After her daughter Katie died during surgery to remove a defective Medtronic heart defibrillator wire, Michele Meyer became an activist for patients rights. Meyer’s daughter and others had their rights taken away as a result of a 2008 Supreme Court decision that gave medical device manufacturers immunity from legal claims. Meyer is working hard to restore the right to sue negligent manufacturers of faulty medical devices. These families are pressing Congress to pass the Medical Device Safety Act.

Other families affected by the preemption ruling include the Bairds, whose 16 year old son died after his Medtronic Sigma pacemaker malfunctioned, and the Beadlings. Wife and mother Jan Beadling has been shocked several times and has been left with serious and permanent injuries as a result of a faulty Medtronic heart lead and currently has no legal recourse.

Earlier this month, Meyer joined the Bairds, Beadlings, and many others in Washington to attend a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and give voice to their concerns about medical device safety.

Jan Beadling is impassioned about the cause. She stated, “This legislation is crucial to protecting patients. I’m concerned about the next person harmed by these dangerous products.”