Olympus duodenoscopes have been linked to serious bacterial infections following ERCP, colonoscopy, and bronchoscopy procedures. Lawsuits allege the devices were defectively designed and impossible to fully sterilize between patients — and that Olympus knew it.
A duodenoscope is a long, flexible lighted tube threaded through the mouth, stomach, and into the duodenum. Physicians use it to perform ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) — a procedure that diagnoses and treats problems with the bile ducts, pancreas, and gallbladder. An estimated 500,000–650,000 ERCP procedures are performed each year in the United States, and Olympus supplies the large majority of the duodenoscopes used.
Unlike disposable instruments, duodenoscopes are reusable: hospitals clean and reprocess them between patients according to the manufacturer's instructions. The litigation centers on whether that's actually possible with Olympus's design.
Devices named in current claims
At the tip of an Olympus duodenoscope sits an "elevator" mechanism — a moving part that angles surgical tools during the procedure. Lawsuits allege its narrow channels and crevices trap organic material and bacteria even when hospitals follow Olympus's own reprocessing instructions exactly.
Outbreaks of drug-resistant "superbug" infections — including CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) — were traced to contaminated duodenoscopes at hospitals including Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Across more than 40 hospitals worldwide, these outbreaks were linked to at least 35 deaths and hundreds of additional infections between 2010 and 2015.
In 2017, a Seattle jury awarded $6.6 million against a duodenoscope maker over a hospital superbug outbreak. In 2018, Olympus pleaded guilty to distributing misbranded duodenoscopes after failing to file FDA-required adverse event reports.
New infection reports, an FDA import alert, and an urgent Olympus safety notice have triggered a fresh round of lawsuits — including wrongful death claims tied to VRE and C. difficile infections following ERCP and colonoscopy procedures.
Claims generally argue the device was defectively designed and impossible to reliably sterilize, that Olympus failed to warn hospitals and patients of the known infection risk, and that the company knew about contamination reports for years before acting.
A condensed history of the outbreaks, regulatory actions, and legal developments driving the current wave of claims.
Hospitals nationwide report CRE outbreaks tied to contaminated duodenoscopes used in ERCP; the FDA issues safety communications.
A Seattle jury holds a duodenoscope manufacturer liable over a hospital outbreak, with a portion directed to the family of a patient who died.
Olympus pleads guilty to distributing misbranded duodenoscopes after failing to file FDA-required adverse event reports.
The FDA flags dozens of Olympus scope models — including duodenoscopes, bronchoscopes, and reprocessors — halting new shipments into the US over ongoing contamination concerns.
Olympus tells hospitals its prior reprocessing protocols for current-generation TJF-series scopes were insufficient, requires new inspection tools, and discloses two deaths and five serious injuries reported since 2024.
The FDA classifies a Class II recall of the OER-Pro automated scope reprocessor — the equipment hospitals use to clean Olympus duodenoscopes — after finding incompatible valves.
A federal wrongful death lawsuit alleges a contaminated Olympus duodenoscope transmitted a fatal VRE bloodstream infection following an ERCP.
No multidistrict litigation has been consolidated. Cases are proceeding as individual product liability lawsuits in state and federal courts, with new claims being filed and evaluated every week.
Every case is different, and only a licensed attorney can confirm whether you have a claim. In general, you may be eligible for a free case review if any of the following apply.
Not currently. As of August 2026, no multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been consolidated for these claims. Cases are being filed and litigated individually in state and federal courts across the country. That could change if case volume grows, but it does not affect your ability to file an individual claim now.
Depending on the facts of your case, damages in product liability claims like this can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and — in wrongful death cases — funeral costs and loss of companionship. An attorney can only estimate potential value after reviewing your medical records and case details.
Every state sets its own statute of limitations for product liability and wrongful death claims, and the clock generally does not pause while you wait to see whether an MDL forms. If you believe you or a loved one was affected, it's worth getting a free review sooner rather than later.
No. Case reviews are free and confidential, and these claims are handled on a contingency basis — meaning there's no attorney fee unless your case results in a settlement or verdict.
Family members and estate representatives may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. Please reach out — our intake team is experienced in handling these conversations with care.
A member of our intake team will follow up within one business day. There's no cost, no obligation, and nothing you share here creates an attorney-client relationship until we agree to represent you in writing.
Prefer to talk now?
Call 1-800-LAW-FIRMA member of our intake team will call you within one business day. If it's urgent, call 1-800-LAW-FIRM directly.