Southport woman supported by our team after Boston pacemaker failures

Fletchers’ specialist medical product liability team, led by Lisa Lunt and Sarah Samuel, are supporting Betty after two pacemakers failed, leaving her fearful to leave the house.

What you’ll find in this case study:

• A timeline of Betty’s history with pacemakers and device failures.
• The physical, emotional and social effects on the client.
• How we’re supporting Betty with our investigation.
• Details of device recalls.

Background

We’re supporting Betty, 69, from Southport after two of her pacemakers failed, including one that is now subject to a recall by medical device manufacturer Boston Scientific.

Betty, who has had multiple pacemakers throughout her life, first encountered problems with a pacemaker fitted in 2017, when she collapsed at home just five months later.

She later went to the hospital where doctors confirmed the pacemaker was broken and she was fitted with another Boston Scientific model.

With only 18 months left of the second Boston pacemaker, she again began experiencing problems with her health and began experiencing dizzy spells and fainting. The battery then failed in February 2025 at which point it was removed.

That replacement device, now the subject of a national recall, is currently under investigation.

Impact

Today, Betty no longer leaves the house alone, has lost much of her mobility, and has had to adapt her home so her family can live nearby in case anything goes wrong.

“I’ve collapsed in the house and outside – and flatlined multiple times. If my husband hadn’t been there, I don’t know if I’d still be alive,” Betty says.

“The worst part is never knowing when it might happen again. That fear is always with you.”

The failures have had a profound impact not only on Betty’s health, but on her independence and emotional wellbeing. Her husband Arnie recalls witnessing her fainting multiple times — sometimes in the middle of the night, and sometimes outside in the street.

“One time, she went down like a light,” he said. “If she’d hit her head on the flagstones, she wouldn’t be here today.”

Investigation

Betty’s story is now being looked at by specialist lawyers at Fletchers Solicitors, who are investigating the safety of the devices. The second pacemaker is confirmed to be part of an international Boston Scientific recall. However, lawyers say the earlier device may also warrant further investigation.

Lisa Lunt and Sarah Samuel, from Fletchers’ specialist medical product liability team, are leading the case.

“Betty’s experience is devastating,” said Lisa. “She’s endured the failure of two pacemaker devices – one of which is now known to be faulty. This raises very serious concerns about patient safety.”

“Pacemakers are designed to provide reassurance and protection. Betty has experienced the opposite – fear, pain, and a profound loss of quality of life. No one should have to go through this.”

Since the incidents, Betty says she’s become more isolated and anxious. Her medication has been changed, and her overall health has deteriorated. She’s scared to leave the house and says the constant fear of failure has left her living in a “state of high alert.”

Recall notice

Boston Scientific issued an official recall statement in December 2024. The manufacturer has recalled certain pacemakers (specifically from the ACCOLADE range amongst others), which may fail due to a battery defect.

A manufacturing issue has caused the batteries in some devices to degrade faster than expected. When this happens, the pacemaker may suddenly switch into “Safety Mode”, which reduces its function and could stop it working properly.

The recall notice recommends that affected devices have a software upgrade and that patients maintain regular monitoring and follow-up.

The recall impacts people who had one of these pacemakers implanted between 2015 and 2018, mainly for slow or irregular heart rhythms.

Fletchers Solicitors is urging anyone else affected by the Boston Scientific pacemaker recall — or who has experienced unexplained issues with their devices — to come forward.

Even patients who haven’t yet experienced symptoms may still be at risk – and worried about the potential for sudden failure.

If you or a loved one have been affected by a Boston Scientific pacemaker recall, or have experienced unexplained issues with your device, our specialist medical product liability team can help. Contact Fletchers Solicitors today to discuss your situation and find out how we can support you.