They told me that it would prevent a stroke.
Why didn't they tell me the truth.
"Unless new data emerges, percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage may become one of cardiology's biggest errors."
— Dr. John Mandrola, Cardiac Electrophysiologist [Read Source]"The Watchman device does not prevent strokes. When compared in the best test of medicine, the randomized controlled trial (RCT), the device was inferior to warfarin."
— Dr. John Mandrola, Electrophysiologist [Read Source]"The latest evidence again shows the Watchman is inferior to standard of care with blood thinners... risk from the Watchman procedure itself is not trivial."
— Dr. Gregory Katz, Cardiologist [Read Source]"Doctors could potentially collect thousands in fees for a one-hour procedure... but they get no additional fee for writing a prescription for a blood thinner."
— Dr. Miguel Valderrábano, Houston Methodist [Read Source]"Over 600,000 procedures have been performed worldwide... The problem is that the intuition has consistently outrun the evidence."
— Dr. John Mandrola, M. Ruzieh, & A. Foy [Read Source]"We need to err on the side of safety when putting new things on the market... With Watchman we have ways of preventing stroke that are very effective."
— Dr. Rita Redberg, Former Editor, JAMA Internal Medicine [Read Source]"The honest scorecard is that the device is associated with 17 more strokes vs 4 fewer major bleeds. That is a devastating trade-off..."
— Cardiology Trials Substack Analysts [Read Source]"Left atrial appendage closure was associated with a higher risk of stroke, systemic embolism, major bleeding and cardiovascular death..."
— Dr. Ulf Landmesser, Chair of Cardiology, Charité Berlin [Read Source]"When thrombus forms on the exposed metal face of an implanted Watchman plug, patients face a 3- to 4-fold increase in ischemic stroke risk..."
— Dr. John Mandrola [Read Source]"Pericardial effusion was the most common adverse event reported in the MAUDE database (42%), followed by device-related thrombus, stroke, and device embolization."
— Singh et al., Newark Beth Israel Medical Center [Read Source]"They told me I needed to get a WATCHMAN so I wouldn't bleed, but I almost bled to death during the procedure, so what was the point??."
— Patient Guestbook Submission"The commercials on TV told me to get this WATCHMAN for my afib. The doctors stopped my blood thinners and I had a stroke a year later. I wish I didn't have it done."
— Community Guestbook Contributor"I got a WATCHMAN because they told me I could stop blood thinners. I had to take aspirin and had a bleeding ulcer. Then I got a clot in my heart anyway and I'm back on blood thinners. The worst is that I got the $100,000 bill!"
— Community ContributorShare your story with the world and join the community.
If momentum continues, we can drive change and perhaps be compensated for our suffering.
Terms of Service
Last Updated: August 2026
Welcome to afibimplantinjury.com, owned and operated by Patient Safety Coalition Holdings LLC ("Company", "we", "us", or "our"). By accessing or submitting information on this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.
1. Age Restriction (18+ Requirement)
This website and its submission services are intended solely for individuals who are at least 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect, store, or sell personal information from minors under the age of 18.
2. User Submissions & Non-Confidentiality
This website operates as a patient guestbook and information aggregation platform for individuals affected by Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) medical devices (including heart plugs and implants). Any information, text, or communications submitted through this site are provided voluntarily on a non-confidential basis.
3. Data Licensing & Commercialization Rights
By submitting information on this platform, you grant Patient Safety Coalition Holdings LLC a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to store, process, structure, share, license, transfer, or sell your submitted data to third parties, including but not limited to legal professionals, law firms, litigation research organizations, and investigative firms.
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Submitting information through this website does not constitute legal advice, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship between you and the Company or any third-party recipient of the data.
5. Third-Party Content Disclaimer
The Company does not independently verify the medical accuracy or factual truth of user-submitted stories. Submissions represent the opinions of individual users and do not constitute medical advice or official findings by the Company.
6. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Patient Safety Coalition Holdings LLC shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of this site or third-party outreach resulting from data licensing.
7. Governing Law
These terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana.
Privacy Policy
Last Updated: August 2026
Patient Safety Coalition Holdings LLC ("we", "us", or "our") respects your privacy while providing transparent disclosure regarding how your information is collected, used, and shared on afibimplantinjury.com.
1. Information We Collect
- Personal Data: When you fill out our form, we collect your name, email address, phone number (if provided), and the details of your medical experience or message.
- Usage Data: Standard technical logging data (IP address, browser type) collected automatically by our hosting infrastructure.
2. How We Use and Share Your Information
- Public Display: We may display submitted first names and message content publicly on our website guestbook or community message board. We will never display your email address or phone number publicly.
- Commercialization & Litigation Support: Pursuant to your affirmative consent upon form submission, we may share, license, or sell your contact information and submitted experience details to law firms, legal investigators, and third-party legal services for litigation research, case evaluation, and potential claimant/witness outreach.
3. Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Consent
By providing a telephone number, you grant express written consent for Patient Safety Coalition Holdings LLC and any purchasing law firms or legal representatives to contact you via telephone calls, SMS/MMS text messages, or automated dialing systems regarding potential legal claims or inquiries.
4. Your Rights & "Do Not Sell" Opt-Out
You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data. You may exercise your right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of your personal information at any time by emailing us at [email protected] with the subject line "Opt-Out Request".
5. Contact & Registered Entity Information
Entity Name: Patient Safety Coalition Holdings LLC
Mailing Address: 5534 Saint Joe Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46835
Contact Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding LAAC & Watchman™ Complications
What are the primary complications associated with Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) devices?
Commonly cited clinical complications include device-related thrombus (blood clots on the implant), peridevice leakage, pericardial effusion or tamponade (fluid buildup around the heart requiring emergency surgery), device embolization, and stroke.
Can patients file a lawsuit or legal claim for Watchman™ device injuries?
Patients or surviving family members who experienced severe adverse events post-procedure often explore product liability (failure to warn/design defect) or medical malpractice claims depending on physician performance and device behavior.
How can patients contribute their complication experience to legal research?
Affected individuals can submit their experience details through the Patient Safety Coalition guestbook board to assist in claimant identification, litigation research, and medical risk evaluation.