Four Dutch people hold Philips responsible because the sleep apnea device may not work and may have released a carcinogenic gas. They want the medical technology company to know if using the device has led to any health problems for them, and they want Philips to pay for the research.
Refers to respirators for home use by apnea patients. The foam used in appliances to dampen sound can be dangerous. It can not only be broken down into small particles, but also certain chemicals can be released, for example after contact with certain cleaning agents.
The Dutch company already issued a safety warning about this earlier this year and started recalling. Several complaints that the device can cause have been mentioned. According to the lawyer, these complaints relate to the four users he represents. One of his clients was also diagnosed with lung cancer.
But it is not yet clear if the latter is due to the device. According to the lawyer, they should first check if their equipment is not good. Putting these things on a test kit in the lab can check for molecules and chemicals. “Users have a right to certainty and clarity. Philips is responsible for the problem, and therefore also responsible for the solution.”
Philips has already begun repairing and replacing its sleep apnea devices in the US, among other things. In total, this concerns 3 to 4 million devices. Philips has allocated a total of 500 million euros for this. Frans van Houten, Philips CEO, noted earlier this month that this should be enough to repair or replace devices. No funds have yet been allocated to claims against Philips for hazardous respirators. More than a hundred cases are now underway. According to Van Houten, it’s still too early to say anything about this, and there will likely be a definitive answer next year.
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