Federal legislation designed to nullify a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision granting companies that make heart defibrillators, stints, and other approved medical devices total immunity from state personal injury liability lawsuits is expected to be introduced soon, national leaders said.

Separate bills forming in the U.S. Congress and Senate would once again give plaintiffs the right to sue medical-device makers for injuries, even when the Food and Drug Administration has approved the devices which caused the injuries.

In Congress, Henry A. Waxman (D-Cal.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), the head of its health subcommittee, reportedly plan to revive legislation they first introduced in 2008 in an effort to reverse the Supreme Court decision.

U.S. Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vermont) are working on sponsoring similar legislation to be unveiled soon, officials said.

Both pieces of legislation are expected to have the support of Democratic President Barack Obama, who has made reforming the nation’s healthcare system a top priority for his administration.

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