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Philips Offers $479 Million CPAP Settlement

Philips has agreed to pay a $479 million CPAP settlement to resolve economic claims surrounding its recalled CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator machines. This partial settlement stems from claims that these devices released toxic particles, posing potential health risks like cancer. The settlement is available to customers and vendors who purchased, leased, or rented these now-recalled CPAP machines.  

Philips CPAP Recall Impacts Millions 

In 2021, Philips Respironics issued a recall that significantly impacted the user and medical communities. The recall involved an alarming issue: the foam used in their sleep apnea machines could degrade over time. When this foam breaks down, it could release tiny particles into the device’s air pathway. That pathway connects directly to the user’s respiratory system, making it possible for these particles to be inhaled or ingested.  

These risks included not only headaches and asthma but also more severe adverse health effects like vital organ damage. Perhaps most concerning, the degradation of the foam produced carcinogenic particles and gases that could result in patients developing cancer.  

Overall, Philips has recalled a shocking 10.8 million sleep apnea devices. However, the company has only replaced 2.5 million machines, leaving many desperate for their repaired or replaced devices. Also, some of the machines Philips had supposedly fixed had to be recalled again due to the devices failing to deliver the right amount of oxygen to patients.  

Philips Reaches $479 Million CPAP Settlement  

Philips has set aside at least $445 million to compensate individuals who purchased, rented, or leased the affected CPAP or BiPAP devices, along with an additional $34 million for health insurance companies and other entities that covered the costs of replacing these machines for users. Depending on the specific model they owned, claimants stand to receive compensation ranging from $55 to $1,552 per device, in addition to an extra $100 for each returned unit. The amount someone could recover depends on what device they used.  

While this settlement focuses on financial reimbursement for users and vendors, it’s important to note that it does not cover personal injury or medical expenses, leaving those CPAP cancer lawsuits ongoing.  

As part of the settlement, Philips Respironics did not admit liability. Therefore, the company is not officially accepting responsibility for the issues surrounding its CPAP machines. However, internal documents reveal that Philips may have known about the foam degradation in its devices as far back as 2015.  

If the court approves it, the Philips $479 million CPAP settlement would include about 1.3 million users who have returned devices to Philips through its recall program without the need to submit a claim. 

The Lake Law Firm Can Help You File a Philips CPAP Lawsuit  

While the $479 million settlement addresses economic claims related to the recalled CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator machines, it does not encompass personal injury claims. Therefore, many individuals injured by these hazardous machines continue to fight for justice for the harm they’ve endured. As of September 2023, there were over 698 Philips CPAP lawsuits in federal court.  

Our dedicated legal team is committed to helping those impacted by CPAP-related health concerns. If you or a loved one has suffered adverse health effects due to Philips Respironics’ machines, please don’t hesitate to reach out to The Lake Law Firm. Your health and well-being matter to us. Call (888) 525-3529 today to find out if you qualify for a claim.