Va. Federal Judge Denies Abbott, Hospira Summary Judgment in Analgesia Pump Death Case

ROANOKE, Va. — A Virginia federal judge has denied the makers of an analgesia pump summary judgment in a wrongful death case, ruling that issues of fact exist as to whether the instructions and labels were adequate and whether medical providers were aware of the dangers of misprogramming the drug concentration in the device.

On Dec. 19, Judge Michael F. Urbanski of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia also denied defendants’ motions to exclude plaintiffs’ expert witnesses, finding they are qualified to testify as to the adequacy of the device’s instructions.

On Oct. 6, 2011, …