How MedWatcher works

MedWatcher exists to answer one question: has a medical device you use received an FDA recall notice? This page explains where the data comes from and the rules we follow when presenting it.

Core principles

Every record comes from an official source

Each recall or safety notice on MedWatcher corresponds to a record published by a government regulator. We display the source identifier (such as an FDA recall number), the posting date, and a direct link to the original record on every page.

We link, summarize, and organize — we do not editorialize

Our plain-language summaries restate what the official record says: what happened, who may be affected, and what the regulator or manufacturer advises. We do not add speculation, severity opinions, or advice beyond the source material.

Freshness is always visible

Available source dates and record-level check times are shown with the information. Source-feed status is tracked separately; a newer export may still need review before every affected page is updated.

Current data sources

Current coverage is U.S. medical-device data from these sources:

FDA/openFDA medical-device recall and enforcement records.
FDA/openFDA classification and UDI data for device identity and organization.
Manually checked official manufacturer pages for device identity.

Health Canada reporting links are guidance, not a monitored Canadian recall feed. See our source policy for the evidence required before a record or summary can be public.

What we do — and deliberately don't

MedWatcher does

Aggregate FDA/openFDA medical-device recall and enforcement records
Translate regulatory language into plain, accurate summaries
Connect records to device, manufacturer, and category pages so you can see history in one place
Show source identifiers, dates, and direct links on every record
Route people who need to report a problem to the correct official agency channel

MedWatcher does not

Provide a form for submitting adverse-event or incident reports
Offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations
Declare a product "safe" — absence of a recall record is not a safety endorsement
Rank or score products by safety
Accept payment from manufacturers to alter, remove, or feature records

Corrections

If a record on MedWatcher does not match its official source, the source wins. We correct discrepancies as soon as they are identified and note material corrections on the affected page. See also the full disclaimer.

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