GranuFlo Lawsuit Funding
GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, two dialysates manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care, are involved in hundreds of pending lawsuits throughout the United States. These products have been linked to heart attacks, stroke, sudden death and other serious side effects. For many injured patients, the only recourse is to file a claim for damages. But if medical bills and month-to-month financial obligations are weighing you down, a lawsuit might not feel like a viable option. That’s where GranuFlo lawsuit funding steps in.
Why do people file NaturaLyte and GranuFlo lawsuits?
Fresenius Medical Care, which operates thousands of dialysis centers around the globe, also manufactures NaturaLyte and GranuFlo. These dialysates, or dialysis additives, are essential to hemodialysis treatments, helping simulate kidney function by cleaning the blood. The products themselves work; the problem is with the dosage.
Both NaturaLyte and GranuFlo contain much higher concentrations of their active ingredient than do similar dialysates from competing brands. This change in dosage, however, was not made clear to medical providers. This led to unintended overdoses, which caused patients to suffer very high bicarbonate levels – a dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition. NaturaLyte and GranuFlo lawsuits address the underlying causes of overdose – for example, negligence in informing medical professionals of the uncommon dosages – as well as the life-altering side effects associated with overdose.
What side effects or injuries are associated with GranuFlo?
GranuFlo is a dry powder acid concentrate, while NaturaLyte is a liquid acid concentrate. Both cause similar side effects from overdose. Complications begin with:
- Low blood pressure
- Hypokalemia (low potassium)
- Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen)
- Hypercapnia (high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood)
- Cardiac arrhythmia
If an overdose is not recognized and treated immediately, side effects may progress to very serious dangers, including:
- Heart attack
- Cardiac arrest
- Cardiovascular problems
- Stroke
- Sudden death
What are some of the common allegations against Fresenius?
In the United States alone, approximately one-third of all dialysis patients frequent Fresenius clinics; another estimated 125,000 received GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysates. In other words, Fresenius was aware of the scope and reach of its products – and the number of patients that could be injured by an overdose. Nevertheless, the company withheld this information from the public for months.
In early 2012, the FDA anonymously received a copy of an internal Fresenius memo dated November 4, 2011. The memo detailed the overdose risks for NaturaLyte and GranuFlo, and commented that said overdoses had already been linked to 941 cases of cardiac arrest in Fresenius clinics. Fresenius did not publish the memo publically, or distill this information to medical professionals outside the Fresenius network. In fact, only after the memo was leaked to the FDA did Fresenius make it public knowledge in May 2012. On June 25, 2012, the FDA issued a Class I recall – the most serious – for both GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.
History of GranuFlo litigation
The 2012 GranuFlo and NaturaLyte recall made the public at large aware of the problem with these products. And for some families, the GranuFlo recall provided answers to how loved ones had been seriously injured or died during dialysis treatment. Many responded by filing lawsuits to seek damages for pain and suffering, medical bills, lifestyle changes or, in some cases, wrongful death. Some of the most common allegations against Fresenius include:
- That Fresenius failed to warn of serious health risks, including cardiac arrest and/or sudden death.
- That Fresenius intentionally withheld from the FDA knowledge regarding the risks of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.
- That Fresenius also withheld this knowledge willfully and intentionally from medical centers outside the Fresenius network.
- That Fresenius negligently and fraudulently marketed both products, despite knowledge that these could cause serious side effects and death.
- That by failing to issue a timely recall, Fresenius exhibited “a conscious disregard for the safety of the public.”
Current status of Granuflo litigation
The first GranuFlo lawsuit was filed in September 2012. As of early 2013, at least 732 plaintiffs from 46 states have filed complaints against Fresenius. In January 2013, Fresenius USA filed with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to consolidate GranuFlo and NaturaLyte cases into multidistrict litigation (MDL). A decision has not been reached on the location for the MDL, although federal courts in Massachusetts, Alabama and Mississippi have been suggested.
At least one major settlement has been reached. Fresenius Medical Care settled with the five surviving children Teresa Gayton, an Illinois mother who died of overdose during her first week of dialysis. Her children claimed their mother’s death was preventable. Fresenius settled for a reported seven figures.
What are the benefits of pre settlement lawsuit funding?
For many plaintiffs, NaturaLyte and GranuFlo lawsuit funding is a vital step in successful litigation. Pre settlement lawsuit funding, or funding that is granted in advance of settlement, can help keep you financially afloat while you await trial. As with other dangerous drug lawsuit funding, this type of cash advance will also help you pay off past medical bills and fund future and current treatments.
These financial pressures occur due to your injuries; it would be unfair for those same financial obligations to cause you to settle for less than your case is worth. That’s where GranuFlo litigation funding steps in. LawStreet Capital is one of the best legal funding companies in the nation, offering cash advances for GranuFlo lawsuit funding. The only requirements to qualify are financial need and a strong case: you don’t need to pass a credit check or employment verification, and we’ll approve your cash advance within 24 hours.
Apply for NaturaLyte or GranuFlo lawsuit funding
With LawStreet Capital’s dangerous drug lawsuit funding, you pass off your financial risk to us. That means that if you don’t settle with Fresenius or win at trial, you owe us absolutely nothing. Get started today by filling out the form at right, and we’ll get in touch to evaluate your case and approve your pre settlement lawsuit funding. Once your cash advance has been approved, we’ll transfer your funds electronically or send you a check via overnight mail. Learn more about worry-free GranuFlo lawsuit funding and call us toll-free at 800-345-8500.
