Overview
Patients who underwent endoscopic procedures with Olympus duodenoscopes have filed individual lawsuits alleging that design and manufacturing concerns in the scopes allowed bacteria to survive reprocessing and spread infection, including deaths (per complaints and firm pages). In May 2023 Olympus voluntarily recalled the TJF-Q180V duodenoscope, and the FDA reported infections including 21 deaths in the U.S. linked to the recalled devices (per FDA and Olympus statements). As of September 2026 the claims proceed as individual lawsuits in state and federal courts; no MDL appears on the public record (per firm pages). Olympus separately settled a U.S. DOJ False Claims Act case over alleged kickbacks and bribes for roughly $632 million (per DOJ and reporting).
Status of the science / claims: FDA recall and device-report data document infections traced to devices that could not be adequately reprocessed (per FDA, 2023); causation in individual cases remains contested.
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
No class settlement announced as of Oct 2026 (per firm pages). Individual case outcomes vary; nothing can be promised. The ~$632M DOJ FCA settlement is separate from patient claims (per DOJ).
Case count
| Month | Filed cases | Δ |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2023 | 140 | — |
Key dates
- September 1, 2026Individual infection claims continue in state and federal courts; no MDL on the public record (per firm pages, Sep 2026)
- August 1, 2023Olympus settles a U.S. DOJ False Claims Act case over alleged kickbacks and bribes for roughly $632 million (per DOJ and reporting; separate from the patient infection claims)
- May 1, 2023Olympus voluntarily recalls duodenoscope TJF-Q180V; FDA reports infections including 21 deaths in the U.S. linked to the recalled devices (per FDA and Olympus statements)
- May 1, 2015Outbreak of hard-to-treat infections after endoscopic procedures in the Netherlands; Olympus duodenoscopes implicated (per reporting, 2015–2017)
Updates
- Updated Oct 3, 2026New case (Oct 2026, US): Olympus duodenoscope infection lawsuits — individual suits after the May 2023 recall (TJF-Q180V); FDA reported infections incl. 21 U.S. deaths (per FDA/Olympus, 2023); no MDL on the public record (per firm pages, Sep 2026).
Notable filings
No notable filings recorded yet. Docket entries are added from public court records as they appear.
FAQ
Is there an Olympus endoscope lawsuit?
Yes. Patients who had procedures with Olympus duodenoscopes have filed individual lawsuits alleging infections the devices spread (per complaints and firm pages, 2025–2026). No class action or MDL is confirmed on the public record as of Oct 2026.
What did Olympus recall?
In May 2023 Olympus voluntarily recalled its TJF-Q180V duodenoscope after infections were linked to devices that could not be fully reprocessed (per FDA and Olympus statements).
How many infections were reported?
The FDA reported infections including 21 deaths in the U.S. linked to the recalled scopes (per FDA, 2023). International outbreaks were also reported (per reporting, 2015–2017).
Can I file a claim?
Plaintiff firms are reviewing endoscope infection claims (per firm pages, 2026). A case review would confirm eligibility; nothing can be promised.
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