Woman Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer Joins CPAP Lawsuit

Woman Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer Joins CPAP Lawsuit

Introduction

A Sauk County woman who got diagnosed with terminal cancer has sued the CPAP maker by joining the lawsuit that alleges the sleep apnea treatment machine causes cancer.

As per the lawsuit, the woman went through different models of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine known as the DreamStation since 2008. She even used one of the voluntarily recalled devices by Philips Respironics. The woman stated that she regularly used the machine due to her bad sleep apnea.

The woman suffered from breathing problems that began in August 2016 post which she got diagnosed with asthma. In July 2020, she got diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer which is now in the fourth stage of severeness for which she is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Citing the problems with the machines, the company has considered recalling the machines. 20 kinds of CPAP, BiPAP and ventilator devices made between 2009 and last year were recalled from the market. The company even informed that it recalled 2.6 million devices in the U.S.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recorded more than 1,200 complaints and more than 100 injuries because of the machines as of the July 2021 report. The issues have been classified as the most serious ones by labeling them as a Class 1 recall citing the serious injuries and deaths caused by the machines.

As per the data provided by FDA, there are potential health risks associated with the machines caused due to a foam (called PE-PUR, or polyester-based polyurethane foam). The foam is supposed to reduce sound and vibration, but FDA reports state that it could break down entering the device's air tubes and get swallowed.

FDA stated that inhaling or swallowing the pieces of the foam can result in irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and respiratory tract (airway) along with other damages, including inflammatory response, headache and asthma. It can even result in toxic or cancer-causing effects on the kidneys and liver. The foam might even release certain dangerous chemicals.

A Texas-based law firm has created litigation against the machines where roughly 800 claimants have signed suing Philips for the health risks associated with the recalled products.

A spokesperson for Philips informed that the company has shipped more than 650,000 replacement devices to U.S. customers who were affected or faced problems due to the products.