At least 185 people in the Netherlands suffer from health problems that may have been caused by Philips devices that help against sleep apnea. According to the , the patients have Financial Newspaper reported to two legal aid insurers and a law firm.
Philips announced in June last year that it was recalling millions of copies of the devices worldwide due to health risks. The potential danger is in the foam inside the machines. This can crumble and therefore harmful gases can be released. Both are potentially toxic and carcinogenic.
The ventilators are crucial for people who suffer from sleep apnea. In this condition, a person stops breathing while sleeping. The machine ensures that breathing continues by pumping in air.
Headaches and Breathing Problems
In October, we four Dutch apnea patients Philips already liable for health problems. A hundred other patients have joined that group, according to law firm SAP. DAS and Achmea Rechtsbijstand each assist about forty patients.
The patients of DAS would mainly suffer from stuffiness and a dry throat. The users who previously reported to SAP said they suffered from headaches or breathing problems or had cancer.
In addition to the people with health problems, Philips itself also suffers a lot from the affair surrounding the apnea devices. Last week, the company received take a big hit on the stock exchange: the share fell by more than 14 percent on Wednesday morning, as a result of which 4 billion euros in market value evaporated. The recall of the devices is one of the reasons for this.
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