Phillips Recalls Millions of CPAP Machines and Ventilators

Phillips is recalling millions of sleep apnea machines and ventilators as they pose a serious health risk and they have advised consumers to stop using them immediately. A foam piece used in devices can degrade and release potentially toxic fumes into the patients. Some of the devices and ventilators being recalled are used for treating coronavirus patients.

The exposure to foam particles could cause headache, irritation, inflammation, respiratory issues, and possible toxic and carcinogenic effects, Philips said. The company will replace the current sound abatement foam with a new material and has already begun the preparations, which include obtaining the relevant regulatory clearances. Philips aims to address all affected devices in scope of this correction as expeditiously as possible.

The devices being recalled are Bi-Level PAP, CPAP and mechanical ventilator devices which are primarily first-generation DreamStation products.

For more information on the recall and devices covered and affected by the recall please click on the link below at www.philips.com/SRC-update.

If you or a loved one has suffered from a lung issue and/or lung cancer caused by a Phillips CPAP Machine and/or Ventilator, please call the experts at Inserra Kelley Sewell to see whether you might be entitled to compensation.

Covidien and Ethicon Surgical Staplers Litigation

Today’s surgeons rely more on surgical staplers as an alternative to stitches and sutures due to the increased speed and ease of use provided by the devices. Ethicon and Covidien Surgical Staplers can misfire during a surgery and cause serious injuries.  Thousands of surgery patients have reported serious injuries regarding the surgical staplers during gastrointestinal tract surgeries such as: colon cancer, diverticuli and weight loss surgeries to link sections between body parts such as the intestines and stomach.  Misfiring of the device may lead to incomplete staple lines and malformed staples.

Due to the frequency of the misfires, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class 1 recall and reported the following risks associated with the defective staplers: 

  • Bleeding
  • Tearing of organs and internal tissue
  • Development of anastomotic leaks
  • Sepsis 
  • Increased risk of cancer recurrence
  • Multi-organ failure
  • Fistula formation 

As a result of these injuries, patients may require additional surgeries, including an ostomy bag (an external pouch to collect body waste).  Many times, patients are forced to return to the operating room for an unplanned, emergency repair surgery.  Other patients may be released from the hospital only to return a few days later once symptoms arise for emergency surgery.

Who are the manufacturers of Covidien and Ethicon Surgical Staplers? Covidien is a subsidiary of Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) which has a market cap of $152 billion.  Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is a parent company of Ethicon boasting a market cap of $384 billion.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed on behalf of patients hurt by the malfunctioning staplers.  Some of the lawsuits have gone to trial and led to sizable verdicts against the defendants.  The most prominent among them was a California case that ended up with the plaintiff being awarded $80 million, including $70 million in punitive damages against Ethicon.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by defective Ethicon or Covidien Surgical Staplers, please call the Mass Tort Team at Inserra Kelley Sewell to see whether you might be entitled to compensation.