Defibrillators

Legislation Prompted by Sudden Death of NFA Student

June 18, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today signed a bill that makes automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) available in schools and ensures at least two staff members are trained to use the live-saving equipment.

“This is legislation is intended to do one thing – save lives, precious lives,” Governor Rell said during a bill-signing ceremony at Norwich Free Academy. “It is in the best interest of our children and our communities.”    » read more »

Legislation Named for Ohio High School Student Would Place Defibrillators in Schools

June 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators George V. Voinovich (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) reintroduced a bill to establish a grant program to put automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in elementary and secondary schools across the country.

“Josh Miller’s untimely passing stands as a tragic reminder that our schools need better life-saving equipment to handle sudden cardiac arrest,” Sen. Voinovich said. “In addition to being houses of learning, schools are also central gathering places in our communities. These easy-to-use devices have the potential to save millions of lives of children, teachers, administrators, parents and staff.”    » read more »

Congress Provides Funding for Schools to Purchase Life-Saving Devices

November 9, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) announced today that Congress approved funding for a program they set up to assist schools in purchasing and providing training on automated external defibrillators (AEDs).    » read more »

Amendment to Appropriations Bill Boosts Funding for Schools to Purchase Life-Saving Devices

October 24, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) announced today that the Senate has passed their effort to increase funding for a program to assist schools in purchasing and training on automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Feingold and Collins introduced an amendment to the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill to increase funding for the Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory (ADAM) Act, a program they have long championed.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- SEATTLE – Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a $16.75 million multistate settlement with Guidant Corporation that extends a replacement program for certain heart defibrillators built prior to November 2002.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 - Today Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell announced that he reached an agreement with Guidant Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boston Scientific and one of the world’s three largest manufacturers of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs). The settlement resolves Attorney General Sorrell’s concerns about the way in which Guidant Corporation sold one ICD, the Ventak Prizm 2 DR Model 1861 (Prizm) in 2002 and 2003.    » read more »

Guidant Corp. corrects device defects, settles with states for $16.75 million

August 30, 2007 -- DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and 35 state attorneys general today reached a $16.75 million settlement with the maker of an implantable heart defibrillator. State attorneys general took legal action against Guidant Corp. for marketing the unmodified device even after the manufacturer discovered and corrected a circuitry problem that could have caused the device to fail. Guidant learned of the problem in 2002.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania, 34 other states, and the District of Columbia have reached a $16,750,000 settlement with the Guidant Corporation resolving allegations that the company failed to warn physicians and consumers about a design flaw in one of their implantable defibrillators, a device used by patients with life-threatening heart conditions.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said the Guidant Corporation is a subsidiary of Boston Scientific and one of the world's largest manufacturers of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs).    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers today filed a $16.75 million settlement agreement with Guidant Corporation of Minnesota and Indiana (Guidant), one of the world's three largest manufacturers of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD). The settlement resolves allegations that the company sold ICDs without disclosing that the medical devices had wiring problems that could result in potentially fatal short circuits.    » read more »

Guidant agrees to pay states $16.7 million, extend program to replace heart devices for free

August 30, 2007 -- Raleigh: One of the largest makers of a device that helps restart the heart has agreed to make safety changes and help consumers cover the cost of replacing faulty devices, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today.

“Patients with heart problems rely on these devices,” said Cooper. “We want to make sure this life-saving tool is as safe as possible, and that patients and doctors get the information they need about any safety problems.”    » read more »

August 30 , 2007 -- (SANTA FE)-- New Mexico Attorney General Gary King and 34 other state attorneys general, and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with Guidant Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boston Scientific and one of the world’s three largest manufacturers of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs). The settlement concerns the sale of one particular ICD, the Ventak Prizm 2 DR Model 1861.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- TRENTON – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced today that New Jersey has entered into a multi-state settlement agreement with the Guidant Corporation, maker and marketer of electronic cardiac implant devices known as Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD).    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- Las Vegas, NV - Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today that Nevada, 34 other state attorneys general, and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with Guidant Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boston Scientific and one of the world’s three largest manufacturers of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs). The settlement concerns the sale of one ICD, the Ventak Prizm 2 DR Model 1861 (Prizm).    » read more »

HELENA – Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath said today that Montana and 35 other states have reached a settlement with Guidant Corporation regarding a type of "implantable cardioverter defibrillator" or ICD.

McGrath said Montana's share of the settlement is $390,000 and the funds will be used for consumer protection and education. The total settlement to the states is $16.75 million. There are separate class action lawsuits dealing with restitution to consumers who had the device.    » read more »

Pay $16,750,000 to Missouri, 35 other states

August 30, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Guidant Corporation will expand outreach efforts to cardiac patients to inform them about and reimburse them for wiring problems associated with its Prizm implantable heart defibrillator, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon announced today. Under the nationwide settlement with Missouri and 35 other states, Guidant also will pay $16,750,000 to resolve concerns that it continued to sell Prizm units it knew could short circuit, even as it corrected the wiring problems in other units it sold.    » read more »