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Tainted Tissue Transplants & Contaminated Bone Grafts

The Ferraro Law Firm is currently investigating cases involving potentially unsanitary and diseased human tissue, bones and organs being used in transplant surgeries nationwide. The human tissue bank industry, which was once based on good will and donation, has been turned into an unfortunate "commodity" trade that puts profit over safety at the expense of dignity and disease. This industry brings in an estimated $1 billion annually and has been under increased scrutiny following an FDA probe last fall into an alleged body-snatching ring and allegations of illegal organ harvest. However, this issue stems far beyond the recent investigation and may include thousands of transplants of human tissue obtained both legally and illegally, some of which may even be considered instances of assault and battery. The Ferraro Law Firm is currently investigating cases on behalf of:

  • Victims of transplants that may have included tainted body parts
  • Family members of those whose bodies have been illegally tampered with and/or stolen

Victims of unsafe and tainted tissue transplants may have undergone treatment as far back as early 2004, perhaps earlier, and hospitals nationwide have reported receipt of the illegally harvested and potentially dangerous tissue. Recalls have been issued by the following tissue processing firms:

  • Tutogen Medical, Inc., Alachua, Florida;
  • Regeneration Technologies, Inc. (RTI), also of Alachua, Florida;
  • Donor Referral Services, Raleigh North Carolina;
  • LifeCell Corp., Branchburg, New Jersey;
  • Lost Mountain Tissue Bank, Kennesaw, Georgia; and
  • Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas, Austin, Texas.

Parts included in the recall were distributed between October 2003 and September 2005 and include human bone, skin, and tendons.

This problem may extend far beyond what has been included in these FDA recalls. It has only been since May 2005 that federal regulations have been put in place for the screening and inspection of human tissue. Therefore, anyone who has received a tissue transplant or bone graft and has been inexplicably diagnosed with Hepatitis, HIV, Syphilis or other infectious diseases should take the necessary steps to protect their legal rights by contacting the attorneys of the Ferraro Law Firm today . These diseases may be bone graft complications, or the result of tainted human tissue implants.

Although there is no guarantee that healthy recipients who received infected cadaver bone or tainted human tissue will become infected, serious infections have reported and it is recommended that all recipients of human bone and tissue grafts be tested for the following:

  • Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): HBV often can present with flu-like complaints in the initial phase, then possibly go on to a symptom-free carrier (dormant) state. The degree of clinical symptoms of HBV infection varies in both acute (early) and chronic (late) disease. The chronic phase can progress to cirrhosis (scarring) and liver cancer.
  • Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): With HCV the early process is most often without symptoms. Acute HCV typically leads to chronic infection; 60-80 percent of cases develop chronic hepatitis (abnormal liver enzymes). Chronic HCV is usually slowly progressive. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of the chronically infected individuals develop cirrhosis over a 20-30 year period. Chronic HCV is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and the most frequent indication for liver transplantation in the United States.
  • HIV-AIDS
  • Syphillis

These viruses can be detected by blood tests, but it may take weeks to months for the results to turn positive and individual cases vary widely. Testing at intervals and long-term observation is required. Each disease presents difficulties in diagnosis. The ongoing testing and increased uncertainty poses serious psychological damage for all transplant patients. Even if they are never diagnosed, people have rights not to be "battered" or receive unapproved, unsanitary, untested and unauthorized human tissue.

The Ferraro Law Firm has the trial experience and investigative skill to represent those that have been wrongfully injured by the medical industry. Our attorneys have years of experience fighting for victims of medical malpractice, faulty medical devices, and unsafe pharmaceuticals . The Ferraro Law Firm is currently fighting against the injustice and fear caused by infected tissue transplants, together with experienced co-counsel.

If you feel that you or a loved one may be a victim of an unsanitary bone/tissue transplant or unauthorized body-part harvesting, please contact our human tissue recall lawyers  at 1-800-275-3332 for a free case evaluation.

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