Olympus scopes can trap bacteria inside their channels even after proper cleaning, exposing patients to drug-resistant infections. If you got a serious infection after a procedure using an Olympus scope, you may qualify for compensation.
Olympus makes the flexible endoscopes and duodenoscopes used in ERCP, colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, and bronchoscopy procedures, and holds an estimated 70% of the global endoscope market. These reusable scopes contain narrow internal channels, elevator mechanisms, hinges, and sealed components — tiny crevices where blood, tissue, and bacteria can remain trapped even when staff follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions exactly.
The FDA began warning about this in 2015. In 2018, Olympus pleaded guilty to failing to report infections linked to its scopes and paid more than $80 million in criminal penalties. The agency has since issued additional warning letters over manufacturing problems and, in 2025, import alerts blocking certain Olympus devices. In a growing number of cases, patients say the infection that upended their health — sepsis, a drug-resistant “superbug,” organ damage, or worse — traces back to a scope the company knew it could not guarantee was clean.
If a contaminated Olympus scope caused a serious infection in you or someone you love, the law provides a path to accountability.
Every detail you share through this case review — your medical history, procedure records, and treatment details — stays between you and our intake team. We do not sell, rent, or share your information with third parties, and your participation is never made public.
Damages vary by case, and every patient's situation is different. Common categories of damages in defective medical device matters include:
Hospital stays, IV antibiotics, surgeries, ICU care, and follow-up treatment for the infection and the complications it caused.
Ongoing treatment for a chronic or recurring infection, organ damage, or other long-term health complications.
Wages lost during hospitalization and recovery, and any lasting reduction in your ability to work.
Physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life caused by a preventable infection.
Damages available to a spouse or family member for the loss of companionship and support during a serious illness.
For families who lost a loved one: funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of society and companionship.
In certain cases, Olympus and other parties in the chain of distribution may be held accountable for defective device design, inadequate cleaning and reprocessing instructions, failure to warn hospitals and physicians, or failure to report known infection risks. Where the conduct is especially egregious, punitive damages may also be available.
See if You QualifyAt Parker Wachmain LLP, we represent patients and families harmed by a medical device that was supposed to help them heal. Our attorneys work closely with clients, using thoughtful and practical strategies to protect your rights and pursue accountability where a manufacturer failed to provide a device that could be safely cleaned, adequate warnings to hospitals and physicians, or honest disclosures about known infection risks.
Our attorneys concentrate on defective medical device and pharmaceutical injury claims. The team reviewing your case has handled this category before.
Every qualifying client speaks with a licensed attorney — not a call-center agent — before any agreement is signed.
You pay nothing up front and nothing during the case. Fees only apply if we recover compensation on your behalf.
This is an advertisement for the law firm Parker Waichman LLP, focused on handling claims and disputes related to injuries caused by Olympus. The content on this webpage is provided for informational purposes only by Parker Waichman LLP. This site contains general information that may not be current, assumes certain findings of fact, and is for illustrative purposes only. Each case is unique, and a thorough review of your particular circumstances would be required to provide a proper assessment.