It’s never a pleasant experience when a medical device aimed at treating a health condition leads to side effects. This is exactly what has happened to patients who’ve used the Bard PowerPort. It is an implantable port for patient therapies needing access to their vascular system. Additionally, the port catheter device is used for medicine infusions, blood products, parenteral nutrition solutions, and withdrawing blood samples.
In recent times, patients have complained about injuries from this device. It includes pulmonary embolisms, bloodstream infections, hemorrhages, and many more. There have been instances where patients reported that the device had shifted from the site of implantation and had fractured. All these complications have resulted in life-threatening injuries as well as death.
In April 2024, almost 116 active lawsuits were pending in MDL. Today, law firms are accepting Bard PowerPort lawsuits, and the lawyers anticipate more cases. In this article, we will shed light on how the port catheter resulted in an embolism which suggests that the device should be removed at the earliest. We will also touch upon how affected patients can file a lawsuit to seek legal compensation.
Patient Suffers from Septic Embolism Because of Bard PowerPort
Every patient who suffered after using this device has filed a Bard PowerPort lawsuit for the damages they had to endure. In November 2023, AboutLawsuits.com reported the story of Ryan Meadors, a man from Kentucky who developed a septic embolism after the port catheter device was implanted. He had to undergo costly surgery to remove the device that was initially placed in his body to manage immunoglobulin infusions.
In his complaint, Meadors stated that he had the port catheter device implanted back in December 2021. Within a year, he started noticing questionable health changes and after-effects. For instance, he started to suffer from abdominal pain, which was accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
Upon diagnosis, it was found out that Meadors was suffering from an infection that occurred after the Bard PowerPort had been implanted in the body. It resulted in a septic embolism, which is why the device had to be removed surgically from his body.
His complaint revealed that the manufacturers were aware of the issues with the device. They knew about the device failures and severe infections that the patients could have faced but didn’t inform the medical community about them. Had the doctors been made aware of the side effects, they could have updated the patients about it, which could have saved them from suffering and, in some cases, even death.
A few other complications related to this port catheter device other than septic embolism are:
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmia
- Bloody cough
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Fever
- Pinch-off syndrome
- Urinary changes
- Shortness of breath
As a result, Meadors’s lawsuit has claims of failure to warn, negligence, strict product liability, wrong concealment, defective design, and breach of warranty. He seeks a legal payout to cover both punitive and compensatory damages.
Navigating the Legal Path
The most prominent injuries resulting from the Bard PowerPort devices are harmful punctures caused by sensitive organs like the kidneys and heart. It can lead to abrupt organ failure that might be difficult to treat.
As a result, the complications include damage to the device caused by brittle tubing and high medicine flow rates. The lawsuits filed so far also suggest that both bacteria accumulation and defective material result in device fracture. Therefore, if you or anyone you know has suffered because of the device failure or any other side effect, like septic embolism, it is necessary to opt for medical treatment and then seek legal compensation.
However, when it comes to treading the legal path, TorHoerman Law states that affected patients must seek the guidance of an expert lawyer. To begin with, only they can let you know whether you are eligible for the lawsuit and what your probable settlement payout is. They will also study the evidence that you share with them and use the ones that matter to build a solid case that will ensure that the verdict is in your favor.
Last but not least, filing a lawsuit and waiting for your compensation is a challenging process. There might be moments when you can get tempted to act or respond aggressively, which can cancel out your chances of getting compensated. A lawyer provides you with the correct guidance on how to conduct yourself and things not to do, which goes a long way toward ensuring you receive your compensation on time.
In conclusion, no patient would want to implant a device in their own body for their benefit and face side effects. However, the Bard PowerPort has resulted in a similar predicament, which has made patients suffer manifold. The increasing number of lawsuits today has brought this issue to the fore and has made it possible for victims to seek the legal aid that they need.
