CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines and other types of medical devices from Philips Respironics have been recalled due to the health hazards they pose to patients. Recalled sleep apnea devices can result in severe injuries and also long-term illnesses. If you have used a CPAP, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP), or ventilator that’s on the recall list, you may be eligible to file a Philips CPAP lawsuit.
When you’re seeking justice for injuries against a major company, you need a law firm that will stand up for your rights no matter what. Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm protects the rights of people in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. If you or a loved one was harmed because of a Philips CPAP machine and you live in one of those states, our law firm may be able to help you.
How Do CPAP Machines Help Those With Sleep Apnea?Â
Sleep apnea is a condition where people experience interrupted breathing during their sleep, which severely affects their overall health. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 25% of men and 10% of women suffer from this disorder, which has two main types: central and obstructive.
Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send a signal to the muscles that control breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common of the two, occurs when the upper airway is blocked. It takes increased pressure from the person’s chest muscles to open the airway. This typically results in interrupted sleep cycles.
Many people with obstructive sleep apnea depend on CPAP machines to help them sleep throughout the night. The CPAP machines deliver air pressure to the person using it through a hose and mask, providing them with a cycle of sound sleep.
Philips Respironics provides a number of these types of medical devices, and those diagnosed with sleep apnea depend on them to sleep safely. However, many Philips sleep apnea machines have been recalled due to the potential risk of serious injury or illness.
When medical devices fail to work or have a flaw, the person using the device can sustain significant injuries, and their health can be put at risk. Your injuries and losses resulting from a defective Philips CPAP machine could mean you’re eligible for compensation. A dependable product liability lawyer can represent you in a Philips CPAP lawsuit.
Why Is There a Philips CPAP Recall?
The FDA released an FAQ page that stated Philips Respironics voluntarily recalled CPAP machines, ventilators, and BiPAP or BPAP machines in June 2021. While these medical devices are designed to help with breathing, they work in slightly different ways:
- CPAP: Provides air through continuous pressure with a mask.
- BiPAP or BPAP: Uses a higher pressure when the patient breathes in and a lower pressure when the patient breathes out.
- Ventilator: Controls the patient’s breathing with a set oxygen amount.
The health risk comes from the foam that is used to reduce the sound and vibration the CPAP machines make. The polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam can break down into small black pieces, and the person using the machine can breathe in the foam.
Inhalation of this foam can cause serious health problems and even become life-threatening. Those who inhale these foam pieces may need surgery to prevent permanent injuries. If someone applied certain types of cleaning methods that weren’t manufacturer-approved, it could create a hot and humid environment that worsens the foam damage.
What Injuries and Illnesses Can PE-PUR Foam Degradation Cause?
 Those who sustained injuries from using a recalled CPAP machine and consequently inhaling the foam may have suffered symptoms including:
- Headache
- Asthma
- Inflammation
- Facial and respiratory tract irritation
- Cancer-causing effects on organs
Inhaling the foam from CPAP machines isn’t the only way people can suffer from adverse health effects. The degradation of the polyester-based polyurethane foam can also produce dangerous chemicals. If these chemicals are inhaled, potential health risks include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Skin, eyes, nose, and respiratory tract irritation
- Allergic reaction
- Immune system reaction
- Nausea/vomiting
- Toxic and cancer-causing effects
In August 2021, the FDA inspected a Philips Respironics manufacturing facility to find out how the foam issues occurred and look into the systems in place for product quality. They also have solutions for what people with recalled devices can do with them. While those who have recalled devices can register them for repair or replacement, the defective products may have already caused life-changing injuries. That’s where a Philips CPAP lawyer can help.
What CPAP Machines Have Been Recalled?
Philips recalled millions of defective breathing machines spanning a variety of types of products meant to help with sleep apnea. When you’re looking into a CPAP lawsuit, you’ll need to check that your device is on the recall list. The FDA has recalled the following Philips CPAP and BPAP machines and ventilators:
- A-Series BiPAP A30
- A-Series BiPAP Hybrid A30
- C-Series S/T and AVAPS
- DreamStation
- DreamStation ASV
- DreamStation Go
- DreamStation ST, AVAPS
- Dorma 400
- Dorma 500
- E30
- OmniLab Advanced+
- REMstar SE Auto
- SystemOne ASV4
- SystemOne (Q-Series)
Recalled ventilators:
- A-Series BiPAP A40
- A-Series BiPAP V30 Auto
- C-Series ASV
- Garbin Plus, Aeris, LifeVent
- Trilogy 100
- Trilogy 200
Our attorneys understand how shocking it can be to learn that your device may be listed under the CPAP machine recall. If you recognize one of these products, it’s imperative to speak with your doctor as quickly as possible to learn how to proceed. In some cases, a patient who uses one of these machines may increase the risk to their health if they immediately stop usage.
Your health care provider will be able to guide you on what to do and how best to protect your health. Once you’ve spoken with your doctor, you can look into what legal options you may have if one of the recalled machines caused you harm.
Our CPAP lawyers give each case the individual attention it deserves. We understand you and your family may be going through an immensely emotional and uncertain time. Our attorneys will be by your side throughout the process to make sure your rights are protected.
Were You Injured Because of a Philips CPAP Machine?
CPAP injuries can be debilitating and painful. Your machine should have worked safely. You can take steps to hold Philips Respironics accountable.
If you’re wondering about whether you should come forward, your injuries from foam degradation may be the beginning of the problems that a defective CPAP machine caused. When you’re taking the time to treat these injuries, you can incur a significant amount of medical expenses. You may not be able to work, and your lifestyle may have had to completely change.
Your CPAP machine lawsuit attorney will look into the total losses of injuries due to a defective CPAP device. You could have:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Handling health issues, associated costs, and the resulting damages can take a major toll on you and your family—and these problems should never have happened in the first place. But you can speak up and make your voice heard.
Knowing exactly how your CPAP machine injured you will be crucial information to file a Philips CPAP lawsuit. Your defective product lawyer from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm will launch a full investigation to get all the details of your case.
Did You Receive a Cancer Diagnosis Because of a Sleep Apnea Device?
The sound abatement foam can cause serious types of cancer. If you’ve been using one of the affected devices and have recently received a cancer diagnosis, you can reach out for help. The foam particles can cause the following types of cancer:
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Lung Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
You’ll need a skilled CPAP lawyer to prove that your cancer diagnosis resulted from a defective device. Looking into medical records, developing a timeline of when your health problems started, and identifying how the recalled machine harmed you will improve your chances of eligibility.
What To Expect When You Meet With Your CPAP Lawyer
Before you meet with your attorney regarding a Philips CPAP lawsuit, you can prepare some information to make the consultation as productive as possible. Here are some questions that you can expect your attorney to ask so you can be ready with your answer:
- Were you using a Philips machine to treat sleep apnea?
- Which sleep apnea machine did you own?
- Was this type of CPAP machine recalled, and do you still have it?
- When did you start noticing symptoms, and what were the symptoms?
- How have the CPAP injuries affected you?
When you come in with prepared information, your lawyer can get a better picture of what defective machine you had and what serious injuries you incurred because of the PE-PUR foam. They’ll also be able to guide you on the next step, whether that’s participating in a Philips CPAP class action lawsuit or taking another legal route.
We understand how intimidating it can be to take legal action. It’s important to remember that CPAP machine lawsuits are occurring because of defective CPAP and BIPAP devices. People deserve to be able to depend on their sleep apnea device and not suffer debilitating injuries from polyurethane foam.
Your attorney will tell you that different states have varying statutes of limitation. This means that you may have less time to file a CPAP lawsuit than you originally thought. This is why it’s so important to get in touch with a product liability lawyer as soon as possible.
Reach Out to a Philips CPAP Lawyer
If you’re a resident of Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona and you’ve suffered injuries because of a defective Philips CPAP machine, you may have grounds to hold its manufacturer accountable for your adverse outcome and related damages. Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm serves those who have been wrongfully injured. Our CPAP lawyers are prepared to stand up to a negligent company.
Get in touch with our attorneys today to provide us with the initial details of your case. We’ll see if you’re eligible for a Philips CPAP lawsuit and can help you take the next steps forward. If you proceed with a lawsuit, our lawyers will do everything possible to ensure you get the justice you deserve.
