Guidant Papers Show Warnings Never Sent to Doctors

Newly released corporate documents show that, last year, Guidant drafted but never sent a detailed document to physicians which would have disclosed significant defects in its heart devices. Instead, executives of the company defended their failure to warn doctors by citing concerns that patients would have been at risk from unnecessary device replacement. The “Dear Doctor” letter was released last week by a Texas state judge, who commented that the legal and financial consequences from this inquiry could be significant to Boston Scientific, who acquired Guidant. . Oh well, better late than never.