Have you or a loved one suffered from sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disorder wherein an individual’s breathing stops and starts over again repeatedly.

For many suffering from sleep apnea, certain devices are utilized to allow them to sleep better. One of these is a device from Philips Respironics, and rather than helping individuals sleep more soundly, this device caused cancer in many users. What worse betrayal can there be than putting your faith and trust in a medical device and a company that claims it can help you, only to be seriously injured and afflicted with a terrible disease.

If you or a loved one were injured as a result of the Phillips sleep apnea machine, we want to help. The Law Offices of Joseph A. Bosco is always in your corner and has a team of attorneys ready to fight on your behalf. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Contact the Law Offices of Joseph Bosco today for a free case review. You don’t have to wait another minute to speak with a legal expert about your case.

The principal reason that Philips recalled millions of their CPAP and other sleep apnea machines was because many users of these defective sleep apnea machines were breathing toxic foam because of a defect with their machines. Ingesting this toxic foam may cause cancer and a number of other major health problems. Beyond causing cancer, many users of these sleep apnea devices also reported headaches, upper airway irritations, coughing, chest pressure, sinus infections, asthma, damage to their liver and kidneys, nausea, vomiting, and increased breathing problems. Do you or a loved one suffer from these symptoms after using a Phillips CPAP or other sleep apnea device?

In June 2021, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Philips in the state of Massachusetts. The lawsuit claims Phillips knew about the toxic foam and the severe health issues it was causing people for years. Despite the numerous claims that users had been complaining about for many years, Philips didn’t issue a public warning until April 2021. It was another two months, June 14th, 2021, before Philips finally recalled the sleep apnea devices. Interestingly, Philips didn’t announce the recall of their machines until right around the time that they were due to release a newer device. For many sleep apnea patients who desperately need these devices, there was no option but to purchase the newer machine, meaning Philips continued to profit even after making the recall of their current defective machine public. It’s easy to see why this conduct could be problematic for thousands of users and their families nationwide.

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1. Design Defect

One of the main reasons that individuals were filing lawsuits against Philips is because the devices they sold to patients were defective and dangerous. The foam they used in the device is so toxic that when it degrades it can cause cancer if inhaled.

2. Failure To Warn

Philips used materials in their medical devices that were incredibly dangerous, but they also failed to warn the public about the dangers as soon as they became aware of the risks. Allegations are that users had been complaining of health issues as a result of the foam for years. At best, it is alleged in the lawsuit Philips became aware of the issue in April 2021 and still did not issue a recall until the middle of June 2021. This, of course, meant that people continued to purchase and use these defective sleep apnea machines for at least two months, despite the fact that Philips knew the risks.