Comments on: Guidant Notifies Doctors About Flaw in Defibrillators

By: Maria R.

Maria R. — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 22:06:53 +0000

I had a Vitality AVT A135 put in in October 2003. I was on the list to be reprogrammed. I did not find out about the problem from my doctors or Guidant . No letters.No phone calls. I became aware of the problem in middle of June one month after the doctors new. I found out from the newspapers and the internet. Several phone calls to Guidant returned no ewsults. The doctors didnot seem to have all the information either. Thank God for the internet. Needless to say I am very angry because of the lack of concern. Finally, one of the heart doctors made an appointment for me with a Guidant rep for reprogramming, I wanted to talk to a doctor first, but none of them were available for a meeting for one reason or another. I finally did get reprogrammed at the Hospitl, however it was with a lot of anxiety. How on earth do I know this will work? Maria

By: George

George — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 20:23:36 +0000

I had a Guidant AICD Model A135, implanted 9 July 2003. Today, 20 June 2005 I had my regular 3 month check-up and my doctor was unaware of any problems with the unit! I left copies of the internet information I had downloaded. I don’t think anyone is in a hurry for this data to become public!!

By: John D. Goldson

John D. Goldson — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:45:22 +0000

On Sept 11, 2003 I had a Guidant Pacemaker replaced by a Guidant AICD Model A135, Serial No. 105532, Defibrillator. Can you advise if I should have any concern about this device?

By: PJ

PJ — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 04:14:39 +0000

If you have this device, I suggest you RUN dont walk to your nearest facility to get an “independent” evaluation of your device.

DO NOT RELY ON TECH’s WORDS THAT YOUR DEVICE IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. THEY LIE!

WARNING: My fathers replacement device ALSO gave him great trouble. When he died shortly thereafter no autopsy was performed and his device much to our horror was later discovered by the family as being MIA!

Our father died in very short order of his replacement all due to a triple whammy and all credit goes to this device, its replacement and the subsequent and repeated administration of Natrecor in the end, (FYI: Natrecor is another one of Johnson and Johnson’s babies. If you take Natrecor please consider joining in the class action suit against the company. This drug kills!

No one or any amount of money via suit can ever mend our (his family’s) broken hearts. He was a victim, he was seriously mislead and he was abused. Now he is dead. 3/2005

By: LINDA ALLISON

LINDA ALLISON — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 18:34:55 +0000

My sister has a defib and she is concerned that hers might be one of the “bad” one’s. Where can I get info on this. Have model, product and serial info.