A dispute resolution process put forward by DePuy International aimed at settling over 1,000 cases, in Ireland, against the global company over allegedly defective hip implants has been branded as “manifestly unfair”.

A High Court judge yesterday urged all those involved in legal actions over alleged defective DePuy hip implants to find innovative ways to resolve the cases rather than clog up High Court lists.

He’s a priest known for breaking the mould so it’s somehow befitting that Fr Liam Kelleher was one of the first to undergo a novel form of surgery with an equally novel name — the ‘bikini hip replacement’.

A woman who has sued over an alleged defective hip resurfacing system may pursue her claim via an action initiated three years ago and which was authorised by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, the Court of Appeal has directed.

Dozens of cases being taken against the manufacturers of allegedly defective hip replacements may be struck out following a ruling by the High Court.

A lawyer representing upwards of 300 clients fitted with faulty hip implants in Ireland expects the first cases to be settled by Christmas for sums well in excess of the reported €220,000 earmarked for individuals who sued and settled in the US.

Legal actions against the makers of faulty hip implants are being stalled by missing files and lengthy delays in accessing records.

Medical devices firm DePuy continued to market all-metal hip implants for more than three years after an Irish doctor warned of their dangers.

Four of the 3,500 Irish patients fitted with allegedly defective DePuy orthopaedics hip joints have been given leave by the High Court to serve personal injury summonses on the US company.

Fears are growing that hundreds of Irish patients who received faulty hip replacements from a global medical device giant may lose out on six-figure compensation packages because they are unaware of the looming deadline for claims.

The first compensation cases linked to the fitting of thousands of flawed hip implants could be heard by the end of the year.

Patients given faulty hip replacements may have received a boost to their case for compensation following the revelation that the manufacturers continued to sell the defective devices a year after discovering their flaws.

Private hospitals carried out more than two-thirds of the surgeries involving the use of two defective hip implant devices as a result of which almost 300 patients in Ireland require a second operation.

A legal firm representing patients fitted with faulty hip implants is to sue either the manufacturers or their parent company, as part of a group action.

A TOTAL of 44 patients have been operated on and another nine are scheduled for surgery to replace a faulty hip implant recalled by the manufacturer last year.

UP to six-in-10 patients fitted with faulty hip implants will face replacement surgery in the future, according to a legal firm working on behalf of some of those affected.

A NUMBER of people fitted with faulty hip implants are experiencing forgetfulness and other “neurological issues”, according to a law firm working on their behalf.

THE health consequences of fitting Irish patients with defective hip implants are more serious than first realised and the state could end up picking up the tab, a medical negligence lawyer warned yesterday.

A MAJOR US company which produced faulty artificial hips given to more than 93,000 people worldwide, including 3,500 Irish patients, has been heavily criticised after it insisted any refunds or covered repair surgery costs are dependent on the equipment being returned to the firm.

THE manufacturer of faulty hip replacement parts being recalled worldwide said it will refund any of the costs associated with testing and treatment, including corrective surgery.

AROUND 3,500 Irish patients received a replacement hip system which is now being recalled worldwide because of its high failure rate.

US FIRM DePuy Orthopaedics has promised to cover the costs of any medical treatment needed by patients who received potentially faulty hip implants manufactured by the company, which are the subject of a voluntary global recall.