If a firm distributes a Class III device without an approved PMA, what is the statutory violation?

Distributing a Class III medical device without an approved Premarket Approval (PMA) constitutes a violation of regulatory statutes that govern the marketing and distribution of medical devices. Class III devices are considered high risk and are subject to stringent regulatory controls, including the requirement to demonstrate safety and effectiveness through a PMA process.

The correct choice, relating to this violation, is adulteration. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), adulteration refers to the situation where a device is deemed unsafe or unapproved for the market, particularly when it lacks appropriate regulatory clearance. Distributing a Class III device that has not gone through the PMA process puts the device in violation of the standards for safety, thereby classifying it as adulterated.

While misbranding typically refers to issues with labels and promotional materials that are misleading or fail to provide required information, the core issue here is the lack of approval, which elevates the concern to adulteration. Other choices like improper use or idiocy do not pertain to regulatory violations recognized under FDA law in the context discussed. Thus, the framework surrounding the regulation of Class III devices specifically categorizes this situation as adulteration due to the absence of an approved PMA, highlighting the stringent requirements placed on