FDA Wants Tougher Medical Device Regulation

Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member     

The AP (8/4, Perrone) reports that "makers of X-ray machines, drug pumps and other medical devices would have to submit more safety information to win federal approval under a proposal designed to tighten regulation of thousands of products reviewed each year." The FDA "released recommendations Monday night designed to improve oversight of the US device industry, including the governments ability to recall products that prove unsafe or ineffective." At "the center of the overhaul" is the so-called 510(k) system the FDA "uses to grant speedy approval to devices that are deemed similar to products already on the market." FDA critics "say that high-risk devices, such as heart pacemakers, are increasingly slipping through the 510(k) process without thorough testing and scrutiny."

The Minneapolis Star Tribune (8/4, Moore) reports among the recommendations released is the creation of "a new class of devices that would require clinical evidence before gaining 510K approval." The designation "would streamline the process for a small subset of devices by telling applicants up-front what will be required to gain marketing clearance, thus avoiding delays." As it stands, "only 8 to 10 percent of the devices approved under the 510(k) moniker require clinical studies," said Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDAs device center.

Increased oversight is needed, so that patients health and lives are not put at risk.  Safety must be put above profits.

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About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney and Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been acknowledged by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all of the more than 80,000 lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also acknowledged him as "one of Washingtons best–most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in medical malpractice matters, product liability claims, and serious automobile accident claims. Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition), and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)– national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

Mr. Zambri is regularly asked to present seminars to lawyers and doctors, as well as both medical and law students concerning medication errors, medical malpractice litigation, and safety improvements.

If you have any questions about your legal rights, please email Mr. Zambri at szambri@reganfirm.com or call him at 202-822-1899.

 

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