Philips has recalled over 17 million masks for bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. The recall is due to magnets in the masks, which may interfere with metallic objects in the human body, such as pacemakers or defibrillators.
The FDA warned that the magnets may cause:
- Potentially fatal increased brain or eye pressure related to ventriculoperitoneal and cerebral spinal fluid shunts
- Potentially fatal clip separation or disrupted suture lines related to aneurysm clips
- Potentially fatal irregular heartbeat, or heart block, related to pacemakers
- Potentially fatal failure to shock related to cardioverter defibrillators
- Potentially fatal lead migration, seizures, or compression of the brain, related to neurostimulators
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is actively representing victims of the recalled Philips BiPAP and CPAP masks. We are contingency lawyers, meaning we don’t charge victims of the masks a fee unless and until we obtain financial compensation from Philips for them.
Philips CPAP And BiPAP Mask Recall
Five models of BiPAP/CPAP masks have been recalled by Philips:
- Therapy Mask 3100 NC/SP
- Wisp and Wisp Youth Nasal Mask
- DreamWear Full Face Mask
- DreamWisp Nasal Mask
- Amara View Full Face Mask
The masks have magnetic clips that hold the masks in place. These magnetic clips are circled in the image below.
The magnetic clips may cause injury or death by interfering with metallic implants or objects in the human body, like:
- Pacemakers
- Metallic stents (such as biliary, tracheobronchial, coronary, and aneurysm)
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillators
- Magnetic metallic valves, electrodes, and implants placed in the head, neck, torso, or upper limbs
- Neurostimulators (including hypoglossal nerve stimulators)
- Aneurysm clips
- Cerebral spinal fluid shunts (including ventriculoperitoneal shunts)
- Intracranial aneurysm intravascular flow disruption devices
- Embolic coils
- Ocular implants (such as retinal implants and glaucoma implants; intraocular lenses involved in cataract surgery aren’t impacted)
- Metallic bone substitute devices, burr hole covers, screws, and cranial plates
- Hearing or balance-related implants with magnets (such as auditory brainstem implants, bone conduction hearing devices, or cochlear implants)
- Metallic contact lenses
- Implantable pumps and ports (including insulin pumps)
- Magnetic denture attachments
- Metallic joint replacements
- Metallic gastrointestinal clips
- Devices that are labeled as Magnetic Resonance (MR) Unsafe
- Metallic shrapnel
- Metallic splinters
- Magnetic metallic implants which aren’t labeled for MR or aren’t evaluated for safety in a magnetic field
As of September 2022, Philips is aware of 16 patient reports that the magnets may have impacted medical devices, including reports of:
- Interference with a pacemaker
- Failure of a pacemaker
- Need for adjustment of a shunt
- An automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) resetting
- Seizures
- The periodic shut-off of a defibrillator
- Arrhythmia
- Cognitive issues
- Change in heartbeats
- Irregular blood pressure
What Should I Do if I Used a Recalled Philips BiPAP or CPAP Mask?
If you or someone who is near you when you use a recalled mask have any of the above metallic objects in their body, you should:
- Stop using the recalled mask. Switch to a mask without magnets if you can.
- Make sure the mask stays at least six inches away from any metallic objects in the body.
- Talk with your healthcare provider about figuring out if you can use a different mask and if you should change your treatment and care plan due to this issue.
- Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience mask-related issues, and report the problem to the FDA.
- Properly dispose of the mask once you obtain a different mask to use.
- You may continue using the mask if you and nobody near you when you use the mask has any of the above metallic objects in their body.
- Call Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation if you or a loved one suffered serious medical issues or death due to the recalled masks, as we can help you obtain financial compensation for your losses.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Philips BiPAP or CPAP Mask Lawsuit?
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers has been representing victims of defective medical devices since 1990. If you or a loved one has been impacted by one of the recalled masks, our experienced defective medical device lawyers can help you obtain financial compensation for numerous damages, including but not limited to:
- Medical bills: You may be facing large medical bills if one of the recalled masks injured you or caused the death of your loved one. You may be eligible for financial compensation for any medical bills you have already incurred, as well as any medical bills you can be reasonably expected to face in the future.
- Lost wages: You or a loved one may have missed time from work due to an injury caused by one of the recalled masks. You may qualify for compensation for any money you were unable to earn due to your injuries.
- Loss of earning capacity: An injury caused by one of the recalled masks may have left you or a loved one permanently unable to work or do the work you did before your injury. You may be eligible for compensation for any money you are no longer able to earn in the future due to your injury.
- Pain and suffering: You may have suffered physical pain and/or mental suffering due to an injury caused by one of the recalled masks, and you may qualify for compensation for this pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death: If you lost a loved one to an injury caused by one of the recalled masks, you may qualify for financial compensation for funeral expenses, burial expenses, any income your loved one would have earned, your loved one’s pain and suffering, the loss of your loved one’s support, companionship and love, and more.
Philips BiPAP and CPAP Mask Lawsuits
Medical device manufacturers are liable in California for any injuries caused by any products sold in the state which contain design defects.
A product has a design defect if it is unreasonably dangerous even when manufactured and used properly. It appears as if the recalled Philips masks have a design defect. Even though the products were manufactured without error, the magnets in them render them unreasonably dangerous when used as instructed.
This is not the first time that Philips has faced CPAP recall lawsuits. The home healthcare giant recalled several CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator devices for degradation issues in the polyurethane foam found in these devices, which caused cancer when inhaled by the user. Despite this recall, Philips knew about the CPAP problems in 2015 and did nothing until 2021.
We have been successfully recovering financial compensation for victims of products that are defective by design for over three decades. We can help you obtain the compensation and justice you deserve while holding Philips accountable for selling defective medical devices.
Philips BiPAP and CPAP Mask Recall Lawyers
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers has been representing defective medical device victims for over 30 years. We have recovered over $750,000,000 on behalf of clients.
Our experienced defective medical device attorneys are battle-tested and have the know-how to maximize your recovery in a Philips mask lawsuit. The only fee we charge is a percentage of any recovery we obtain for you, and we don’t charge a fee if we don’t obtain a recovery.
Call us, text us from this page, or contact us online today for a free consultation if you or a loved one was injured or suffered serious side effects or death because of a recalled Philips BiPAP or CPAP mask. You might be entitled to financial compensation from Philips.
