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Bleeding Edge Documentary Depicts Dangers of Medical Devices

Holly Kelly Ennis June 18, 2018

Despite having the most technologically advanced healthcare system in the world, one of the leading causes of death in the United States is preventable medical harm. The critically acclaimed documentary, The Bleeding Edge, scheduled to be released world-wide on Netflix on July 27, 2018, depicts how injuries from medical devices is rampant in an industry focused on profits, not patients. The film, directed and produced by Hollywood heavyweights, Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy, exposes the dirty secrets of the $400 billion medical device industry and the quest for profits from 'innovative products' at the expense of patient safety. The film is intensely relevant as all Americans will either have a medical device implanted in their lifetime or have a close relative who will undergo such a procedure. 

Prominently featured in the film is Essure Problems Group founder, Angie Firmalino, who exquisitely details not only her own painful journey with the Essure device, but illustrates how the Essure Problems' grassroots movement is creating change to hold device manufacturers, physicians and the FDA accountable for poorly tested and unsafe medical devices. Honest and frank comments by former FDA commissioners reveal that the medical device approval process is broken and far too many untested and unsafe devices make it to market. This, coupled with the FDA's inability to provide post market surveillance after a device is put into unsuspecting patients, creates hundreds of thousands of device-related injuries and deaths. Unfortunately, the FDA does little to address or alleviate these problems and as film critic, Eric Kohn noted, "Scott Gottlieb, the Trump-appointed FDA head...seems to care as much about patient safety as Scott Pruitt cares about the environment."

The Bleeding Edge also portrays the gripping story of Tammy Jackson, implanted with transvaginal mesh, whose life has been unforgivably ruined, undergoing nearly 20 surgeries to remove the mesh. Another fascinating story concerns an orthopedic surgeon who underwent a DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant surgery, who was left with serious neurological and orthopedic deficients caused by the cobalt and chromium in the implant.  The most graphic stories involved women who underwent hysterectomies by poorly trained physicians using the Da Vinci Robot,  whose internal organs literally prolapsed completely out of their vaginas, much to their sheer terror and absolute horror.

The disturbing issues portrayed in the film all boil down to lax oversight and insufficient regulatory practices coupled with overt greed masked as 'innovation'. The film makes one determined to prove that we can do better for our own healthcare and those of our loved ones as well as stressing the importance of grassroot movements such as the Essure Problems Group to force the necessary changes within the industry, physicians and the FDA.  Free screenings of the documetary are currently scheduled at various sites nationwide prior to the Netflix release. Everyone is strongly urged to see this vitally important and powerful film.  The movie can be viewed for free at the following locations:

  • Saturday, June 23, 2018 -Essure Problems.  2:00 pm., Kenton County Public Library, 1992 Walton-Nicholson Rd., Independence, KY 41051. 

  • Tuesday, June 26, 2018-The Dugo Family.  6:00 pm. The Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 600 Main St., Tannersville, NY 12485.

  • Thursday, June 28, 2018- Essure Problems.  6:30 pm. Relias Lecture Hall, 111 Corning Rd., Suite 250, Cary, NC 27520.

  • Thursday June 28, 2018- KPW- 8:00 pm. Gateway Theatre, 1820 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (I will be attending and would love to meet you.)                                                                                  

  • Saturday, June 28, 2018- Iowa & Surrounding E-sisters. 5:00 pm. Ramada Inn Ankeny, 133 SE Deleware, Ankeny, IA 50023.

  • Friday July 13, 2018. House of Representatives, 12:00 pm. Independence Avenue, Washington, DC.  (I will be attending and would love to meet you.).

  • Saturday July 14, 2018- California Guild 1:00 pm. Heartland Foundation, 6024 San Juan Ave., Citrus Heights, CA 95610.

  • Saturday July 14, 2018- Mighty Essure-sisters of Missouri, 2:00 pm. Capitol City Cinema, 126 E High St., Jefferson City, MO 65101.                                                                                                      

  • Sunday July 15, 2018- Iowa and Surrounding Area E-Sisters. 3:00 pm. The Talent Factory, 1114 6th St., Nevada, IA 50201.

  • Tuesday July 17 2018- Essure Problems. Outside Bayer's Office, 1000 Bayer Blvd., Whippany NJ, 07981 at 3:30 and 5:30 pm. (I will be there and would love to meet you.)

  • Tuesday July 17, 2018- College of DuPage. 7:00 pm. Health & Science Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

  • Wednesday July 25, 2018-Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy, 7:25 pm., South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 228 South Ocean Ave., Freeport, NY 11520.

Be sure and take advantage of the various free screenings with the opportunity to meet and discuss the health crisis concerning unsafe medical devices. For more information regarding Essure, the documentary or other medical devices, contact Holly Ennis at Ennis & Ennis, P.A., at Holly@Ennislaw.com or visit us online at www.Ennislw.com