Class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of dialysis patietns who suffered a heart attack, cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary arrest, or death after being treated with GranuFlo or Naturalyte. These dialysis products contain a chemical that increases a patient’s risk of severe, life-threatening heart problems if a physician does not measure the product properly.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting dialysis induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Michael Schmidt Elected to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee For Granuflo and Naturalyte Injury Claims Nationwide
Michael E. Schmidt, Managing Partner of Schmidt & Clark, LLP and The Schmidt Firm, PLLC, was recently elected to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4749 in Los Angeles Superior Court. The coordination proceeding applies to Granuflo and Naturalyte injury claims nationwide. This appointment establishes Mr. Schmidt in a leadership position in the litigation along with rest of the JCCP leadership panel.
A nationwide recall was issued for NaturaLyte and GranuFlo on March 29, 2012. Use of Fresenius Medical Care’s popular dialysis treatment products GranuFlo and NaturaLyte has been linked to a six-fold increased risk of cardiopulmonary arrest and sudden cardiac death.
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 — GranuFlo class action lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania. Click here to read more.
March 6, 2013 — Four plaintiffs have filed separate class actions against DaVita Healthcare for heart attacks, cardiac arrest, and/or wrongful deaths caused by GranuFlo and Naturalyte. Cick here to read more.
What are GranuFlo and Naturalyte?
GranuFlo (dry acid concentrate) and Naturalyte (liquid acid concentrate) are dialysis treatment products. During hemodialysis, patients with end-stage kidney failure have their blood removed, and a machine cleans the blood and removes excess fluid. The acidity-alkalinity of the blood must be normalized before it can be returned to the patient. The doctor measures a dose of bicarbonate solution (an alkaline substance that neutralizes acid), an acid concentrate like GranuFlo or Naturalyte, and fluid.
GranuFlo and Naturalyte were created by Fresenius Medical Care, but they were distributed and used at dialysis clinics throughout the United States. There are currently several dialysis class action lawsuits pending against Fresenius and DaVita Healthcare.
What is the problem?
Lawsuits allege that Granuflo and Naturalyte products are defective, unreasonably dangerous, and unsafe. Unlike most other acid concentrates, GranuFlo and Naturalyte contain sodium diacetate. This chemical is converted into bicarbonate by a patient’s liver within a few hours. Because dialysis patients are also typically given bicarbonate concentrate, a doctor must prevent a bicarbonate overdose by adjusting the dose of GranuFlo and Naturalyte to compensation for the “extra” bicarbonate in sodium diacetate. Unfortunately, many doctors do not measure the dose properly.
Dialysis Injuries from GranuFlo and Naturalyte
Individuals who suffered from heart problems after dialysis may have been injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte. These products are associated with bicarbonate overdose (metabolic alkalosis), which occurs when the pH of a patient’s blood is too high. This can interfere with electrical activity in the heart and cause a life-threatening cardiovascular event.
Injuries associated with GranuFlo and Naturalyte:
- Death
- Heart attack
- Cardiac arrest
- Cardiopulmonary arrest
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Permanent disability (weakness, shortness of breath, pain, etc.)
What is a Class Action Lawsuit?
Class actions are a specific type of lawsuit in which a large number of people with similar injuries (called a “class”) consolidate their individual claims into one claim against a defendant. The law firm that files the class action typically selects one plaintiff to be the “class representative,” and his or her name is used on the case. If the lawsuit is settled or a jury awards financial compensation to the plaintiffs, the award is usually divided evenly among members of the class.
Is a Dialysis Class Action Lawsuit Right for Me?
You must talk to a qualified class action lawyer about the best choice for you. There are pros and cons to joining or filing a class action lawsuit. You may decide that an individual personal injury lawsuit is actually the best choice. One major disadvantage of a class action lawsuit is that you may be forced to share compensation with everyone else in the action. For serious injuries, a personal injury attorney may be better suited to fight for your individual right to compensation.
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?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting dialysis induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
