The personal injury attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates are reviewing potential Bard PowerPort lawsuits following reports of individuals becoming seriously injured by PowerPorts that have fractured, migrated, or malfunctioned after implantation. Possible complications can include embolisms, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, infection, heart attack, stroke, death, and more.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a Bard PowerPort device, our skilled South Carolina product liability lawyers are interested in hearing about your case. You may be entitled to compensation, so speaking to a legal professional as soon as possible is highly advised.
What is the Bard PowerPort?
The Bard PowerPort, also known as the “BardPort,” is a port catheter device which is implanted just under the skin. It is designed to allow for the intravenous delivery of fluids, medication, nutrition solutions, and blood products.
The device is manufactured by Bard Access Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Becton, Dickinson and Company.
Inherent Flaw of the Bard PowerPort
The catheter component of the Bard PowerPort is composed of Chronoflex AL, a material made from polyurethane and barium sulfate, which was sourced from biomaterial supplier AdvanSourceBiomaterials Corporation.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuits allege that a flaw in the chemical design and manufacturing of the Chronoflex catheters has caused the PowerPort to be weaker and less durable than it should be. This has resulted in fractures and migration occurring after implantation, causing tiny plastic fragments to enter the vascular system and leading to potentially life-threatening complications.
Specifically, it is alleged that:
- An excessively high concentration of barium sulfate particles were used in the production process, making the device prone to fractures. These fractures increase the risk for the accumulation of harmful microbes or fungi that can cause infection and sepsis.
- Barium sulfate particles dissociate from the catheter’s surface over time, resulting in microfractures and other structural alterations.
What types of injuries can be caused by the Bard PowerPort?
Serious injuries caused by the Bard PowerPort may include:
- Infections
- Blood clots
- Embolisms
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Vascular damage
- Hemorrhages
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Tissue perforations
- Organ damage
- Death
- Other serious injuries
Failure to warn about the Bard PowerPort
Lawsuits filed by those who have been injured by Bard PowerPorts allege that Bard Access Systems Inc., and Becton, Dickinson and Company were aware of the risks associated with Bard PowerPorts but failed to warn consumers or the healthcare community of those risks.
The suits allege that:
- Bard began receiving reports of infections and internal perforations caused by fractured PowerPorts soon after the device was introduced to the market.
- There were higher failure reports associated with Bard PowerPort catheters compared to its competitors, therefore Bard knew or should have known that its product had a serious defect.
- Bard knew about these problems for years but failed to take any corrective measures.
- Bard failed to disclose risks to consumers or the medical community.
- Bard failed to conduct adequate post-marketing surveillance to track reported issues.
- Bard continued to market its Bard PowerPort catheters as being safe, despite reported issues.
Has the FDA recalled the Bard PowerPort?
As of right now, there is no recall for the Bard PowerPort related to the catheter risks outlined above. However, the FDA did issue a Class 2 recall notice in 2020 for several models of the device due to improper barb tips. That recall recommended that all healthcare facilities return the affected PowerPort devices.
Injured by a Bard PowerPort?
If you’ve been injured by a Bard PowerPort catheter device, you could be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or permanent injury
- Lost wages/loss of earning capability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
- Rehabilitation costs
- Wrongful death
The lawyers at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates are highly experienced in product liability cases and are standing by ready to help. Call our office today for a free case evaluation. We have seven offices across the Midlands of South Carolina and would be happy to listen to your case and advise you on your next steps. There’s absolutely no obligation to hire us after speaking to us.
If you’ve been injured by a Bard PowerPort device and need to understand your rights, contact our South Carolina personal injury lawyers at 803-702-8615. It won’t cost you anything to see if we can help.®
