Philips is globally recognized as one of the foremost manufacturers of nighttime breathing assistance machines, which are extensively employed for addressing sleep apnea. It manufactures Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, which is a continuous airway stream that keeps airways open to prevent sleep apnea and even snoring. In June 2021, Philips issued a nationwide safety recall affecting nearly all of its CPAP and BiPAP devices due to concerns about a polyurethane foam known as PE-PUR. This foam, utilized for sound reduction in Philips devices, posed potential risks. Philips revealed that the PE-PUR foam could break down into small particles or emit chemicals that users might inhale while using the machines during sleep.
Philips CPAP Recall Lawsuits
The first class action lawsuit against Philips regarding these machines was also filed in June 2021 in Massachusetts. The lawsuit alleged that the plaintiffs were victims of consumer fraud. An additional class action multi-district litigation (MDL) was filed in Pennsylvania. That lawsuit alleged that Philips was aware of the potential risks that PE-PUR foam posed for many years, which evidently caused serious physical injuries. In April 2024, Philips announced it would be settling the lawsuits for $1.1 billion.
Which Machines Were Recalled?
The machines that were recalled include the following:
- DreamStation Machines.
- Continuous Positive Airway Presure (CPAP) Machines
- Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi-Level PAP)
- Mechanical Ventilators
What Injuries Qualify?
- New or worsening asthma
- New or worsening COPD
- Chronic bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Sarcoidosis
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pneumonitis
- Other interstitial lung disease
- Other obstructive or restrictive lung disease
- Lung cancer
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
- Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of the air-pathway lymphoid tissue
- Oral cavity cancers
- Oropharynx cancer
- Nasal cavity/sinus cancer
- Nasopharynx cancer
- Larynx cancer
- Hypopharynx cancer
- Salivary cancer
- Esophageal cancers
- Thyroid cancers
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