Created: 22 July 2009
The New Haven Register (7/21, Sullo) reported, “Mark Hirschbeck had his dream job as a Major League Baseball umpire and reached a career high with the 2001 World Series, but he says what started as routine hip replacement surgery cost him his career and has led to years of pain.” Hirschbeck ultimately underwent three hip replacements with a ceramic hip supplied by Wright Medical technology, suffering problems with each one. He has a suit pending against his doctor and Wright, and he “is among those advocating for Congress to pass the Medical Device Safety Act.” The AP (7/21) reported, “The 48-year-old Shelton resident says the legislation is needed to undo a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that shielded medical device manufacturers from lawsuits.” He “says companies must be held responsible for faulty products.”