What is the Boston Scientific Guidant heart defibrillator-pacemaker recall?
Between 2005 and 2007, Guidant, a major manufacturer of medical devices, announced three massive recalls of potentially defective cardiac defibrillators. In all, Guidant has recalled more than 200,000 surgically implanted devices. Boston Scientific purchased Guidant Corporation in April 2006, thereby assuming responsibility for any liability regarding Guidant heart defibrillators and pacemakers. Some Guidant Heart Defibrillators-pacemakers may have defective wiring that could keep them from functioning properly after installed. Other devices may have memory problems that can adversely affect their performance. The most recent devices recalled could malfunction due to the failure of a low-voltage capacitor. Patients with affected pacemakers could experience intermittent or permanent, irreversible device failure or premature battery failure. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised all patients who had any of the surgically implanted Guidant heart defibrillator or pacemaker
