Bard PowerPort Lawsuit
The Bard PowerPort is supposed to help patients by making it easier to administer fluids or medications. However, Bard Access Systems, Inc. is facing PowerPort lawsuits because of malfunctions that have been linked to serious and even fatal injuries. Plaintiffs who are suing Bard have accused the company of receiving reports of injuries due to PowerPort failures but neglected to address them.
If you or someone you love has suffered from injuries or complications due to a Bard PowerPort catheter, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Farah & Farah for a free consultation regarding your case. We charge no fees for representation, instead, we get paid only if you win. Our experienced attorneys specialize in fighting powerful medical device companies that may prioritize profits over people.
What Are Bard PowerPort Catheters?
Bard PowerPort catheters are implantable catheter devices used to administer fluid or medicine through the patient’s veins. It’s commonly used to administer treatments for cancers such as chemotherapy.
There are many types of catheters including urinary catheters, foley catheters, condom catheters, and Red Rubber catheters. Bard PowerPort catheters are considered a type of intravenous catheter. Although each catheter has its specific uses and purposes, the overall purpose of a catheter is to access the patient’s body to administer medications or to help the patient expel things from their body such as urine, semen, or blood.
Uses of an Intravenous Catheter
Intravenous catheters are most commonly used for therapeutic purposes such as the administration of medications, fluids, and blood products. It is especially helpful for patients who are dosed frequently (daily or weekly) over several days or weeks. This ensures that the patient is properly treated with the correct dosage. The Bard PowerPort, in particular, is frequently usedto administer chemotherapy medications to cancer patients.
Bard PowerPort Manufacturer & FDA Approval
The Bard PowerPort device is manufactured by Bard Access Systems Inc., more specifically their C. R. Bard division. C. R. Bard used to be a separate company but was acquired by BD in 2017 and is now the division responsible for making vascular access products such as dialysis and chemotherapy catheters and various other devices.
The FDA approved the Bard PowerPort catheters in 2000 to allow long-term access to patients who require repeated medications, IV fluid, blood products, and nutritional solutions. Despite theinjuries that have been linked to the device, it has not yet faced any recalls, either initiated by the company or by the FDA.
What Is the Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?
Bard PowerPort catheters have posed significant risks to patients due to their potential for malfunctioning. When the PowerPort malfunctions, it can lead to serious and even fatal injuries, prompting numerous families across the nation to initiate Bard PowerPort lawsuits. Plaintiffs who have already filed lawsuits against Bard claim that the company was aware of numerous reports of injuries related to the PowerPort device due to a faulty design but didn’t recall or modify the device.
Current Bard PowerPort Lawsuits
Bard PowerPort Lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The Bard PowerPort MDL lawsuit is ongoing, with the next hearing being scheduled for November 16, 2023.
Bard PowerPort Lawsuit Settlements
Since the lawsuit is still ongoing, there have been no recorded settlements made. Attorneys participating in the lawsuit project that potential settlement amounts could range between $10,000 to over $250,000 depending on the individual’s injuries and the direction of the litigation.
These are just projections based on past product liability lawsuits and the settlement amounts won’t be confirmed until after a verdict is made.
How Has the Bard PowerPort Catheter Failed?
Patients who have used the Bard PowerPort implantable ports have suffered a variety of injuriesbecause of the device malfunctions and failure to function properly. These malfunctions have led to serious consequences such as hazardous and fatal injuries in the form of catheter breakage, catheter movement or displacement, and catheter deterioration.
While some failures could be attributed to excessive force by the medical professional inserting it, the Bard PowerPort lawsuits have linked the following types of failure to a faulty design.
Catheter Breakage
If a catheter fractures inside the veins, the fragments can disperse within the body and lead to internal harm. In such cases, surgical intervention is necessary to extract the catheter fragments. Catheter breakage can be caused by excessive force being used during the catheter’s insertion or removal. This unusual stress on the catheter causes it to move in ways it is not used to, leading it to break.
Catheter Deterioration
Over time, catheters, just like all other materials, begin to deteriorate. Microscopic cracks may develop on the device, allowing bacteria and other harmful agents to enter the body. These unwanted particles can lead to health complications in the patient including infections. Catheter deterioration mostly occurs when a catheter is in the body for a prolonged time. While catheters are used for extended access to the body, it’s still necessary that they’re changed out for new catheters to avoid catheter deterioration and infections.
What Injuries Has Bard PowerPort Failure Caused?
Bard PowerPort catheters can malfunction and lead to serious injuries, infections, and health conditions. These injuries have been the source of Bard PowerPort lawsuits as many victims wish to get compensation for the unnecessary suffering they experienced.
Blood Infections
Symptoms of Blood Infections
- Chills and shivering
- Sudden fever
- Fast heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- Heart palpitations
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Confusion or disorientation
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Clammy or sweaty skin
Complications of Blood Infections
Symptoms of Blood Infections
The symptoms of blood infections are similar to symptoms of a common cold or flu and can include:
- Chills and shivering
- Sudden fever
- Fast heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- Heart palpitations
- Low energy
- Irritability
Symptoms that can indicate that the blood infection may be progressing to sepsis include:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Extreme pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Clammy or sweaty skin
Complications of Blood Infections
As a blood infection progresses, it can lead to sepsis or septic shock. The vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys won’t get as much blood as they should.
Additionally, blood clots can form and blood vessels can burst, causing damage or full demolition of tissue in the body. Patients have a chance of recovering from mild sepsis, but the mortality rate for septic shock is 30%-40%.
Sepsis
Symptoms of Sepsis
- Shivering
- Feeling lightheaded
- Sweating
- Shallow breathing
- Fast breathing
- Mental status changes
- Infection symptoms
Blood Clots (Thromboembolism)
Symptoms of Blood Clots
- Swelling
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Redness of the skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Faster than normal or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Coughing up blood
- Very low blood pressure
- Lightheadedness
- Fainting
Complications of Blood Clots
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Serious breathing problems
Stroke
Symptoms of a Stroke
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty understanding others
- Paralysis in the face, arm, or leg
- Numbness in the face, arm, or leg
- Difficulty seeing
- Difficulty walking
- Headache
- Irregular heartbea
Cardiac Arrhythmia
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fast heartbeat
- Slow heartbeat
- Inconsistent heartbeat
- Fluttering, racing, or pounding feeling in the chest
- Fainting or nearly fainting
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Tiredness
Necrosis
- Back pain
- Bloody, cloudy, or dark urine
- Painful or frequent urination
- Urinating large amounts or often at night
- Severe pain
- Fever or chills
- Rapid heartbeat
- Numbness or pain extending past the wound
- Rapidly spreading redness from the wound
- Pain and warmth around the wound
- Skin blisters
- A crackling sensation under the skin
- Gray liquid draining from the wound
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Excessive sweating
Hemorrhage
- Chest pain
- Faster breathing
- Faster heart rate
- Seizures
- Coma
- Shock
- Organ failure
- Coma
- Death
Internal Bleeding
- Dizziness
- Severe weakness
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Acute visual problems
- Numbness
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Severe headache
- Severe abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
Cardiac or Pericardial Tamponade
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Hypotension
- Quiet heart sounds
- Fast heart rate
- Jugular vein distention
- Cough
- Loss of consciousness
Organ Perforation
- Fever or chills
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Infection
- Low blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- Bleeding or hemorrhaging
- Severe and sudden pain
- Bruising which can indicate internal bleeding
Do I Qualify for a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?
- Cardiac or pericardial tamponade
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Infection
- Hemorrhage
- Device fracture
- Stroke
- Thromboembolism
- Sepsis
- Death of a loved one
We’re here to help. Reach out to Farah & Farah today
You can and should pursue justice through a defective drug lawsuit. At Farah & Farah, we help you recover the maximum possible recovery or verdict from the people who caused your injury – so you can focus on recovering from what the defective drug did to you without financial hardship.
free case review
