a dialysate like GranuFlo runs along the other side. The sides are separated by a membrane that lets waste matter pass from the blood to the GranuFlo and lets electrolytes pass from the GranuFlo to the blood. The process cleans the blood and restores electrolyte balance – the same job the patient’s kidneys would do if they were working properly.
However, one feature of GranuFlo and its related dialysate, NaturaLyte, can cause serious injuries. Some of GranuFlo’s components turn into a substance called “bicarbonate” when they enter the bloodstream. Bicarbonate helps neutralize acids in the blood, which is why some physicians also prescribe bicarbonate to their kidney patients separately.
When the bicarbonate the patient is already taking combines with the bicarbonate created by the GranuFlo, however, an overdose can result, causing serious complications including heart attack, oxygen deprivation, and irregular heartbeat.
What Compensation May Be Available?
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious or fatal heart attack or other condition after being exposed to GranuFlo during dialysis, you have the right to seek compensation from the manufacturer or any other party whose negligence caused harm. While financial compensation can’t undo what has been done, it can help meet your needs by covering costs like:
- medical bills, including bills for emergency care or surgery;
- lost wages, pensions, or other benefits;
- funeral and burial expenses, if a death has occurred;
- loss of consortium or loss of care and guidance for children;
- replacement costs for the value of household chores, repairs, and other tasks the injured or deceased person once performed; and
- pain and suffering.
GranuFlo Attorneys Protecting Your Rights
Kidney disease and kidney failure are tough conditions to live with. When you’re already relying on dialysis to keep you going, the last thing you need is another preventable medical catastrophe to lay you low – or to claim a loved one’s life. That’s why, at Farah & Farah, our injury attorneys are passionate about helping our clients and protecting their rights. We’ll focus on dealing with the paperwork and preparing your case so that you can focus on your health and your loved ones. For a free case evaluation, contact us at 877-245-6707 today.
