Guidant Defibrillators

Staff Writer

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Many of you have learned of recent problems associated with implantable cardiac devices. Guidant Corporation's implantable defibrillator has been associated with potentially fatal complications. As a result of negative publicity, Guidant created a panel to investigate complaints. The May 18 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine contains an early release of their findings. Of note, the authors are critical of manufacturer's error statistics which combine less serious malfunctions with other, potentially fatal complications. As the article concludes, that practice hides those more serious complications from physicians and patients.

Obviously, we support full and accurate disclosure of all risks known or reasonably contemplated with the use of a product. Your ability to decide if a drug or product is right for you depends on nothing less.