Re: Warrenty

The following is a link to a previous post which i really felt the need to respond to.

http://www.pacemakerclub.com/public/
jpage/1/p/story/a/storypage/sid/10729/content.do

I had my ICD removed a couple of months ago. I had always made it quite clear that I wanted the device back once it came out. It was mine; bought and paid for, so I thought. What I was later told, when I asked for it while in recovery, was that they couldn’t return it to me. They had sent straight to pathology. I was told that the FDA mandates the devices have to be given back to the companies to collect data.

I am still really irked about it. My doctor offered to give me one which is similar to mine but not the one that was in me for three years. I didn’t want someone else’s device. I wanted mine back. I received no compensation for it either, nor did the insurance company (at least not that I was told of).

I find this practice highly questionable. If I have my car worked on it is my right to receive the replaced parts if I want them back. If I have my teeth pulled, I get the removed tooth, gall stones bullets, whatever. Can someone tell me what the difference is?

3 Comments

YOU HAVE BEEN HAD

by pete - 2008-12-19 02:12:29

Dont stand for it. Its yours not theirs. Send the hospital a bill to get your money back on the original purchase price. Its downright theft if you paid for it with your own money. Cheers peter

returns

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-19 06:12:48

I have my first pacemaker in a scrapbook. When they were taking me to recovery the doctor asked if I wanted it, he put it in a jar and handed it to me. If it was removed due to defect, then I could see why they had to have it back, but there's no law that says they can't, or at least there wasn't in 2000 when I had my first replacement.

FDA?

by ElectricFrank - 2008-12-20 11:12:18

There is a lot of misinformation about FDA regulations. My background as a biomedical engineer exposed my to all sorts of claims about the regs. I learned to track them down before believing them.

The only time I can understand returning the device to the manufacturer is if it was part of a recall or had some problem that needed to be looked at.

Interesting though..I've been thinking about the same thing when mine is replaced in a year or so. At that point I'll track it down.

frank

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