FDA Announces Recall of Ventilators Due to Software Problem

by | February 3rd, 2014

February 3, 2014

Manufacturers of the medical devices Americans use on a daily basis are required by law to ensure the safety and integrity of the products they release to the market. Failure to do so can result in patients being harmed, which can lead to costly recalls being implemented. The Norfolk Product Liability Attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain such a recall was launched due to a malfunction with the software that runs the Covidien Puritan Bennett 840 Series Ventilator.

According to an article from QMed, the recall affects the units that were manufactured April 30, 1998 and March 12, 2010. Reports indicate the affected units have a glitch in the software that can lead to the unit forcing users to breathe on their own. In the event of an emergency, such a failure could result in a patient being seriously harmed, and possibly dying.

Those who are in possession of the affected units have been instructed to contact the manufacturer in order to have their unit serviced with a software upgrade at no cost. Anyone who has been harmed by an affected product should report the incident to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell Stanley would also urge anyone who has been harmed by a defective medical device to hammer the manufacturer with a lawsuit in order to hold them accountable for their negligence. Call us today for a free consultation of your case!