In 1987, the Bair Hugger™ forced air warming blanket was introduced to keep patients warm while undergoing surgical procedures. Since that time, the device has been used by more than 200 million people. However, patients may not realize the device may be threatening their health.
The Bair Hugger works by blowing warmed air through the blanket. But the device’s blower can release air that contains dangerous pathogens onto the patient’s wounds or incisions. This can result in deep tissue infections.
Some of those infected after using the Bair Hugger system filed Bair Hugger hospital infection lawsuits. The victims claim the maker of the device was aware of the risks it posed, yet took no corrective action to protect the public from harm.
In 2010, the inventor of the Bair Hugger blanket told the The New York Times about the potential dangers his device posed. Yet, 3M, the device’s manufacturer, continued production despite being aware of the risks it posed. An article from Outpatient Surgery explains that 3M has denied the claims are true.
At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, we recognize the serious harm that a defective medical device can cause, and our legal staff is hopeful the outcome of the Bair Hugger injury lawsuits will help protect the health and safety of those undergoing all types of medical procedures.