Abbott Cardiac Guidewire Lawsuit Dismissed for Lack of Causation Evidence

BATON ROUGE, La. — A Louisiana federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit in which plaintiffs allege injuries caused by the fracture of a cardiac catheter guidewire manufactured by Abbott Laboratories Inc., finding the lack of expert causation evidence dooms the claims.

In an Oct. 2 order, Chief Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana explained that because the medical causation issues are beyond a lay person’s common knowledge, expert testimony is required.

On July 2, 2014, Minor S. Patton Jr. underwent a coronary angioplasty procedure during which his surgeon, Dr. Eric …