Bard Access Systems, Inc, a large medical device manufacturer, is facing scrutiny over one of its products called the PowerPort. The PowerPort is a port catheter device designed to allow easy access to peoples veins. It has been shown to carry a high risk of complications and injury and does not meet the high standards that we expect from medical devices.
This has led to a series of lawsuits against Bard, who were made aware of thousands of victims of their products but chose not to act, arguing that any complications are due to physician error. However, considering the number of victims, it appears that injuries are a direct result of the product itself.
It is essential that medical device manufacturers are held accountable when they act negligently and cause preventable harm. If you or someone you love has suffered a port a cath injury, then you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible.
In a free consultation, your attorney will assess your case and determine whether they believe you have a valid claim. Call us today on 816-320-6108.
Contact Holman Schiavone Law, LLC For a Free Consultation!
At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we pride ourselves on our ability to litigate even the most complex cases, whether in local or district court. We are unafraid to go up against large medical device manufacturers and their legal teams. Insurance defense lawyers know which law firms are willing to go the distance and are more likely to offer a settlement to avoid a costly court case if a victim has experienced representation.
We take a personalized approach and will take the time to understand how your injuries are affecting your quality of life now and in the future. We will use this information to secure the compensation that reflects your experiences. Based in Kansas City, we have an in-depth understanding of Kansas and Missouri state laws and cover all surrounding areas.
What is a Port Catheter Used For?
A port catheter, also referred to as an implanted port device or port-a-cath, is made up of two parts: a tunneled line and an injection port, which are connected beneath the skin. The tunneled catheter is a long tube, one end sits near the heart, and the other connects to an implantable port that sits under the skin of either the upper chest or the arm.
Port-a-caths provide medical professionals with easy access to the vascular system; it allows them to administer medicine or chemotherapy into a vein or take blood without the use of needles. People can go to and from the hospital with these devices left in, which can stay in for weeks, months, or even years. It also allows for more than one treatment to be administered at one time or a single treatment that lasts longer than a day.
What Are Bard Port Devices
Bard is a medical device manufacturer who has created a port-catheter device called the Bard PowerPort, or Bard MRI Port. This device can withstand higher injection pressure, making it ideal for fluids that require rapid injection. It can also help doctors to spot new tumors, as it reduces related artifacts that can show up on an MRI machine with a normal port device.
The Bard SlimPort is a smaller version of the PowerPort device, which makes it more comfortable for some consumers.
Although this sounds like an innovative product, there have been an increasing number of complications linked to the quality of these devices, leading to a series of lawsuits brought against Bard.
Bard Port Catheter Complications
The SlimPort and the PowerPort, both appear to have a higher risk of catheter failure than other models. The tube in the vein can degrade, resulting in injection, fracture, and migration. If you or someone you love has suffered complications from a Bard device, then you should contact a catheter injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Catheter Fracture
The Bard PowerPort has been criticized for degrading quickly due to flex fatigue, causing shards of the catheter to break off while it is in the vein. This can cause small fragments of the catheter to travel throughout the circulatory system, leading to serious complications.
A fractured catheter can cause internal damage and often requires emergency surgery to remove pieces and treat affected tissue.
Potential injuries include:
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Cardiac Punctures.
- Cardiac arrhythmia.
- Lacerations to blood vessels.
- Blood clots.
- Hematomas.
Catheter Migration
Sometimes the catheter can become completely dislodged and move to other parts of the body. This is rare and is often easier to find and treat. However, it does have the potential to cause serious injuries. If the dislodged catheter travels to vital organs, it could require emergency surgery.
Infection
When a catheter begins to degrade, it can lead to cracks forming, which can let in bacteria and other pathogens that can lead to an infection in the surrounding tissue. Some of these pathogens are too small for the body’s immune cells, leading to severe infections which the body will struggle to fight. Antibiotics may be necessary, or removal of the device.
If left untreated, a catheter infection can become life-threatening, leading to injuries such as:
- Swelling, redness, and soreness of the site around the PowerPort.
- Blood infections.
- Necrosis of the tissues close to the PowerPort.
- Sepsis.
What To Do If You Have a Port Catheter Injury
If you have a Port Catheter device, such as a PowerPort, and you are concerned that you may have an injury, then it is important to speak to your doctor as quickly as possible. If you are experiencing increased pain, warmth, redness, swelling, or draining from the port, then it is essential that you take the measures necessary to protect your health.
After seeking medical attention, you should contact Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, for a free consultation. We will assess whether your injuries could have been caused by the negligence of a device manufacturer and whether you qualify for a port catheter lawsuit.
What a Bard PowerPort Injury Lawyer Can Do For You
Personal injury cases that involve large manufacturing companies require considerable evidence and experienced representation to negotiate with other legal teams, who will have a large pool of resources to draw upon.
When you hire the right representation, you level the playing field. Once you have an attorney, all correspondence will go through them, which means that the other party cannot attempt to intimidate you or encourage you to settle for less than what you deserve.
Generally, victims of personal injury that have representation end up with a higher settlement even when legal fees are taken into account. The skills, resources, and experience that your attorney will bring to your case are invaluable. They will take over your case so that you can focus on your recovery while being confident that everything is in hand.
After suffering an injury, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. You have a limited amount of time to bring a lawsuit against a product manufacturer, and failure to act in time could result in you losing your right to compensation.
After you secure representation from Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, your attorney will:
- File the necessary paperwork.
- Collect evidence.
- Determine liability.
- Work out how much you are owed.
- Liaise with other attorneys involved in your case.
- Represent your case in court if necessary.
- Build a strong case.
- Give you the best chance of securing fair compensation for your suffering.
Who is Liable For My Port Catheter Failure?
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury from a Bard PowerPort or a Bard SlimPort device, then it is likely that the device manufacturer, Bard Access, will be held liable. It has been shown that the Bard port devices are not as durable as they should be, resulting in a higher risk for consumers. Injuries are often preventable as additional coatings to reinforce the catheter could be added.
Bard has been made aware of complications and has placed the blame on medical professionals implanting the devices incorrectly. However, the number of consumers coming forward suggests that this isn’t the case. Bard has not taken proper measures to reinforce and test their products, and they must be held accountable. The more product liability lawsuits that are bought against them, the more pressure will be put on them to improve their practices and keep people safe.
At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we will assess your case in a free consultation and determine whether you have a product liability case against a medical manufacturer.
What Damages Could I Claim With The Help of a Catheter Injury Lawyer
When you file a port catheter injury lawsuit, you can expect to receive compensation for economic and non-economic losses. Your economic losses are tangible costs, such as your medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic losses are designed to compensate personal injury victims for their emotional suffering and physical pain.
In order to be properly compensated, you need a skilled port catheter injury lawyer who will take the time to understand your case and fight for what you deserve.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages are the legal term for compensation for your mental distress, physical pain, and changes to the way you live your life. If you are unable to participate in hobbies and activities you once enjoyed, then this should be reflected in your settlement.
At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we take the time to understand your experiences to ensure that you are properly compensated for your pain and suffering.
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment is often the biggest source of financial stress. A successful claim will result in compensation for all your medical expenses and related costs, including medical bills, transport to and from appointments, physiotherapy, medication, and childcare.
At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we will draw upon expert testimony to determine what your ongoing medical costs will be. We will use this information to ensure that it is not only your past bills that are compensated for but the costs of future treatment as well.
Lost Wages
All lost wages should be reflected in your settlement, and if you are unable to return to the same job, then you should also be compensated for lost earning potential.
Punitive Damages
Not every personal injury case goes to trial; it may result in a settlement outside of court. However, if a case does go to trial, then the judge may award punitive damages. Punitive damages are only awarded in cases involving gross negligence or where the perpetrator acted recklessly or intentionally. They are a way for the judge to punish the perpetrator or discourage others from similar behaviors, unlike the other damages on this list, which are compensatory, meaning they are designed to compensate the victim.
Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one because of a Bard PowerPort device, then you may be able to claim compensation. A wrongful death lawsuit can be pursued by a family member of someone who died at the hands of a company’s negligence and includes compensation for pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and loss of income to the family household.
Contact Holman Schiavone Law LLC For a Free Consultation
At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we are dedicated to the needs and rights of our clients. We believe that medical device manufacturers must be held to high standards, and we are unafraid to face large legal teams in the pursuit of justice.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury because of a PowerPort device, then you should pursue a Bard implanted port catheter lawsuit as soon as possible. The sooner you contact our law firm, the better, as we will quickly get to work to gather evidence and ensure that you have a strong case.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Bard implanted port catheter injuries lawyer at 816-320-6108.
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
