What We Do
Defective Medical Products
- Medtronic Defibrillator Leads
- Medtronic Lawsuit
- Medtronic Lawyer
- Guidant Recalls
- Free Guidant Recall Consultation
- Guidant Ancure
- Guidant Lawsuit Recall
- Guidant Pacemaker Defibrillator Defect
- Guidant Pacemaker Recall
- FDA Pacemaker Defibrillator Statement
- Infusion Pump
- Accutane Lawsuit
- AMO Complete Moistureplus Recall
- Apothecure Colchicine Lawsuit
- Bismacine Chromacine
- Botox
- Carbinoxamine
- Chromium Poisoning (Toxicity)
- Colchicine Recall Lawyer
- Colistimethate Lawsuit Lawyer
- Edetate Disodium
- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl Patch Recall
- Fentora
- Fleet Lawsuit - Phosphate Nephropathy Kidney Failure
- Fosamax Osteonecrosis Jaw
- Ketek Liver Failure
- Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
- Promethazine
- Rocephin Death
- Selenium Poisoning (Toxicity)
- Topical Anesthetic
- Total Body Formula Recall and Lawsuit
- Trasylol and Kidney Failure
- Trasylol - Lawyer and Lawsuit
- Trasylol Recall
- Tysabri Lawsuit - No Recall
- Tysabri Natalizumab
- Zelnorm Heart Attack Stroke Lawsuit
- Medicines
- Medical Equipment
- FDA Recalls
- News & Topics
- Archives
Welcome to Pritzker | Ruohonen
Biopsy and HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C
On June 19, 2006, the FDA issued a health notification regarding reusable ultrasound transducer assemblies used for various biopsy procedures. These instruments may not have been cleaned properly between uses. This problem with reusable ultrasound transducer assemblies was first noticed at a VA medical center. In one VA medical center, a doctor noticed feces in a guide to the biopsy needle after sterilization. It was then discovered that this guide was not brushed clean before sterilization and that none of the reusable guides had been brushed clean before sterilization for the previous 3 years. As a result of these findings, thousands of veterans who underwent a prostate biopsy at VA medical centers around the country have been notified that they may be at risk for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Although it was initially thought that the problem was limited to the ultrasound transducer assemblies used at a few VA medical centers, the FDA now believes the problem may apply to all reusable ultrasound transducer assemblies used for biopsies. Reusable ultrasound transducer assemblies are not used for all biopsies. If you have had a biopsy, you should contact the medical professional who preformed it. Ask the medical professional if a reusable ultrasound transducer assembly was used for the biopsy. If so, you should consult with your physician as to whether you should be tested for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. We are a law firm, not medical professionals. We can not give medical advice. You need to consult a medical professional.
If you have had a biopsy that involved the use of a reusable ultrasound transducer assembly and you test positive for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, contact a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates for a free consultation regarding your legal rights. You may reach us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, at info@pritzkerlaw.com, or by filling out our online consultation form.
Senior partner Fred Pritzker has over 29 years of experience and focuses his practice on complex product liability cases. In recognition of his achievements, other lawyers have selected him for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. He has written online information on product liability and defective medical product lawsuits.
Links to Information about HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis The following links to information about HIV and Hepatitis are provided by the lawyers at Pritzker | Ruohonen as a public service.
HIV Information:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC fact sheet on HIV-2
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): CDC fact sheet on HIV transmission
- AIDSinfo: A service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which offers information on HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research
- CDC Portal Page: Portal to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information on HIV/AIDS
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Information on treatment of HIV/AIDS from the FDA, the regulatory body responsible for drug treatments
Hepatitis B Information:
- Medline Plus: Information on Hepatitis B from the National Institutes of Health
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC): CDC portal page to information on Hepatitis B
- The Hepatitis B Foundation: The only non-profit organization dedicated solely to the problem of Hepatitis B
- The Mayo Clinic: Good, well-organized information on Hepatitis B provided by the Mayo Clinic
Hepatitis C Information:
- Medline Plus: Information on Hepatitis C from the National Institutes of Health
- CDC: CDC portal page to Hepatitis C information
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House: Simple, clear information on Hepatitis C
- Epidemic.org: A non-profit organization focused on Hepatitis C.
Free Case Consultation
Firm News
Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury litigation.
Pain and Suffering
Rich Ruohonen recently chaired a legal seminar on obtaining compensation for pain and suffering in a personal injury case. Rich uses his knowledge, experience, and reputation to maximize recoveries for clients.
Medtronic Recall and Medtronic Lawsuit
FDA has annonced a Medtronic Spring Fidelis defibrillator lead recall. Two of our clients with defective Medtronic leads were shocked over twenty times before medical professionals were able to turn off the defibrillator.
Fleet Lawsuit
We are representing several people who experienced kidney failure (acute phosphate nephropathy) after use of Fleet Phospho-soda solution or Fleet Accu-Prep solution for bowel cleansing.
Ortho Evra Lawsuit: Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots that can lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke and heart attack.
Trasylol Recall
Bayer has agreed to a marketing suspension of Trasylol, a drug used to control bleeding during heart surgery, pending detailed review of preliminary results from a Canadian study that suggested an increased risk for death.
Fentanyl Lawsuit and Fentanyl Recall
There have been a number of recalls regarding fentanyl due to the risk of a fentanyl overdose.
Fosamax and Osteonecrosis
Several cases of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw have been associated with the use of oral bisphosphonates, including Fosamax®, Actonel®, and other medications.