Stolen Boston Scientific Devices Pose Patient Risk

A shipment of Boston Scientific Corp. products recently were stolen en route to the company’s sterilization facility in Coventry, R.I. Though the products’ labels state the devices are sterile, the merchandise actually was stolen before the sterilization process, thus posing a risk of infection to patients. Law enforcement officials believe the shipment was taken between April 8 and April 11.

A safety alert posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website on May 4 read, “Unusually low pricing may be an indication that the product has been stolen.”

Fifteen various endoscopy and urology devices were included in the shipment. Boston Scientific listed the specific products and their identifying numbers in a customer letter that is posted on its website. Products include clipping devices used in gastrointestinal applications, pelvic floor repair kits, fiber optic laser energy devices and mesh slings used to treat urinary incontinence.

Citing the “ongoing nature of the investigation”, Boston Scientific executives declined to comment on the matter except to state that the Natick, Mass.-based company is working with the FDA and law enforcement officials to recover the stolen equipment.

A list of the affected products can be found at: http://www.bostonscientific.com/templatedata/imports/collateral/CustomerNotifications/letter-april-2011.pdf