When you are suffering from a debilitating or complicated medical condition, you only want to focus on your recovery. Coping with the constant fear and pain of routine injections and medical appointments can feel daunting. For many patients, one medical device offered the prospect of fewer injections and less pain. The Bard PowerPort medical device system is supposed to remove some of the fear and stress from patients needing frequent injections. Unfortunately, patients and physicians did not know these medical devices could pose a significant threat to the health and safety of those using them. 

At The Wilhite Law Firm, our experienced personal injury attorneys know you’ve already been through enough. Coping with a significant medical condition is challenging without the knowledge that a medical device designed to make your life easier could make you worse.  

Have you been diagnosed with medical complications resulting from a Bard PowerPort medical device? Discuss your situation with the knowledgeable Colorado legal team at The Wilhite Law Firm. Our skilled attorneys want to review your situation and help you determine whether you may be eligible to pursue compensation. Contact our Denver office today for a free case review. 

No one likes getting stuck with a needle, especially when you suffer from a medical condition that requires frequent injections. The Bard PowerPort system seeks to solve that painful problem for patients. 

The Bard PowerPort is a small medical device about the size of a quarter. A physician places the port under a person’s skin, either in the arm or chest. The port connects to a small, soft tube called a catheter. The physician then places the catheter inside a large central vein in the body. 

A unique needle can be placed into the port, delivering medication into the bloodstream via the catheter. Blood samples can also be withdrawn through the port without requiring multiple needle sticks.

Bard Access Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Becton, Dickinson and Company, designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold the Bard PowerPort.

In patients requiring frequent IVs, injections, or blood draws, the Bard PowerPort implant is meant to offer easier access for healthcare professionals and less stress for the patient. Typically, patients receiving chemotherapy or those with autoimmune system disorders are good candidates for a port implant device.

Unfortunately, patients using the Bard PowerPort system and their physicians have reported numerous problems and complications associated with using the device. The manufacturer of the device described their products as safe and reliable for years. However, complaints have shown an alarmingly high rate of problems over the past two decades, potentially due to defective design. 

One problem with the catheter tube suggests that these small, flexible tubes were manufactured with barium sulfate. Barium sulfate can cause the surface of the catheter to degrade when exposed to the bloodstream. Other problems associated with the Bard PowerPort medical device include:

• Catheter fracture
• Catheter pieces breaking off, requiring surgical removal
• Catheter migration, where the catheter moves from its original insertion point
• Pericardial tamponade, or pressure from the buildup of blood around the heart
• Cardiac punctures
• Infections
• Blood clots
• Damage to the vascular system
• Pulmonary embolism
• Organ damage
• Lacerated blood vessels

These complications can cause significant injuries and potentially even death.

The manufacturer may have known about problems with the device early on. The manufacturer of the Bard PowerPort system was given permission by the FDA under the 501(k) provision to market their medical device without the usual rigorous testing and evaluation. The 501k provision allows manufacturers to market medical devices if they demonstrate the device they are promoting is equivalent in function and safety to other previously approved devices.

Decades later, an investigation by Kaiser Health News notes how manufacturers may have been using FDA 501k exemptions to hide product problems and patient injuries from the public. FDA exemptions meant the company could continue to file reports of potential complications in a database that doctors and the public could not access. 

There are numerous varieties of PowerPort medical implant devices. Some of the most common devices manufactured today include:

• PowerPort ClearVUE ISP
• PowerPort ClearVUE Slim
• PowerPort Implantable Port

• PowerPort M.R.I. Implantable Port
• PowerPort duo M.R.I. Implantable Port
• PowerPort ISP Implantable Port

The FDA has not issued a recall for Bard PowerPort devices and products based on the issues outlined in the complaints to date. 

Many patients implanted with the Bard PowerPort system report experiencing similar injuries and complications. An increasing number of people are seeking compensation for their injuries by filing lawsuits against the manufacturer. Lawyers recently filed a motion to consolidate Bard PowerPort cases into multidistrict litigation (MDL). However, the manufacturer continues to push back against claims their product is unsafe and resists efforts to consolidate lawsuits into MDL or a single class action lawsuit.

Did you receive a Bard PowerPort device and experience significant complications like infection, migration, or catheter fracture? Did you suffer significant injuries or financial losses related to complications from the device? Then you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer to pursue compensation for your losses.

The first step in the legal process is talking to an experienced Colorado product liability attorney about your situation. A knowledgeable attorney can review your case, gather vital evidence, calculate your losses, and guide you through the next steps in the legal process. They can also manage crucial legal deadlines and keep your case on track. This is not a case you should handle on your own.

At The Wilhite Law Firm, we know that cost may prevent you from seeking the legal help you need during this challenging time. We offer a free case review, and we don’t get paid until we successfully recover compensation for you.

The value of your case depends on your unique circumstances and the severity of your complications. At The Wilhite Law Firm, we carefully calculate your financial losses to determine your case’s fair value. Often, patients injured by defective medical devices can seek compensation for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity

• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering 

Medical device manufacturers should put your health and safety first. When they fail and a medical device causes dangerous complications, you can attempt to hold the company accountable for its actions. 

Have you been injured or diagnosed with Bard PowerPort medical implant complications? Contact our team at The Wilhite Law Firm to discuss your case and how we can help you demand the compensation you deserve. Get your free case evaluation today with a skilled Colorado personal injury lawyer.

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