Guidant Knew of Defibrillator Problems Long Before Recall
Guidant knew of serious problems with particular defibrillators that would short circuit and fail to perform its function as early as February 2002, yet the company continued to sell the defective defibrillators. Guidant also continued to keep information about the defective devices from doctors and the public. After nearly ten months, Guidant modified the design and made additional changes to the device to eliminate the defects in November 2002.
It was not until May of 2005, on the eve of the publication of a New York Times article outing the company and the deadly defects, that Guidant finally admitted to the defects.
Thanks to the diligence of two Texas trial attorneys and the New York Times, documents that provide handwritten evidence of Guidant's decision to sell off the remaining defective defibrillators were discovered in January, 2006.