{
  "id": "2000-march-dangerous-devices",
  "slug": "2000-march-dangerous-devices",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2000-march-dangerous-devices.html",
  "year": 2000,
  "month": "March",
  "monthNum": 3,
  "headline": "Dangerous devices",
  "kicker": "NICAR DATA LIBRARY",
  "author_name": "Jessica Larson",
  "author_title": "",
  "affiliation": "NICAR",
  "summary": "The MAUDE database tracks medical device failures and patient injuries, replacing the older MDR system, and offers journalists opportunities to investigate defective device manufacturers and safety issues. NICAR has updated the dataset with information from 1996-1999 and provides detailed fields including device problems, patient outcomes, and manufacturer information.",
  "keywords": [
    "devices",
    "safety",
    "reporting"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Health & Environment",
    "Data & Databases",
    "Investigative Methods"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "MAUDE",
    "MDR"
  ],
  "full_text": "The Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database (MAUDE), which contains information about medical devices that have caused problems for patients, has a number of interesting facets - particularly for reporters on the health beat.\n\nMAUDE replaced the older MDR (Medical Device Reporting) dataset, which did not require user facilities to report their information about defective medical devices. NICAR recently updated this dataset and now has data from August 1996 through March 1999, which includes voluntary reports, user facility reports, distributor and manufacturer reports.\n\nSome of the fields included in the database:\n\nThe problem with the device.\nThe outcome of the event (patient injury, death, etc.).\nThe brand name and type of device, its age, expiration date and shelf life.\nName and addresses for the device manufacturer and distributor.\nThe location the incident occurred (patient's home, health clinic, etc.).\n\nIn 1992, U.S. News and World Report did a story on dangerous implants (breast, penile, testicular) and other medical devices of concern to the FDA. The MAUDE dataset can provide information for similar stories - although no identifying patient information is included, the frequencies of device failure and resulting injury offer a good starting point. Which manufacturers produce the highest number of defective devices could prove to be another interesting topic. Old or expired devices, particularly when compared with the dates that authorities became aware of the problem, may be worth looking into, as well. Because the format has changed, NICAR is providing the 1996-1998 data and the older information separately. Costs for the 1996-1998 MAUDE is $100 for under 50,000 circulation (50-200 market), $125 for 50-100,000 circulation (25-50 market) and $150 for above 100,000. The older MDR data, 1984-1995, is $75, $100 and $125 respectively. To order this dataset or others available from NICAR, call (573) 884-7711. Jessica Larson can be reached by e-mail at jessica@nicar.org",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
  "similar": [
    {
      "slug": "1990-december-fatal-flaws-death-by-device",
      "score": 0.314
    },
    {
      "slug": "1999-october-nicar-data-update",
      "score": 0.276
    },
    {
      "slug": "2002-mayjune-resources-for-consumer-related-stories",
      "score": 0.236
    },
    {
      "slug": "2002-march-april-bits-and-bytes",
      "score": 0.202
    },
    {
      "slug": "1997-july-from-the-nicar-library",
      "score": 0.197
    }
  ],
  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2000-march-dangerous-devices.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2000-march-dangerous-devices.json"
}