Who pays for recall surgery?

"Guidant, which recalled or issued alerts for about 50,000 devices in the past month, has offered to provide a replacement device for free and reimburse the patient for up to $2,500 in uncovered out-of-pocket expenses. While that is a significant offer, considering the ICDs run $20,000 to $25,000 each, it still leaves someone picking up the tab for doctors' fees and hospital charges, which average $23,000." [startribune.com]

FDA puts Guidant recall in Class 1

"On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration placed three models of the company's implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in its highest risk category.

"The FDA's Class I ranking means users of the device could suffer death or serious injury if the device fails. Guidant advised physicians about the possibility of problems with the devices last week." [startribune.com]

Texas Joins Plaintiffs Suing Merck Over Vioxx

"The state of Texas on Thursday joined the thousands of individual plaintiffs suing Merck & Co. over its withdrawn painkiller Vioxx.

"Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott alleges that Merck 'falsely touted' Vioxx's safety, knowing it had higher heart risks, and still pushed for the drug to be on Texas' list of approved medicines for its Medicaid program." [REDNOVA.com]

Texas files suit against Merck over Vioxx - Yahoo! News

"Merck, already facing more than 3,800 lawsuits filed for patients allegedly killed or injured by its Vioxx painkiller, was hit with a new legal attack Thursday as the state of Texas accused the firm of covering up the drug's health risks." [Yahoo! News]

Guidant issues 2nd warning on defibrillators

"Guidant Corp. on Friday issued its second safety advisory in a week about its implantable defibrillators, telling doctors to stop using five of the models because they could malfunction and may have to be recalled." [Chicago Tribune]