Hundreds of adverse events associated with Bard PowerPorts have been reported to the FDA, and lawsuits are being filed. If you have been injured after being implanted with a Bard PowerPort device, you may have a claim. Contact The havealawyer at 888-811-3090 today for a free case evaluation.
Bard PowerPorts can cause serious life-threatening complications, including blood clots, infections, and vital organ damage, according to lawsuits filed nationwide against manufacturer C.R. Bard, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Becton Dickinson and Co.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received hundreds of adverse event reports from patients implanted with Bard PowerPorts, but the company continues to market the products as safe and effective without recalling them, adjusting the product, or adding warnings to the label.
At the havealawyer, we are passionate about holding large corporations accountable for harming individuals. We accomplish this by using lawsuits to hold them accountable for every person they harm. When you hire the havealawyer, you can trust that our passionate and experienced pharmaceutical liability lawyers will aggressively seek justice.
What Is a Bard Powerport?
Bard Powerport is a brand name for a medical device designed for surgical implantation in the human body. It provides health care providers with direct access to a vein to deliver medications, intravenous fluids, nutrition, or blood products. It is a convenient method of avoiding frequent patient contact with needles. They are commonly used for chemotherapy in cancer patients.
What Is the Problem with Bard PowerPorts?
The catheter is made from a type of polyurethane and silicone. It contains barium sulfate, a contrast dye that makes the port more visible during imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans. Unfortunately, barium sulfate has been shown to degrade polyurethane and silicone when in contact with human tissue.
The Effects and Complications Associated with Bard Powerport Catheters
Complaints allege that the particles of barium sulfate break down from the surface of the PowerPort over time, leaving divots, pits, cracks, microfractures, and breakage of the device. The device may malfunction or migrate to other parts of the body.
The complaints also allege that catheter particles enter the bloodstream and travel to various internal organs, causing organ damage and life-threatening infections. According to complaints, patients with the implant have an increased risk of the following:
Some plaintiffs also allege that they have experienced severe and persistent pain. Some have required surgery.
Liability for Defective PowerPort Catheter Defects
Manufacturers of medical devices are required to ensure that the products they make available to the public are safe and effective.
What Did Bard Know About the PowerPort’s Defects?
According to the pending lawsuits, Bard received a large number of adverse event reports from health care providers soon after introducing the PowerPort to the market, indicating that the company knew or should have known that patients implanted with its PowerPorts had increased risks of potentially life-threatening injuries.
Who Is Liable for Harm Caused by Bard PowerPort Catheters?
Becton Dickinson acquired Bard in 2017 as a wholly-owned subsidiary. As a result, Becton Dickinson and Bard may be liable.
Complaint allege that when C.R. Bard began receiving adverse event reports, it may have prevented hundreds of injuries and deaths by doing even one of the following:
Instead, Bard continues to market the product as safe and effective.
Complaints allege that not only did the company fail to take steps to protect the public, but it may have deliberately concealed the product’s harmful effects from the public.
When Should I Contact a Bard PowerPort Attorney?
Every state sets its own deadline for filing a lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. If you do not file before the deadline expires or if your case is not tolled, you can lose your right to pursue justice for your injuries. For this reason, it is imperative that you contact an attorney as soon as possible after you discover your injuries.
Our hard-working and dedicated product liability attorneys can determine how the statute of limitations affects your case and ensure your case is filed on time.