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Fresenius Dialysis Treatment Lawsuit

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Austin Kirk

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Fresenius Medical Care may have withheld important information about the potential side effects of NaturaLyte and GranuFlo acid concentrate drugs for dialysis treatment, which may have caused thousands of people to suffer:

  • Cardiac Arrest
  • Heart Attack
  • Sudden Death

STATUS OF FRESENIUS DIALYSIS LAWSUITS: These lawsuits are no longer being reviewed after Fresenius agreed to a $250 million settlement agreement to resolve the litigation.

Fresenius Dialysis Lawsuits

OVERVIEW: Granuflo dry acid concentrate and NaturaLyte liquid concentrate are used during dialysis treatment together with a bicarbonate buffer to help clean the blood for individuals suffering kidney or renal impairment.

These products are manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care, which operates thousands of dialysis clinics throughout the United States and also sells equipment and medications used at most other dialysis centers, including DaVita Dialysis Clinics, DCR, Renal Ventures and others.

Before 2012, individuals may have faced a serious risk of suffering a sudden heart attacks and cardiac arrest during dialysis treatment with Granuflo and NaturaLyte, due to Fresenius Medical Care’s failure to provide adequate warnings and instructions with their product.

Granuflo and NaturaLyte contain sodium acetate, which is converted into bicarbonate by the body during and shortly after dialysis treatment. However, the manufacturer failed to warn physicians that these products contain higher levels of acetate than most other dialysis treatment products, requiring physicians to carefully monitor and change bicarbonate buffers administered with Granuflo or NaturaLyte, to avoid a risk of cardiopulmonary arrest and sudden death from heart problems.

LAWSUITS OVER FRESENIUS DIALYSIS TREATMENTS: A number of families throughout the United States filed claims after their loved ones died or suffered a catastrophic heart injury during or within 48 hours after dialysis treatment.

According to allegations raised in Fresenius dialysis treatment lawsuits:

  • Fresenius Medical Care negligently manufactured and sold unreasonably defective products
  • Granuflo and NaturaLyte were insufficiently tested and unsafe as designed
  • Inadequate warnings and instructions were provided with Granuflo and NaturaLyte, which did not fully inform the medical community about the nature and extent of the risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death and other health problems
  • Even after Fresenius Medical Care knew or should have known about the problems with Granuflo and NaturaLyte, they continued to sell the products and attempted to convert clinics to use of the products by offering pricing discounts and packaging Granuflo and NaturaLyte with other dialysis products
  • Fresenius Medical Care provided critical information about the risk of heart attacks and death from Granuflo and NaturaLyte to doctor’s at their own clinics before warning other dialysis centers that used their products
  • Information was withheld in an attempt to maintain Fresenius Medical Care’s market share and maximize profits, at the expense of the safety of dialysis patients receiving their products

FRESENIUS DIALYSIS TREATMENT PROBLEMS: According to an internal review of patients treated at Fresenius Medical Care clinics during 2010, there were at least 941 cases where patients suffered a sudden cardiopulmonary arrest at the dialysis center.

In November 2011, Fresenius Medical Care issued an internal memo to their own physicians warning about the potential concerns associated with Granuflo and NaturaLyte, and highlighting that bicarbonate buffers should be regularly monitored and adjusted to reduce the risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest and death. This same information was not provided to other clinics that used Granuflo and NaturaLyte.

In March 2012, after receiving an inquiry from the FDA about the internal memo, Fresenius Medical Care issued an alert to other dialysis clinics that may use their Granuflo or NatruaLyte products during hemodialysis treatment.

In May 2012, the FDA warned about the risk of hemodialysis dosing problems with NaturaLyte Liquid and Granuflo Acid Concentrate, indicating that these products can raise bicarbonate levels in patients going through dialysis treatments, causing a condition known as metabolic alkalosis, which can increase the risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, low blood pressure and death.

In June 2012, it was reported that Fresenius dialysis problems have resulted in an FDA investigation, examining whether the manufacturer of Granuflo and NaturaLyte failed to adequately warn doctors that the products could cause heart attacks and other serious injuries during hemodialysis.

In February 2016, Fresenius proposed a $250 million settlement agreement that is expected to be accepted and funded by August 2016.

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1336 Comments

Mike
Hey Thomas I’m sorry to hear that. if anyone would like to add a loved one to the “Victims of Fresenius” Poster please inbox me on Facebook under Mikey Allen …poster will be promoted Via Facebook advertising
Mike
Alanna is a Fresenius spy! Do not join the Facebook group..matter of fact she stole my “Victims of fresenius” Name … I’m doing a poster called the “Victims of Fresenius” that I announced 1week ago
Sharon
If you opt in is there anyway to opt out. I didn’t know.
TROY
WHAT IS GOING ON. SOME PEOPLE CALLED ME BRAGGING. THEY GOING TO GET THE BIG MONEY. IN THE MILLIONS. SAYING THAT THEIR LOVE ONE DIED AT AN DAVITA CENTER. BUT SUING FRESENIUS CENTER. BECAUSE DAVITA HAS JOINED FRESENIUS. YES IT IS TRUE LOOK YOURSELF. JOINED JAN.2013. SO THIS MEANS THAT IF YOUR LOVE ONES DIED BEFORE DAVITA JOINED FRESENIUS .MEANING THEY DIED BEFORE JAN 2013. HOW CAN YOU SUE FRESENIUS AND DAVITA WASN’T PART OF FRESENIUS UNTIL JAN 2013.HOW CAN YOU SUE FRESENIUS AND DAVITA CAUSED THE DEATH. BUT SORRY FOR LOSS. I HAD BRAIN SURGERY, STROKE, COMA ,NOW CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, LIVED. DON’T KNOW WHEN I WILL DIE. MY LAWYER TELLS ME PRICE RANGES. BUT DON’T SHOW ME OR LET ME SEE THEM AT ALL. #(225)508-9664.LAWYERS KEEP PUSHING THE DEAD LINE BACK TO GET THE %97TO GET THEIR 7%=IS 17.5MILLION DOLLARS. WHAT’S UP MY LAWYERS ONLY GAVE ME 7PAGES OF PAPER. KNOT PAGES OF PAPER THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE.
Alanna
We’ve created a closed Facebook Group for all of the victims of the Fresenius like my mother and I. We lost my father in 2012 as a direct result of Fresenius Granuflo. Please go to Facebook, search for the group FRESENIUS GRANUFLO VICTIMS and request to be added to the group.
Debbie
I refused to opt in, as I was shown nothing, no schedule, anything. There was some vague language about amounts, but basically they asked me to sign away all of my rights without giving me a definite amount. My husband died as a Direct result of Granuflo. I am not going away.
thomas
Mike it is no way i could of opt out i search every where for attorney i eben talk to my stste sentor my case is betey bizarre it clearly shows the are at fault all the way to the point of the medicail examiner the emt could not stop the blood from runnig profusuely out her mouth and nose all this happen after she had a heart attack on the chair deliberately snatch off the machine to try and cpr her but as the pulled her they left her attach to the machine were a stint broke and double peareced her heart to cause the blood after the heart attack so mike im i screwed me and my family are poor people living in poverty.
Thomas
Lord please help us our love ones didnt have a chance yes god our people were sick but they didn’t deserve to dye this way my mother was innocent she did not deserve to pass this way her the pain she indure the blood the sudden heart attack the mistreated nurses that could not help the blood running out her mouth and nose the hea5 attack these family god need help please help us all
Mike
If you opt in then you are gonna get screwed! The truth is if you wait another year or 2 to settle this case you will get a 7 Fig payout. I Am A REAL Insider
Marie
According to my paperwork each area that you meet you get points and the number of years of life left for the person you lost you get points. My mom passed away, so that is more points. The higher points you get the more of the settlement you will get. Sounds awful to put our loved ones life in a point system. Please keep us all posted on any news you get from your lawyers. It is hard to receive any from mine.
Thomas
Mike wats goin ti happen to those that opt in thst meet criteria do they get paid the ba5de amount state it git to be base at 88k bein everyone out
Nicole
I just read an update from oct.22, 2016 on the pacemonitor website stating that a Motion was submitted to establish Qualified Settlement .This is the only place I can get info on my case involving my dad who passed away in 2012. Our attorney had a receptionist call and ask if we had any evidence connecting granuflo to my dads health problems. I kid you not. After sending all (and I mean ALL) medical records from his time with DAVITA to our attorneys they are asking us days before the oct 31st deadline if we had the “smoking gun”. I was under the impression that this was their job and if we didn’t have the proper evidence to tie the company to his many heart problems after dyalasis they would not have taken the case. Does anyone have and actual document from the judge or some kind of legitimate information regarding the true status. I mean where is the 250 million if not with the clients and victims. No it was never about money until the company made it that way. We will never see true justice nor will they pay an amount worthy of the suffering still continuing to this day. I a sorry for babbling but this entire sh** show is ridiculous and disgusting. I miss my dad. Nobody should get away with murder or robbery. That is what this all breaks down to.
Anthony
What is the point system about
robert
Marie, what kinda point system were they talking about? My brother qualified for about four of those criteria areas from what I was told.
Mikey
DO NOT OPT IN!!!!!!
Robert
Marie, Thanks for your reply back. I will let my sister in law know. She was told she was suppose to received one of those letters on the 14 Nov 16 and she never received here letter yet. I think that’s not a enough for losing a love one. My Big brother lost his life from using this.
Gail
I just received a certified letter again offering me to opt in again. This lets me know that they’re not getting the numbers. Keep up the good work guys. Let’s continue to fight. They are using scare tactics to change our minds. I would love to speak with someone personally. Remember, there is no statue of limitations because the case has been filed. Yes, we were lied to about not being a class A lawsuit. They want us to settle so we can lose our voice.
Marie
Robert…I was offered a settlement range. It could be anywhere from 40k-80k depending on how many people opt in. Plus there is a point system that adds money to your amount if your loved one meets that criteria also.
Helen
i am writing regarding the status of the granuflo lawsuit. It seems that all of the large Mass Tort suits head in this direction. The lawyers from both sides meet and work out an agreement and then return to their clients stating that the offer or settlement has been reached. They do not respond to their clients asking for their decision. When we sign the paperwork, somewhere it must say that we no longer have rights. I was told that my family’s case would be tried on an individual basis as was everyone entering the suit. However, it seems that many people sign up and go along with the TV ads offering justice, only to be turned away. Instead as suspected here, the attorneys make more than the people that have been harmed and they work very hard at shoving the results of the arbitration down your throat. And they specialize in these mass tort cases, it is a formula that works for them over and over. The courts and judges and attorneys are all aware of how it goes and the same law firms repeat their performance, the judge appoints them, approves of their decisions and really has no input of the results. It is all the law firms. It is a truly terrible system. The big Pharma companies know the risks of trying these medicines out on people and profit tremendously, pay low low amounts to people who have suffered and or died. Where is our justice system, where is our morality? Look at any of the mass tort cases and see the same formula, repeat law firms, repeat decisions. We have to speak up. I have been searching or members of this case and have not found anything. Why does the paperwork insist that no responsibility will be acknowledged by the company???? Are you crazy, it is a formula for mass annihilation.
Michele
I was told by my attorney that the opt in date was pushed back yet again to December 31, 2016.
Robert
Has any one received any settlement offers as far as the people that meant the eligibility requirements
Mike
Pacer montior.com is a great site if you down wanna spend a lot of money…right now you can get a 14 free trial and look up the entire docket
Mike
They didn’t reach the 97 percent but the cases that opted in will get paid The remaining cases will remain in limbo until you get a lawyer willing to take the case
Mike
The Fund was approved by judge woodlock last week and the people that opted in will get the chump change
Mike
Boycott the KILLERS at Fresenius They paid off the US gov Via kickbacks so they won’t stand trial for MURDER
Mike
The judges are paid off but they don’t have the guts to just throw the cases out so they devised a plan to have the cases sit in limbo and make people either opt in or drop the case
TROY
Hi People What’s Up. Before The October 31st Deadline To OPT IN OR OUT. THEY NEW SINCE JULY 2016. ABOUT THE 250MILLION.TOLD US AT THE LAST MINUTE. SO MOST OF US NEED NEW LAWYERS DO THAT. IF YOU HAVE PROOF THAT OF YOUR LAWYER LYING TO YOU TO TAKE THE 1500.REPORT THEM ALL. IT WAS NOT ABOUT US AT ALL JUST SO THEY CAN GET THERE MONEY 7%=17.5MILLION .SO EXPOSE THEM ALL NEWS, FACEBOOK, OR WHAT EVER. LOOK AT THE GAME THE LAWYERS ARE PLAYING READ YOUR PAPERWORK 1500 IS NOT THE FINAL JUDGMENT. JUST TO OPT IN.KEEP READING 1500 IS THE FINAL JUDGMENT. OH YEAH IF YOU TAKE THE 1500 YOU CAN NOT SUE,KIDS CAN NOT SUE, KIDS KIDS CAN NOT SUE OR KIDS KIDS KIDS CAN NOT SUE. OH YEAH IF YOU RECEIVE ANY OTHER FUNDS WE CAN GET THEM ON YOUR BEHALF. DO YOU UNDERSTAND STAND THAT. LOW BALL YOU AND KEEP THE REST FOR THEMSELVES SO OPT OUT. IF YOU DIDN’T OPT IN NOW THE DEAD LINE CHANGE. PEOPLE LISTEN TO MIKIE GET MOVED TO YOUR DISTRICT SPEND THE $400 DOLLARS. EXPOSE THEM WITH WEBSITES, NEWS,ETC.OH YEAH PEOPLE PLEASE TYPE IN THE FULL LETTER HEAD VSWHO YOUR SUING, CASE NUMBER AND ALL OTHER NUMBERS. IF YOU DON’T SEE YOUR LAWYERS NAME. HE IS THE MIDDLE MAN HE TOOK YOUR CASE AND JOINED A CLASS A ACTION LAWSUIT. THAT MEANS THEM THEN HIM THEN YOU PLUS THE %YOU OWE HIM. SO IT’S LESS THAN 1500 AND YOU HAVE TO SPLIT IT UP WITH SIBLINGS. IF YOU OPT OUT NOW THEY WANT TO BILL YOU FOR YOUR DOCUMENTS. MOST PEOPLE THE ONE WHO GAVE THEM COPIES OF DOCUMENTS. IF THEY WITHDRAW LET THEM FIND A NEW LAWYERS. (225)508-9664.I AM NOT A LAWYER BUT I HAVE GOOD ENOUGH SENSE NOT TO FALL FOR THEIR B.S.REMEMBER SILENCE IS GOLDEN. WILL EXPLAIN IT ALL TO YOU.
Boogie blade-son
Opt out everybody stand together
Tracy
Hey mikey from the nephrology blog is the best!!!
Ricky
Hi everyone… has anybody heard from their lawyers since the opt out, I haven’t heard anything since I told her that I was opting out..just wondering…keep fighting for our love ones
Mikey
If you opted out Have your lawyer request a transfer back to the District from which if came from If the lawyer say’s no and drops the case then you are going to have to file “Pro Se” There is a $400 dollar filing fee http://www.uscourts.gov/forms/pro-se-forms http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/pro-se-information
TROY
The Criteria For The HIGH BIOCARBONATE LEVEL FROM GRANUFLO, NATRALYTE USED BY FRESENIUS IS WHAT?LAWYER SAID THAT IT IS WAS 37 BUT IT WAS 38TO GET THE SETTLEMENT. BIOCARBONATE WHAT CAUSES SUDDEN DEATH ,CARDIAC ARREST, STROKE, ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS.
Margo
I will fight with you! I never returned any paperwork to opt in. The offers are insulting. How do we get released from the MDL?
Ricquan
What law firm did go under? Was it Cory Walton? Cause if so they got us all..
George
People we all needs stand up for our love ones ok am not backing down at all ok this dam company knew what it was doing ok we all have weak ass lawyers ok they not fighting for us at all ok they don’t give a dam bout us or our love ones we lost ok it’s not enough money in this world to bring my mom back ok it wasn’t never about the money ok but it became about the money when them sob offer the $1.500 so now no matter what bridge I have to cross to get they attition I am if it mean going to DC we need do something asap I sent the judge a certified letter asking him stop this company but no response yet ok but as long I got breath I will fight this to the end ok we can’t trust lawyers ok so we need to go do what we need to do before this door closes ok people they want a fight let’s give them a fight till we all are satisfied ok let’s put that medicine in they love ones & let’s see how long they live afther treatment ok
Darold
Suffered an heart attack, I had triple bypass surgery, Health problems, Lost both of my legs & still dealing with health issues…
Anna
My mother who was only 43 had two heart attacks the last one resulting in her death. several times after dialysis she would have hallucinations. she even hallucinated a baseball player in the kitchen. she had heart damage from this drug and was unable to be put on a transplant list because of this. I watched her suffer for years. This offer of 1500 is beyond insulting. My lawyer said this doesn’t qualify. i don’t understand why he is pressuring me to accept the offer. I AM OPTING OUT!!!!!!
Teresa
I have got in contact with Inside Edition and I think they may do a story with it! Hopefully everything ends well and justice will be served. Contact me for we can get this case solved
Rene
Has anyone seen the article were the Attorney General Andy Beshear of Kentucky on 9/01/16 filed a Medicaid Fraud Lawsuit accusing a Fresenius Medical Company of medicaid fraud for allegedly promoting a kidney dialysis product it knew was harmful to patients. Beshear says the company put patients at risk with use of its GranuFlo product. He says the company concealed the product’s risks of causing heart attacks, strokes or arrhythmia. And my attorney said we did not meet the criteria as a result of stroke as the cause of death instead of cardiac arrest even though my family member died in 48 hours after the treatment. But they still offered us the $1,500……This is wrong on so many levels…Read this article..http://www.wtvq.com/2016/09/01/ag-beshear-accuses-medical-company-medicaid-fraud/.
Lorein
Thomas: My lawyer told me that I ONLY qualified for the alternative fund (1,500)! My Mom”s blood levels didn’t meet the criteria. I proved my lawyer wrong by getting medical records that Fresenius nor my lawyer had in their possession! Yes, I went to the hospital and it showed my Mom’s bicarbonate level different from what Fresenius reported to my lawyer. So now my Mom qualifys for Naturalyte. Oh, but now the lawyer need something else or I’m back to the alternative fund! I know one thing, there is a lawyer that will take on more cases than a few if we ALL stick together and expose the unethical behavior of the attorneys that left us hanging with nothing! We’re better in numbers! Someone gave the suggestion of starting a FB page! I will start that and post information as to the letters that I’m sending. I live in D.C. where I can try to get government officials to listen and HELP! I will create a page on FB by tomorrow! Peace and Blessings!!!
Johnell
I am with you lorein. And we can start a f.b. page too. We have to stop talking..and start pushing back. 2342059553. I’m not signing no papers from them. Call me, and let’s start..now
Betty
I’m with everybody. Mine Warrior is bullying me telling me to act before Monday take the 1500 are we getting nothing. We qualified 5 years ago now we don’t qualify. They say you don’t qualify but will give you $1,500 why give me $1,500 if I don’t qualify then. Something is not right the website clearly states 48 hours and the website still says 48 hours but now they’re trying to change it to 12. What do we do about this?
Valerie
Hello everyone I am new to the blog and my mother was on dialysis and she passed a day after Christmas in the hospital and they sent me the same offer and I OPT OUT NO NO I was not going to accept that. I called my attorney and got no answer so the same envelope they sent me to opt in I sent them a letter stating why I was not opting in and how I felt about the case.They were unfair and misleading!Yes we need to take action and all of us stand together and get justice for our love ones at all cost!We will not let them win! So Lorein count me in! Listen friends we got to stick together in unity.
Ricky
I too received my package thy also want to give me $1500 my mom passed away 2009 30mins after dialysis..I guess thy think $1500 is good..I wasn’t born yesterday dumbasses…
Rene
Count me in on the opt-out with an attorney that will take on these Granuflo cases. We were given a letter urging us to accept $1,500 after it was determined that the Granuflo drug was administered to our loved one who died 48 hours later. So count me in Lorein!
George
We all need do something ok weather ur love one pass away 24 hr or 72 hr they not God they can’t put a time on when u die or not ok only God is the one & only one can make that call people ok this company medication kill our love ones ok our love ones can’t speak for them self’s ok so let’s speak for them ok a doctor a lawyer or this dam company can say when u die my lawyer at first they tell me I don’t have a case but I receive a op in offer $1.500 now y offer that if I didn’t have a case cous they are selling us out plus I receive my letter on 10/29/16 but they wanted it back in they office by 10/25/16 I live in West Virginia no way in hell I could mail that back in time so I fax it so they was surprised I fax it back op out on they buts but also I told them I was going contact Dateline news they hung up on me so yes let’s take this all way to Washington DC if God is for us who can b against us people let’s go court
George
Am with u let’s do this we need put a stop to this lets all stand together on this people
Thomas
This is crazy if u dont qualify under ther criteria how are u goin to prove ur case please tell me how can any lawyer prove the case if u already been eliminated by the criteria and scientific study its impossible to fight if u dont meet thre cretiria and the company will dimiss those cases thers no proof and wen the discovery is done again they dont care if those opt out its proof that ur lawyer dont have a case
Lorein
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION! I am in the process of contacting the media, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Attorney General and I’m working on a lawyer that will take OUR (opt-out) cases since it is past the statute of limitations. I need a head count of people who are in with me on this. Serious inquires ONLY please. My contact information will be forthcoming to those that will stand with me in this tumultuous fight for our loved ones! I’ve even created the name that we can UNITE under! Signed, My MOM is gone but NEVER forgotten!!!!
Booker
Everybody OPT OUT
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