> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Rep. Fitzpatrick Seeks Hearing on FDA and Device Safety
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/rep-fitzpatrick-seeks-hearing-on-fda-and-device-safety/
- Published: 2016-09-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T21:34:41.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Devices, #legacy-id-D5136895

Rep. **Mike Fitzpatrick** (R-PA) and several other members of Congress have written a [letter](http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/press-release/fitzpatrick-requests-hearing-medical-device-safety?ref=fdaweb.com) to the House Energy and Commerce Committee asking for a hearing to investigate FDA’s “failings” over medical device safety. Fitzpatrick has been a vocal critic of the agency’s handling of laparoscopic power morcellators and the permanent contraceptive device Essure. The letter asserts that an improved ability by regulators and the medical community to identity and remove unsafe medical devices from the market could save thousands of lives each year.

“Many medical devices prove lifesaving, however some devices are having devastating effects on patients, and there must be an effective process in place to track these failures and to quickly remove these devices from the market” saidFitzpatrick**.** “Most of our device safety laws were written in the 1970’s. Experts have continued to question the ability of regulators and the outdated laws to identify unsafe devices – and it is putting Americans’ health at risk. It’s time we bring our medical device safety laws into the 21st Century. We must, and we can, maximize innovation and maximize safety.”