Consumers Union Calls for Warranty on Replacement Hips and Knees

The policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports has been trying to persuade medical device manufacturers to issue warranties on their products. Consumers Union, with an annual budget of about $260 million, works with more than 1 million activists to pass consumer protection laws at the national and state levels.

Offering such a guarantee would allow a company to differentiate itself in a highly competitive marketplace, consumer advocates say. About 1.2 million knee and hip replacement surgeries are performed each year, and projections call for that number to reach 4 million by 2030.Many Ft. Wayne based companies are dealing with the possible consequences that would come with rival companies joining such a union.

The companies have dealt with defective device issues in the past, sometimes with expensive results. Johnson & Johnson, parent company of DePuySynthes, in May agreed to settle patient claims related to metal-on-metal hip implants for $2.5 billion. Competitor Stryker this month announced it would pay $1.43 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits related to defective hip implants.

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