Children treated abroad as U.S. doctors push for devices in the US

This is a big topic and the development of pediatric devices is not as active or pursued as it is for adults, and the reason comes down to cost and return on investments for the most part. Physicians want the devices, but resources are limited by comparison to the adult market. There are some new incentives to help bolster the development, but once again when stock holders are wanting a return, it may not be there in as large of a return, thus the R and D here still struggles.

The number of devices sold for adults versus children clearly outnumbers the potential sales, thus it becomes a “niche” market of sorts, so in the meantime children have to travel to other countries to seek treatment with pediatric devices, something still very frustrating to all. BD

According to Hijazi, who is chief of pediatric cardiology at Rush University Medical Center, and other doctors, children are getting worse treatment in the United States, and have even died, because pediatric medical devices are not approved. Hijazi said that more than 90 percent of the medical devices he uses on children are "off-label," meaning that they are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for other uses, for example for use in adults.