Patients who developed serious infections after procedures involving Olympus scopes may be eligible to file a lawsuit and pursue financial compensation.
Lawsuits allege that certain Olympus devices are defectively designed in a way that makes them difficult to properly sterilize, allowing dangerous bacteria to remain inside the scopes and infect patients.
Olympus Scope Lawsuit – Key Takeaways:
- Olympus endoscopes and duodenoscopes have been linked to serious infections, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- Lawsuits allege the devices are defectively designed and cannot be fully sterilized
- Infections may occur even when hospitals follow cleaning protocols
- Patients who develop infections may qualify for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering
Olympus scopes are used in over 30 million procedures each year in the United States, including colonoscopies, ERCPs, and bronchoscopies. Despite their widespread use, the devices contain narrow internal channels and elevator mechanisms that can trap bacteria in areas that are difficult to disinfect. This puts patients at risk of developing life-threatening infections.
Olympus has faced a documented pattern of noncompliance, including:
- An $85 million Department of Justice criminal penalty in 2018
- Multiple FDA warning letters in 2022 and 2023
- A Class I recall in January 2025
- An import alert blocking 58 device models in June 2025
Call our experienced defective medical device lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed a serious infection after an endoscopic procedure involving an Olympus device. We charge no legal fees unless we win your case.
Why Olympus Scope Infection Victims Choose Our Lawyers
- We have focused experience in defective medical device and infection-related claims.
- We handle complex litigation against large medical device manufacturers.
- We build cases using medical records, device data, and regulatory findings.
- We are prepared to take cases to trial when fair compensation isn’t offered.
- Our dedicated team provides consistent updates and communication.
Table of Contents
- Latest Update
- Who Qualifies for an Olympus Scope Lawsuit?
- Overview of the Olympus Duodenoscope and Endoscope Lawsuits
- Which Olympus Devices Are Involved?
- Injuries and Infections Linked to Olympus Scopes
- How Do Olympus Scopes Cause Infections?
- What Is an Olympus Duodenoscope Lawsuit Worth?
- How Long Do You Have to File an Olympus Scope Lawsuit?
- Contact Our Olympus Scope Attorneys Today
- Olympus Scope Lawsuit Updates
Latest Update
September 3, 2026 Update
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania by a Kentucky man alleges that the man’s wife died of multiorgan failure and septic shock because of an infection caused by the design of an Olympus endoscope.
Olympus Medical Systems Corporation as well as its United States subsidiaries are named as defendants by the lawsuit.
The man claims that his wife died due to the Olympus endoscope’s design, alleging the endoscope infected her with infectious material sourced from a prior patient since the device wasn’t properly sterilized. The lawsuit claims that this failure to sterilize was because of the product’s design. The endoscope has moving parts and deep grooves where the lawsuit alleges infectious material can remain hidden during the process of sterilization.
The lawsuit claims the man’s wife underwent an ERCP in May of 2025, and that the procedure involved the use of an Olympus TJF-Q190V.
Later that night, she allegedly started to experience severe abdominal pain, and she was diagnosed with sepsis.
Within 36 hours of the procedure, the wife was allegedly in multisystem organ failure and septic shock because of the infection, and was flown via helicopter to a hospital where the conditions were treated and stabilized.
The lawsuit claims that the source of the infection was Klebsiella pneumonia, a type of bacteria which was linked to a Netherlands endoscope which caused a 2015 outbreak.
The wife allegedly had to endure seven abdominal surgeries from July 2025 until she died in November 2025.
Who Qualifies for an Olympus Scope Lawsuit?
You may qualify to file a lawsuit if you or a loved one:
- Underwent a ERCP or a qualifying GI procedure utilizing an Olympus scope in 2015 or later
- Developed sepsis or required IV antibiotics within one month of the scope procedure, or were diagnosed with CRE, VRE, MRSA, organ failure, or received a formal exposure notification letter from a hospital
- Did not have a history of infection within the year preceding the scope procedure
- Did not have a surgery or other procedure concurrent with the diagnostic scoping (laparoscopic surgeries, resections, etc.)
Family members may also qualify to file a wrongful death claim if a loved one died from an infection linked with an Olympus scope procedure.
To support an Olympus scope lawsuit, plaintiffs need to provide thorough medical records which establish use of an Olympus scope during a procedure and confirm a diagnosis of related injuries or infections.
Hospitals are legally required to notify their patients when they were exposed to potentially contaminated devices.
Overview of the Olympus Duodenoscope and Endoscope Lawsuits
Olympus Medical Systems has been named in numerous lawsuits which allege that its reusable endoscopes and duodenoscopes cause patients to develop dangerous bacterial infections.
Plaintiffs allege that design defects and inadequate sterilization instructions make sterilization impossible, even when hospital staff follow Olympus’s own protocols.
Olympus pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges in 2018. The charges were for concealing infection-related adverse events from the FDA. The company paid an $85 million penalty.
Lawsuits in the litigation remain individual product liability actions filed in state and federal courts as of April 2026. A federal MDL has not been established as of April 2026.
Which Olympus Devices Are Involved?
Endoscopic devices get used in countless medical procedures each year for diagnostic and treatment purposes, like endoscopies and colonoscopies.
Duodenoscopes have been the primary focus of litigation. However, other Olympus scope devices have also been linked with infections, FDA actions and potential claims.
The kinds of scope products which are involved in litigation against Olympus include:
- Duodenoscopes: Used for pancreatic, bile duct, liver and ERCP procedures.
- Bronchoscopes: Used in lung and airway procedures.
- Laparoscopes: Used in minimally invasive surgeries.
- Ureterorenoscopes: Used to diagnose and treat urinary tract problems including kidney stones.
It is alleged that distal elevator mechanisms in TJF-Q290V, Q190V and Q180V dudenoscopes have microscopic crevices which trap organic matter, bile and blood. It is claimed that high-level disinfection can’t penetrate the crevices, letting bacterial biofilms form and shield dangerous pathogens.
It is claimed that reusing these contaminated scopes can shed antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA, VRE and CRE into patients’ bile ducts when ERCP procedures are done, leading to rapid sepsis with a mortality rate that is almost 50 percent.
Injuries and Infections Linked to Olympus Scopes
The consequences for patients can be severe when bacterial contamination survives sterilization procedures known as reprocessing.
Olympus scopes have been linked with serious infections, including infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria like carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). These infections are difficult to treat and may lead to severe complications like organ failure and sepsis.
Sepsis can develop when bacteria enter the bloodstream and trigger a systemic immune response.
Infection may lead to long-term injury, required emergency medical treatment and extended hospitalization.
Patients may experience serious health risks from contaminated scopes, including infections, HIV and tuberculosis.
Patients who develop infections after going through procedures using Olympus scopes may experience symptoms such as chills, severe abdominal pain and fever, which may appear within days or weeks after a procedure.
Other injuries which have been linked with Olympus scopes include internal hemorrhages, lacerations and organ perforations resulting from scope components cutting or piercing tissue.
A 2016 United States Senate investigation linked Olympus devices with a minimum of 25 outbreaks which involved more than 250 patients in the U.S. and Europe.
Contaminated Olympus scopes have been linked with multiple outbreaks of “superbug” infections, leading to over 35 deaths at U.S. hospitals since 2013.
A study found that Olympus scopes had a 4.1% contamination rate with high-concern organisms. This indicates a significant infection risk for patients undergoing procedures using these devices.
How Do Olympus Scopes Cause Infections?
Reusable scopes undergo a reprocessing step between patients where they are cleaned, disinfected and reused.
The design of certain Olympus duodenoscopes, especially the elevator channel, has been identified as a vital factor in the inability to sterilize the devices adequately, causing persistent contamination risks.
Olympus scopes contain narrow internal channels, movable elevator mechanisms and microscopic crevices which trap bacteria and are physically difficult or impossible to fully disinfect.
Investigations have shown that the elevator channel’s geometry in Olympus scopes may prevent standard sterilization methods from sterilizing all contamination, leading to an infection transmission risk between patients.
Infections associated with Olympus scopes may occur when biological materials get trapped in the devices’ channels, even after the devices have been disinfected, causing potential patient-to-patient contamination when subsequent procedures occur.
Multiple studies have found dangerous bacteria on properly cleaned scopes. This means that hospitals following Olympus’ own duodenoscope reprocessing protocols could still be using contaminated devices.
Recalled and older-model Olympus scopes may still be in circulation at hospitals and surgical centers.
The FDA has found ongoing quality system violations in the manufacturing processes of Olympus. These might have contributed to design flaws which allow for persistent endoscope contamination.
To mitigate risks regarding contaminated scopes, hospitals have been forced to quarantine scopes for bacterial testing, increasing operational costs.
What Is an Olympus Scope Lawsuit Worth?
Compensation in these cases can range from tens of thousands of dollars for less severe infections requiring outpatient antibiotic treatment to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for long-term disability, chronic illness or wrongful death.
Compensation awarded in Olympus scopes lawsuits can significantly vary based on the severity of the injury. Potential claims include economic damages for lost income and medical costs, in addition to non-economic damages for pain and suffering.
In cases where a patient dies because of an infection linked to an Olympus scope, family members may file wrongful death claims to seek compensation for their losses.
The severity of the infection and the length and cost of hospitalization will greatly impact the value of your case.
Our law firm can help you recover financial compensation for numerous types of damages, including:
Medical Bills
We can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical expenses related to your infection. This includes compensation for the costs of surgeries, ER visits, hospital stays, medications, medical treatments, doctor visits, medical tests, physical therapy, rehabilitation and more.
Lost Wages
We are helping clients recover compensation for wages they were unable to earn due to infections caused by Olympus scopes. So, if you were too sick to work, or if you needed to miss work to attend medical appointments, we can help you recover compensation for the wages you were unable to earn as a result.
Loss of Earning Capacity
We can help you recover compensation for the loss or reduction of earning capacity resulting from a disability caused by an infection linked with an Olympus scope.
Pain and Suffering
Our law firm can help you recover compensation for any physical pain, mental suffering, emotional distress or lost quality of life linked with your infection.
Wrongful Death
We help families who have lost loved ones to infections caused by Olympus scopes recover compensation for funeral and burial costs, the pain and suffering their loved ones went through before passing, the medical bills their loved ones incurred before passing, and the loss of their loved ones’ companionship, income, household services, love and spousal benefits.
How Long Do You Have to File an Olympus Scope Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations for filing an Olympus scope lawsuit in California is two years from the date that you became aware that you were harmed by an Olympus scope.
The statute of limitations for filing your Olympus scope lawsuit varies by state. It typically begins on the date an individual discovers their injury or, in cases of wrongful death, the date of the victim’s death.
Regardless of the time limit, though, it’s best to contact a lawyer today for a free consultation if you or a loved one developed an infection due to an Olympus scope. This allows evidence to be preserved and gives your lawyers as much time as possible to build the strongest case possible on your behalf.
Contact Our Olympus Scope Attorneys Today
Call our experienced defective medical device lawyers today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed an infection after undergoing an endoscopic procedure which involved an Olympus device. We will charge you no legal fee until we win your case.
Olympus Scope Lawsuit Updates
June 9, 2026 Update
A lawsuit filed on June 5 in Washington by the widow of a Washington man alleges that an Olympus scope caused her husband’s death.
The lawsuit names Olympus Corporation as well as numerous subsidiaries as defendants. It accuses the defendants of designing and manufacturing a medical device that is defective. It also alleges the defendants failed to warn patients or doctors about a possible infection risk.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff’s husband died in 2023 after he was diagnosed with a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infection.
The lawsuit alleges that an Olympus duodenoscope spread this infection to the man during an endoscopic procedure.
The lawsuit claims that the infection led to septic shock and organ failure, killing the man.
The lawsuit is accusing Olympus of not addressing contamination issues by updating its endoscopes’ design to prevent infection, even though they knew for years that the reusable scope devices had problems.
It is noted by the lawsuit that a post-market surveillance study done in 2022 found that a mere 34.8 percent of sampled endoscopes did not contain contamination.
According to the lawsuit, endoscopes like the one used in the man’s procedure end up having defects, scratches and/or channel shredding appear within just a few uses, and these defects and grooves allow the proliferation of bacteria and the buildup of biofilm.
The lawsuit alleges that the endoscope’s narrow channels, repeated use, forceps elevator and complex tip make it hard to clean, letting bacteria survive reprocessing and end up inside patients later on.
April 26, 2026 Update
New research and growing clinical concern are strengthening claims that reusable medical scopes may not be fully sterilized between uses, increasing the risk of patient infections and supporting ongoing Olympus scope lawsuits.
Studies continue to show that bacteria can remain inside endoscopes even after hospitals follow manufacturer cleaning protocols. These risks are tied to the devices’ complex design, including narrow internal channels and movable components that can trap biological material.
A 2022 study published in Endoscopy International Open found that contamination rates in reprocessed scopes remain significant:
- Nearly 1 in 3 colonoscopy scopes tested positive for bacteria
- About 20% of endoscopes overall were contaminated
- Roughly 25% of upper endoscopy scopes showed contamination
- Around 1 in 7 duodenoscopes tested positive
- Contamination rates reached up to 30% under stricter testing standards
These findings reinforce allegations that certain Olympus scopes may be defectively designed and incapable of being reliably sterilized. As a result, more patients who developed infections – including antibiotic-resistant infections, sepsis, and bloodstream infections – are pursuing legal claims.
These findings are expected to play a key role in future litigation against Olympus and other scope manufacturers.
April 15, 2026 Update
Millions of people undergo ERCP and colonoscopy procedures every year. Concerns are growing that reusable medical scopes might not be adequately sterilized between uses, because of design limitations, and that this might lead to Olympus scope infection lawsuits as well as lawsuits against other manufacturers in the near future.
Colonoscopies and ERCP procedures rely on endoscopes which are inserted into the body in order to treat and visualize internal organs.
These scopes are complicated and commonly reusable devices. They are equipped with lighting systems, cameras and narrow internal channels which may be difficult to clean.
It has been discovered that almost 20 percent of reprocessed gastrointestinal endoscopes might still be contaminated when they are used in patients. This suggests that bacteria may persist in these devices even when hospitals follow reprocessing instructions which are provided by manufacturers.
Contaminated scopes have been linked with serious infections, like drug-resistant bacteria infections, E. coli, sepsis and bloodstream infections which have occurred after scope procedures.
Because of this, Olympus endoscope infection lawsuits are now being filed by an increasing number of patients who developed infections, including antibiotic-resistant infections, following endoscopic procedures which utilize reusable scopes.
It’s expected that lawsuits filed in Olympus scope infection cases will allege that some scopes sold by Olympus had defective designs because they were unable to be fully sterilized.
A study published in Endoscopy International Open in 2022 found that:
- Bacteria are found in almost one in three colonoscopy scopes
- Around 20 percent of endoscopes were contaminated
- About 25 percent of upper endoscopy scopes were contaminated
- About one in seven duodenoscopes were contaminated
- Around six percent of scopes tested in North America were contaminated
- Around 18 percent of scopes tested in Europe were contaminated
- As many as 30 percent of scopes were considered contaminated when using stricter standards to define contamination
October 17, 2025 Update
Olympus Medical Systems Corporation has issued an Urgent Field Safety Notice regarding its TJF-Q190V, TJF-Q290V and TJF-Q170V duodenovideoscopes.
The devices are flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes used in procedures like endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography.
Olympus stated that the reason for action was that their ongoing assessment of duodenoscope reprocessing in order to address Olympus scope infections and positive cultures identified reprocessing material updates to minimize deviations in duodenoscope reprocessing.
The changes Olympus is making include:
- Updating their “Introduction to Duodenoscope Reprocessing” training material to highlight how important it is to preclean as directed in the reprocessing instructions
- Creating a Visual Inspection Guide that provides clear directions for inspecting devices for potential damage and irregularities
- Updating the Operation Manual to warn about visually inspecting the endoscope’s distal end and recommend using 10x magnification tools when visually inspecting endoscopes
June 25, 2025 Update
On June 24, 2025, the FDA issued import alerts regarding 58 Olympus products manufactured at a Japanese facility, citing persistent violations of reporting requirements and quality regulations.
The import alerts were issued in order to prevent future shipments of specific models of laparoscopes, bronchoscopes, ureterorenoscopes and automated endoscope reprocessors.
January 1, 2025 Update
The FDA is warning that improper cleaning of Olympus endoscope accessories used in Olympus scope procedures could lead to serious infections and death.
The FDA issued an alert regarding Olympus MAJ-891 Endoscope forceps/irrigation plug components in December after 120 injuries and one death were reported in connection with the problem.
February 1, 2023 Update
The FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health has explained in a January 2023 release that warning letters issued to Olympus were meant to make sure reprocessed endoscope manufacturers follow new guidelines put in place in response to infections caused by these devices’ reuse.
The FDA sent Olympus a warning letter in December 2022 which stated that the company failed to submit a report to the FDA no later than 30 days after the day they receive or knew about information that suggested that a device they market has malfunctioned and would be likely to cause serious injury or death if the malfunction were to happen again.
December 1, 2022 Update
In a November 2022 warning letter, the FDA has detailed investigative findings which found that a facility manufacturing Olympus devices violated numerous “Quality System” regulations, including failures in adverse event reporting procedures and design validation.
April 7, 2022 Update
The FDA has issued a safety communication urging hospitals to start using disposable duodenoscopes as well as disposable duodenoscope parts.
The agency revealed findings of postmarketing studies regarding reusable duodenoscopes which found that almost seven percent of these devices ended up being contaminated by “high concern organisms” following reprocessing.
January 1, 2019 Update
In 2018, Olympus as well as a senior regulatory executive pleaded guilty to failing to file safety reports required by the FDA with regards to infections linked to its duodenoscopes. This resulted in an $80 million fine.
