Olympus Scope Lawsuit

A colonoscopy, ERCP, endoscopy, or similar procedure may have been scheduled to diagnose a health problem or treat one. Ending up back in the hospital with a serious infection was never supposed to be part of it.

Patients have developed sepsis, drug-resistant infections, and other serious illnesses after procedures involving certain Olympus scopes. For someone who was already dealing with a medical issue, facing another hospitalization and more treatment because of a device used during that procedure can be devastating.

Problems involving Olympus scopes have also included components that broke or became dislodged during procedures, as well as internal injuries requiring additional medical care.

Freese & Goss is investigating Olympus scope lawsuit claims involving qualifying procedures performed in 2015 or later. Our attorneys can identify the scope used and investigate whether the device contributed to a serious infection or injury.

If this happened to you or someone you love, call 214-761-6623 for a free case review. You don’t need to know the model of the scope or have all of the medical records before reaching out.

What Are Olympus Scopes?

Olympus manufactures medical scopes that allow doctors to see inside different areas of the body. Depending on the procedure, a scope may be used to:

• Examine organs and tissue;
• Take a biopsy or tissue sample;
• Remove polyps or other tissue;
• Treat a blockage; or
• Perform treatment through a small opening or incision.

Many of these scopes are reusable, which means they must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being used on another patient.

Scopes can contain small channels and moving components that make the cleaning process complex. The FDA explains that tissue or fluid from one patient can remain in a duodenoscope if it is not thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. In rare cases, this can transmit an infection to another patient.

The FDA has continued to address problems involving Olympus devices. A 2023 action involving the Olympus TJF-Q190V followed reports of patient infections and positive cultures. The FDA also documents a 2025 correction involving the same model following continued reports of positive cultures and infections.

“Patients trust that the medical equipment used during a procedure is safe. When someone ends up back in the hospital with a serious infection, we want to know why. That includes finding out which scope was used, how it was handled, and whether the device played a role.”

— Tammy Banno, Managing Partner │Freese & Goss

What Procedures Could Result in Infections and Legal Claims?

Olympus scopes are used in procedures involving the digestive system, lungs, urinary tract, reproductive system, sinuses, abdomen, and other areas of the body.

Freese & Goss is reviewing potential claims involving:

• Colonoscopy: Examines the colon and rectum and can be used to remove polyps or collect tissue.
• ERCP: Examines and treats problems involving the bile and pancreatic ducts.
• Upper endoscopy: Examines the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine.
• Bronchoscopy: Examines the airways and lungs.
• Laparoscopy: Uses a scope inserted through a small incision to examine or operate inside the abdomen or pelvis.
• Ureteroscopy: Examines the urinary tract and can be used to treat kidney or ureter stones.
• Cystoscopy: Examines the bladder and urethra.
• Hysteroscopy: Examines the inside of the uterus.
• Sinus endoscopy: Examines or treats areas within the nasal passages and sinuses.
• Duodenoscopy: Uses a specialized scope to reach the first part of the small intestine and nearby structures.

Having one of these procedures does not automatically mean an Olympus device was used or caused a later medical problem. Medical records from the procedure can help identify the equipment involved.

Don’t know which scope was used? Most patients don’t. There usually isn’t a reason to ask who manufactured the scope before undergoing a medical procedure.

An investigation can begin with information you are more likely to have:

• The procedure you underwent;
• The date or approximate date;
• The hospital, surgery center, or medical facility;
• When the infection or complication began; and
• Whether you required hospitalization or another procedure afterward.

Medical and facility records can then be used to identify the scope.

Infections Linked to Olympus Scope Procedures

An infection might not be apparent before a patient goes home. Fever, chills, increasing pain, weakness, vomiting, or breathing problems can develop in the days after the procedure and result in another visit to the doctor or emergency room.

Freese & Goss is reviewing potential cases involving:

• Sepsis or bacteremia;
• CRE or another drug-resistant infection;
• C. difficile (C. diff);
• E. coli;
• Pneumonia or another severe pulmonary infection;
• Tuberculosis;
• HIV; and
• Other medically significant infections.

FDA records provide a real-world example of the infections reported after procedures involving Olympus scopes. In one adverse-event report involving the TJF-Q190V, three patients developed infections after therapeutic procedures performed with the same scope. The patients tested positive for E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. An adverse-event report does not establish that the scope caused the infections.

For potential claims, the timing of the diagnosis can be significant. Freese & Goss is reviewing bacterial infections requiring hospitalization within 90 days of a qualifying procedure and certain drug-resistant infections diagnosed within 180 days, along with additional qualifying infections and injuries.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of an Infection After a Scope Procedure?

Symptoms vary depending on the infection and procedure. Severe or worsening symptoms after a scope procedure warrant medical attention.

Watch for:

• Fever or chills;
• Increasing or severe pain;
• Unusual weakness or fatigue;
• Nausea, vomiting, or persistent diarrhea;
• Shortness of breath or persistent coughing;
• Rapid heartbeat;
• Confusion, dizziness, or fainting; or
• Abdominal pain or swelling.

Feeling increasingly ill in the days after a procedure is also a reason to contact a medical provider.

Sepsis requires immediate medical attention. It is the body’s extreme response to an infection and can cause tissue damage, organ failure, and death.

Severe Infections Can Have Lasting Consequences

Treatment for a serious infection can involve much more than antibiotics at home. Depending on the diagnosis, medical care could include:

• Emergency hospitalization;
• IV antibiotics;
• Intensive care;
• Additional testing;
• Treatment by an infectious disease specialist;
• Another procedure or surgery; or
• Rehabilitation after hospitalization.

Sepsis and severe infections can damage the kidneys, lungs, heart, or other organs. A drug-resistant infection can also limit which antibiotics doctors are able to use.

After leaving the hospital, a patient may still be dealing with weakness, limited mobility, follow-up testing, medication, rehabilitation, or home health care. Time away from work and additional medical expenses can add to an already difficult recovery.

Family members may need to take time away from work or assume caregiving responsibilities. In the most serious cases, an infection or device-related complication can be fatal.

If you or a loved one required hospitalization or significant additional treatment after a scope procedure performed in 2015 or later, call Freese & Goss at 214-761-6623 or get in touch with us online. Our firm can identify the device used and investigate whether an Olympus scope was involved.

Olympus Devices and FDA Safety Actions

Olympus duodenoscopes have been the subject of FDA recalls, corrections, and safety actions related to infection and contamination concerns.

One device involved is the Olympus EVIS EXERA III TJF-Q190V duodenovideoscope, which is used during ERCP procedures. The scope has a movable elevator mechanism at its tip that helps doctors position instruments inside the body. Its design also creates areas that require careful cleaning and inspection between patients.

FDA actions involving Olympus devices include:

• 2021: Olympus recalled certain TJF-Q180V duodenoscopes because damage or deterioration could allow contamination to remain after reprocessing or permit fluids to enter parts of the device.
• 2023: Olympus issued updated information involving the TJF-Q190V following reports of patient infections and positive cultures.
• 2025: Olympus issued additional instructions involving reprocessing of the TJF-Q190V after post-market data showed higher microbial contamination rates under certain cleaning circumstances.

These actions do not mean every procedure performed with an Olympus scope resulted in an infection. For a patient who became seriously ill, however, identifying the exact device used can help determine whether there were known safety concerns involving that model.

Injuries Beyond Infection After an Olympus Scope Procedure

Infections are not the only injuries being investigated. Problems with a scope or one of its components can cause physical injuries during the procedure itself.

Freese & Goss is also reviewing potential cases involving:

• Organ or tissue perforation;
• Significant bleeding or hemorrhaging;
• A scope or component breaking during the procedure;
• A component becoming dislodged inside the body;
• Additional surgery needed to retrieve a broken or dislodged component; and
• Burns or internal tissue damage associated with the device.

A perforation can require emergency treatment or surgery, particularly if the injury allows the contents of an organ to leak into surrounding tissue. A broken or dislodged component can also require another procedure to locate and remove it.

Procedure notes, operative reports, imaging, and records from additional treatment can document what occurred and how doctors responded.

Do You Qualify for an Olympus Surgical Scope Infection Lawsuit?

Freese & Goss is currently reviewing claims involving an Olympus scope procedure performed in 2015 or later and a serious infection or significant device-related injury.

A potential claim could involve:

• A bacterial infection requiring hospitalization within 90 days of the procedure;
• Sepsis or bacteremia;
• A drug-resistant infection or “superbug,” such as CRE, C. diff, or E. coli, diagnosed within 180 days;
• Pneumonia or another severe pulmonary infection within 90 days;
• Tuberculosis within 90 days;
• HIV diagnosed within 90 days;
• Another medically significant infection;
• Organ or tissue damage or perforation during the procedure;
• A broken or dislodged device component that caused an injury or required retrieval surgery;
• Significant hemorrhaging after the procedure; or
• Death related to an infection or device failure.

The procedure itself also needs to fit the types of cases under investigation, including colonoscopy, ERCP, bronchoscopy, upper endoscopy, laparoscopy, ureteroscopy, hysteroscopy, sinus endoscopy, cystoscopy, or duodenoscopy.

You do not have to determine whether every criterion applies before contacting an attorney. The procedure date, medical facility, diagnosis, and information about the treatment you received can provide a starting point.

What Evidence Matters in an Olympus Scope Infection Case?

The medical records surrounding the original procedure and the treatment afterward are central to investigating an Olympus endoscope lawsuit.

Relevant evidence can include:

• Procedure and operative records showing when and where the procedure took place and potentially identifying the equipment used;
• Hospital and emergency room records documenting the infection, injury, and treatment required;
• Laboratory and culture results identifying bacteria or another organism;
• Device records identifying the manufacturer, model, or serial number;
• Imaging and additional procedure records documenting perforations, retained components, bleeding, or other complications; and
• Records of continuing medical care and lost income showing how the injury affected the patient after hospitalization.

The hospital or medical facility may have important information that does not appear in the paperwork given to the patient.

Depending on the case, an attorney can also seek records related to the scope’s use, maintenance, cleaning, inspection, and repair history. Those details can become particularly relevant when investigating whether contamination or a problem with the device contributed to an infection.

The medical timeline matters too. Culture results, the date symptoms began, when the patient returned to the hospital, and whether another source for the infection was identified can all be reviewed alongside the records from the original procedure.

Compensation Available in an Olympus Scope Infection Lawsuit

A serious infection or device injury can result in another hospitalization, additional procedures, time away from work, and medical care that continues after the initial complication has been treated.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation can include:

• Hospital and emergency room expenses;
• Additional surgeries or procedures;
• IV antibiotics, medication, and follow-up care;
• Rehabilitation and future medical treatment;
• Lost wages and reduced future earning ability; and
• Physical pain and suffering.

When an infection or device failure results in death, eligible surviving family members may also be able to pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim.

The amount available depends on the harm caused in the individual case. An ICU admission involving sepsis and lasting organ damage, for example, involves medical needs and losses that can be very different from an infection resolved during a shorter hospitalization.

A Martindale-Nolo survey of personal injury claimants found that respondents who hired attorneys reported average compensation of approximately $77,600, compared with approximately $17,600 for those who handled their claims without a lawyer. The survey covered personal injury cases generally and does not predict the outcome or value of an Olympus scope case.

An attorney can document the medical expenses, income losses, continuing treatment, and personal effects of the injury when determining the compensation to pursue.

How Can Freese & Goss Help With an Olympus Scope Claim?

When a serious infection or injury happens after a scope procedure, the patient usually has access to only part of the information needed to investigate it. The hospital or medical facility may have records identifying the device, while additional records can show how the scope was cleaned, maintained, inspected, or repaired.

Freese & Goss can investigate those details and build the case around the medical evidence. That work can include:

• Obtaining procedure and hospital records;
• Identifying the manufacturer and model of the scope;
• Reviewing laboratory results and infection cultures;
• Investigating available records involving the device;
• Documenting additional treatment and long-term medical problems; and
• Calculating medical expenses, lost income, and other losses.

Freese & Goss has represented thousands of people in mass tort cases involving dangerous drugs, medical devices, and consumer products. Our attorneys have recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients, and its attorneys have held leadership positions in major multidistrict litigation.

Clients can also receive assistance in English or Spanish.

What Happens After You Contact an Olympus Scope Attorney?

You do not need to arrive at the first conversation knowing which scope was used or whether the device caused the infection. The initial information about the procedure and medical treatment gives the legal team somewhere to begin.

The investigation can focus on several questions:

1. When and where was the procedure performed? Medical records can confirm the facility, date, and type of procedure.
2. Which scope was used? Hospital and procedure records can identify the manufacturer and model.
3. What infection or injury occurred? Medical records, laboratory results, imaging, and subsequent treatment document the complication.
4. What information is available about the device? The investigation can include relevant FDA actions and records associated with the scope.
5. How has the injury affected the patient? Additional medical care, time away from work, continuing health problems, and other losses become part of the claim.

Freese & Goss handles mass tort and medical device litigation nationwide and prepares cases with trial in mind.

How Long Do You Have to File an Olympus Scope Lawsuit?

The deadline to file depends on the law that applies to the individual claim. The date and location of the procedure, when the injury occurred, and when a possible connection to the device was discovered can all be relevant.

Waiting can also make evidence harder to obtain. Medical and facility records need to be gathered, and information about the scope used during the procedure may need to be located.

An attorney can determine which deadline applies based on the facts of the case.

Can Family Members Pursue a Claim After a Patient Dies?

A severe infection can become life-threatening when it progresses to sepsis, causes organ damage, or does not respond to commonly used antibiotics. Device failures that cause perforation, hemorrhaging, or other serious injuries can also result in fatal complications.

When a patient dies after a qualifying infection or device-related injury, eligible family members may have a wrongful death claim. The laws governing who can file and which damages are available depend on the circumstances and the state law that applies.

Families can start with the information they have, such as the procedure date, medical facility, subsequent hospitalization, and cause of death. The remaining medical and device records can be investigated.

Talk to Freese & Goss About an Olympus Scope Injury

If you or someone you love ended up seriously ill or injured after a scope procedure, you may still have questions about the device that was used and whether it played a role.

Freese & Goss represents people injured by dangerous medical devices and other products nationwide. The firm’s attorneys have experience taking on large manufacturers in complex litigation and have recovered more than $1 billion for injured clients.

You do not need to track down the scope model or collect every medical record before contacting the firm. Freese & Goss can start with the procedure and medical information you already have.

Call 214-761-6623 for a free consultation. Spanish-speaking assistance is available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Olympus Scope Claims