Phillips And SoClean May Be Forced To Share Legal Responsibility For Failing To Warn Consumers

It appears that the SoClean Ozone cleaning solution exacerbated an already inherently defective CPAP machine's noise abatement foam

Thursday, December 16, 2021 - It looks like before long, Royal Phillips and SoClean Inc. may cooperate with, rather than sue each other. A class-action lawsuit recently claimed that the SoClean Ozone cleaning solution damaged the already defective PE-PUR polyurethane foam that machines subject to the Phillips CPAP recall used to muffle the noise their sleep apnea machines make. The class action seeks to recover the cost of the CPAP sleep apnea machines damaged by the solution. Plaintiffs in the class action say that they would not have purchased the cleaning solution had they known it would damage their Phillips DreamStation sleep apnea machines and others. If the class-action lawsuit is successful, it could provide evidence that the Phillips CPAP sleep apnea devices did not have an inherent design defect, but instead were damaged by an independent third party. Phillips contends that they never approved the SoClean Ozone cleaning solution for cleaning their machines and that Ozone products could damage their machines. The statement is backed by a warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration that stated a potential health risk from using Ozone cleansers. According to AboutLawsuits.com, "Federal health officials are warning against the use of ozone gas or ultraviolet (UV) light to clean continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices or accessories, indicating these cleaning methods have not been approved and could result in adverse health consequences." Back in February 2020, the FDA warned consumers, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to make consumers and health care providers aware that, to date, the FDA has not authorized for market any products using ozone gas or ultraviolet (UV) light to clean, disinfect, or sanitize continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and accessories (for example hoses, masks, tubing, and headgear)."

The FDA also made it clear that consumers should closely follow the manufacturer's (Philips) "instructions and recommended cleaning and replacement guidelines" when performing the necessary cleaning of the machine. The public health agency also warned not to use Ozone cleaning products because their safety had not been confirmed as of the time of the warning on March 2020. The FDA warned CPAP users that serious health consequences could result from using Ozone cleaning solution such as "irritation to breathing passages (that is nose, throat, and lungs), particularly for those who have respiratory sensitivity such as asthma or allergies," and that one should seek emergency medical attention at the first sign of abnormal respiratory discomfort.

Since the FDA warning, hundreds of Phillips CPAP users have filed Phillip CPAP cancer lawsuits claiming that using the sleep apnea device caused them to develop lung cancer. Most recently, Alabama woman Vicki Baker filed a lawsuit against Phillips that alleges her Phillips sleep apnea machine caused her to repeatedly breathe toxic particles, chemicals, and gasses while using her sleep apnea machine. The contaminants were released into the machine's breathing airway by the degradation of the sound abatement foam, according to AL. Plaintiffs in other lawsuits allege that the same condition caused them to develop other breathing problems.

More Recent Philips CPAP Cancer Lawsuit News:

Lawyers for CPAP Cancer Lawsuits

We will represent all persons in involved in a BiPAP or CPAP cancer lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. Anyone who developed cancer or another serious side effect as a result of using a Philips CPAP sleep apnea machine or ventilator in --or is a family member of such a person--is eligible to receive a free, no-obligation case review from our attorneys. Simply contact our firm through the online contact form or the chat feature and one of our Philips BiPAP cancer lawyers serving will contact you promptly to discuss your case.