Boston Scientific Settles Guidant Claims

July 2007

Manufacturer Boston Scientific has agreed to pay $195 million for defective Guidant brand heart defibrillators and pacemakers. Major recalls led to over 1,400 lawsuits regarding heart devices produced from 1997 to 2000.

Since June 2005, as much as 56 percent of the company’s pacemakers and defibrillators were recalled for faulty readings and battery failure. Over 88,000 defibrillators and about 200,000 pacemakers were identified as defective by the company.

The $195M sum will settle approximately 4,000 claims resulting from the recalls. Boston Scientific acquired Guidant in early 2006 after the recalls had already been announced.