Albany, New York: Scope Infection Lawsuits

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Best Lawyer and American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best Attorney, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Endoscope Injury Victims in and Around Albany, New York. If You or a Loved One Have Been Diagnosed with a Serious Illness Caused by a Contaminated Medical Scope, Our Experienced Team of Attorneys Could Help You Collect the Evidence You Need to Obtain a Fair Settlement.

Olympus is the world’s biggest manufacturer of medical scopes.

If you have ever had an endoscopy or similar procedure, there is a good chance your doctor used a device made by Olympus. Physicians, hospitals, and clinics count on these scopes to provide a safe alternative to more invasive surgeries, but they are not entirely risk-free.

Over the course of the past decade, Olympus has garnered significant controversy for its decisions. The Department of Justice, for instance, took Olympus to court in 2018 for concealing risks related to some of its most popular duodenoscopes. In court filings, government attorneys accused Olympus of concealing information about design defects. These alleged defects make it difficult to properly clean Olympus scopes, raising patients’ risk of bacterial infection.

“Medical devices, such as the Olympus duodenoscope that is used in 500,000 procedures per year in the United States, can extend and improve the quality of life for many people,” the Justice Department said in a 2018 press release. “But when a device manufacturer becomes aware of risks that could lead to illness, injury, or death, there is a statutory obligation to report that information to the FDA in a timely manner. By failing to do so, Olympus and Mr. Yabe put patients’ health at risk.”

Between 2022 and 2025, the Food and Drug Administration raised repeated concerns about the quality and safety of other Olympus-made scopes. In one warning letter, the FDA said its investigators found evidence that an Olympus subsidiary not only failed to adequately test the design of its scopes but also made it more difficult for doctors and patients to report potential problems, too.

If you or a loved one developed a serious illness after undergoing a procedure involving an Olympus medical scope, you could be entitled to significant compensation. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping New Yorkers stand up to some of the country’s largest medical device manufacturers. We know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it. Please send us a message online or call us today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to an Olympus scope injury lawyer near Albany and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Modern endoscopes are a safe and minimally invasive alternative to surgery.

They are also incredibly complex. An endoscope might not look like anything more than a long, flexible tube with a camera at one end, but these devices contain a full-on array of tiny, delicate components. These often include:

1. Multi-piece elevator mechanisms;
2. Microscopic grooves and narrow internal channels;
3. Sealed electronics compartments;
4. Hinged and other movable parts;
5. Other hard-to-reach elements.

The complexity of most Olympus scopes can make sterilization difficult.

Since scopes are comprised of small, complex components, doctors usually follow a set routine for cleaning. This routine is called “reprocessing.” It involves performing a series of manual inspections and leak tests, followed by immersion in a disinfectant. Every step is designed to eliminate bacteria between individual patients and procedures.

Under ideal conditions, reprocessing is an effective way to eliminate leftover germs. Of course, conditions are not always ideal, and sterilization does not always work as intended. Olympus scopes can, for instance, contain so many small pieces and components that total immersion in a medical-grade disinfectant is not always enough to kill leftover germs. Instead, bacteria can make their way into little nooks and crannies, where they can stay hidden until the next procedure. If these pathogens manage to hitch a ride into another patient’s body, they can wreak absolute havoc from the inside out, causing infections that are often serious and sometimes fatal.

Contaminated medical scopes have been linked to life-threatening medical conditions.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Serious bacterial infections;
2. Sepsis;
3. Pneumonia;
4. Bloodstream infections;
5. Internal organ damage;
6. Internal tissue damage;
7. Antibiotic-resistant illnesses.

Some outbreaks, both in Europe and the United States, have resulted in multiple fatalities.

The Food and Drug Administration believes that, in the period between 2013 and 2024, nearly three dozen Americans died due to medical scope-related infections.

A significant source of danger is the type of bacteria found on contaminated scopes. Germs that survive immersion in a medical-grade disinfectant are often resistant to other substances up to and including antibiotics. This can transform an otherwise manageable infection into a life-threatening emergency, potentially requiring an extended stay at the hospital and an intensive care plan.

Olympus is headquartered in Japan, but it still has to abide by state and federal regulations.

Before a company like Olympus can put a new scope on the market, it must generally follow a series of steps designed to ensure the device’s overall safety. The approval process can vary depending on a variety of factors, but it usually involves safety testing and FDA review. These obligations do not end if and when a device is approved.

Companies have a general obligation to continuously monitor safety reports to identify and document potential side effects. If they are given reason to believe that a device is dangerous or closely associated with undocumented complications, they must inform regulators and warn the public. Companies that fail to abide by these rules could be held liable for the cost of any resulting injury or injuries.

Olympus has already been found liable for inadequate design and failure to warn-related defects. In many cases, patients are not required to prove that Olympus was negligent. Instead, they must establish that the device was defective and that the defect was the direct cause of their injury.

Depending on the circumstances of your claim, you could be entitled to compensation for:

1. Your medical expenses;
2. The costs of future care;
3. Lost income from work;
4. Diminished earning potential;
5. Emotional pain and suffering;
6. Physical pain and suffering;
7. Loss of enjoyment;
8. The wrongful death of a loved one.

New York does not cap damages in medical scope claims.

In other words, you could recover as much compensation as you need to reclaim your financial independence and begin building back.

If you think that you could have a case, call Jed Dietrich, Esq., today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to an Olympus scope injury lawyer near Albany and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Albany, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!