Bard PowerPort Mass Tort Lawyers

Lawsuits against the makers of the Bard PowerPort have been filed nationwide. These lawsuits allege that the PowerPort contains serious design flaws that make it prone to fracturing and migration. This can have serious and, in some cases, deadly consequences for the patients impacted. If you were injured by the Bard PowerPort, contact Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta at (706) 863-6600 to learn more.

What Is the Bard PowerPort?

The Bard PowerPort is a catheter device that can be implanted. It is used to deliver medicine or fluids to the body intravenously. It is frequently used to deliver chemotherapy medications to the bodies of cancer patients. It is manufactured by Bard Access Systems Inc., a branch of Becton, Dickinson and Company.

The Bard PowerPort features a plastic and titanium casing and utilizes a polyurethane material known as ChronoFlex AL. The material is a combination of barium sulfate and polyurethane. A septum constructed from silicone allows medication access, and a catheter is used to withdraw blood and deliver fluids. The Bard PowerPort is inserted into the skin. A port connects to a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a major central vein, which allows medicine to enter the bloodstream.

According to numerous lawsuits, the device has been linked to various defects and complications. Injuries such as embolisms, infections, device migrations, fractured material moving through the body, thrombosis, and blood clots have been linked to the Bard PowerPort. It is alleged that some of these injuries resulted in death. As a result of these allegations, many lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of the Bard PowerPort.

Injuries Caused by the Bard PowerPort

Injuries caused by the Bard PowerPort range from minor to acute. These injuries range from embolisms and blood infections to deep vein thrombosis. Pinch-off syndrome is a major complication caused by the Bard PowerPort’s catheter becoming compressed between the rib and clavicle. It can result in a blockage that prevents fluids or medicine from reaching the body. Pinch-off syndrome can also fracture the device. Patients and medical professionals have noted that fractures may cause vascular damage and other serious injuries.

Infection at the site of the port is another potential issue. Bacteria can enter the port site if the Bard PowerPort fractures. This can sometimes result in life-threatening infections.

It is alleged that design flaws make the PowerPort likely to fracture, allowing the fractured pieces to migrate. If this occurs, a patient may have to undergo emergency surgery to remove the device completely.

Bard PowerPort Recalls

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a Class II recall for three Bard PowerPort models in March 2020. This recall was issued because Bard “identified that the product may be at risk of incorrectly containing a tunneler with a barb tip meant to attach to a 6Fr catheter instead of the correct barb tip for a 9.6Fr catheter. This can result in a prolongation of operation.”

Did Bard Know the PowerPort Was Unsafe?

Presently, some patients are filing lawsuits against Bard alleging that it knowingly marketed a defective device. Many lawsuits also allege that Bard did not make necessary changes to ensure the device was safe, nor did they provide adequate warnings.

Many lawsuits allege that shortly after the PowerPort reached the market, many healthcare providers reported post-implementation fracturing. The company also supposedly received large numbers of reports stating that the implant was fracturing and causing vascular perforations. As a result of such reports, Bard should have known the PowerPort was defective. It should also have known that it had a higher failure rate than other similar medical devices.

Although the PowerPort had a higher rate of failure than other similar devices, Bard did not warn patients or doctors. The company also hid the severity of the device’s complications. Instead of issuing sufficient warnings or improving the PowerPort, the company chose to continue its marketing efforts as usual. To combat negative press, Bard released a newer line of PowerPorts. Many critics pointed out that the newer line products were extremely similar to the older, defective line.

Who Can File a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?

If you meet any of the following criteria, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit against Bard to seek financial compensation for your PowerPort-related expenses and losses:

• A Bard PowerPort device was implanted in your body.
• Your Bard PowerPort device fractured, migrated, or malfunctioned post-implementation.
• You sustained physical injuries as a result of the PowerPort implant.

The design of the PowerPort makes it prone to three primary complications:

• Fracture – The most common complication experienced by PowerPort patients is fracture. The PowerPort’s material causes it to be brittle. This brittle material causes the tubing and other device parts to break off and the pieces to become lodged in or travel through the vascular system.
• Infection – The material used to produce the PowerPort allows bacteria to enter the body where the fracture occurs. As a result of this bacteria entering the body, infection sets in.
• Migration – Post-implantation migration (the device moving out of its original position) can occur. Flexible tube parts inserted into the blood vessels are most likely to migrate. Migration can happen alone or as a result of a Bard PowerPort fracture.

Are You Entitled to Compensation for Your Injuries?

If a defective medical product causes injury, you have the right to seek compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include:

• Medical bills
• Reduced earning capacity
• Lost wages
• Nursing assistance
• Any other injury-related expense

You can also get money for your non-economic losses. These losses may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of quality of life
• Emotional distress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression

Reach Out to Chris Hudson Law Group

Chris Hudson Law Group knows how to handle defective product and mass tort cases. We have extensive experience fighting aggressively for clients. Our ultimate goal is to help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation you deserve. Reach out to Chris Hudson Law Group at (706) 863-6600 today if you were injured by the Bard PowerPort.