A cochlear implant is a device that can help a person with severe hearing loss regain some sense of hearing.
Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants bypass the damaged organ of hearing and stimulate the auditory nerve.
Tens of thousands of Americans have had the surgery to receive the implants, with no cochlear implant recall history.
In some cases, the implant could be recalled due to manufacturing or design flaws issues. When that happens, it’s important to know your options and how you can keep using your device if it’s been recalled.
However, if you do not like any of the options that are being presented to you, your recourse is to take legal action against the doctor or hospital who performed the implant surgery.
Consult with Your Doctor
That said, your doctor should always be your first resource for information about a medical issue.
Always follow their directions in dealing with any health problem, including this matter of the CIs. The recall is serious, but you can rest assured that doctors will help guide you through the process and help you get the best outcome possible.
You will most certainly have support in dealing with the recall and need not face it alone. Doctors and audiologists can work side by side to be sure you can benefit from bionic hearing as soon as possible.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
The best way to find out if you have a case is to contact an experienced attorney who has experience with medical lawsuits.
An attorney will be able to tell you if you have a claim and will be able to tell you how much your claim might be worth.
If you are awarded damages, they could include compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, replacement costs for all damaged devices, reimbursement for medical bills and plastic surgery, and punitive damages from the company.
An experienced attorney can also make sure that all relevant claims are filed so that you don’t miss out on any compensation owed to you.
Bottom Line
The recent discovery that thousands of cochlear implants have been recalled due to the possible malfunctioning of a certain part of the device could cause severe damage to using the device.
As such, patients and caregivers must be aware of these defects to ensure that they have not been adversely affected by them. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor and ensure that your device has not malfunctioned.
