Health Risks of Philips Respironics Ventilators
There’s a lot of information going around about Philips Respironics’ recent recall of several ventilators, CPAP machines, and BiPAP machines, and we’re here to set the record straight. Read on to discover the various health risks of Philips Respironics ventilators.
Background
In June of 2021, Philips Respironics issued a recall of certain CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator devices, a complete list of which can be found here. Through reports of injuries and illnesses, Philips discovered a defect in their machines— a polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) used for sound abatement that can break down and be inhaled by users.
In addition to the PE-PUR foam breaking down into black particles, the foam can also release chemicals into the device’s air pathway. While Philips is working on a fix for all future devices, there are an estimated three to four million dangerous devices in use worldwide.
Known Symptoms
The foam particles and the released chemicals have led to several health complaints from users of Philips devices.
Inhalation of the black particles has been linked to:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Breathing Difficulty
- Eye Irritation
- Throat Irritation
- Skin Irritation
- Toxic Effects to the Kidneys and Liver
Meanwhile, inhalation of the chemicals has been connected to:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blood Abnormalities
- Hypersensitivity
- Eye Irritation
- Nose Irritation
- Throat Irritation
In addition, there are several cancers that may be linked to the chemicals inhaled, including::
- Bladder cancer
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Hematopoietic Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Lymphatic Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Nasal Cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Rectal Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
What to Do
At this point, you may be wondering about your next steps. The most important thing to keep in mind is this: if you require a ventilator for life-sustaining therapy, do not discontinue use. However, you can talk with your healthcare provider about alternate options.
KDLM is committed to helping injured clients get the justice they deserve and we understand the challenges of bringing a successful product liability action. Our top New York personal injury attorneys are pioneers in medical negligence and have extensive experience with product liability. We have obtained over 150 verdicts of over $1 million and negotiated more than $1 billion in settlements for clients.
If you or a loved one experiences any of the previously mentioned symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to our C-PAP injury attorneys by filling out this online form or calling (212) 618-6800. You may be entitled to compensation.