Bills Introduced To Increase Oversight Of Medical Devices

WASHINGTON D.C. (CBS4) - Lawmakers in Washington this week introduced legislation that's aimed at better protecting patients from faulty medical devices.

CBS4 has reported in the past on several Colorado women who blame the birth control device Essure for chronic pain and other problems.

They say passing these bills introduced this week, which would strengthen the FDA's review process of devices like Essure, would be a step in the right direction. The bills were introduced on the House floor on Wednesday.

"We want justice for the women who have been harmed by Essure and their children who have been harmed by Essure. We want justice for everyone who has been harmed by a medical device that was approved under questionable circumstances," said a victim's advocate.

Rep. Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat is sponsoring the bills along with Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican.

"Every once in a while there's a medical device that gets approved through either a fast track approval or a more rigorous approval that may do more harm than good," Fitzpatrick said.

If the legislation passes it would hold companies accountable if their device malfunctions or hasn't been properly tested.