Fort Lauderdale CPAP Injury Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or if a loved one has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine, it is important to understand how these medical devices can be dangerous and may result in serious injuries including cancer diagnoses. Indeed, certain CPAP machines may have defects that can result in a person inhaling dangerous chemicals or particles that can have severe and life-threatening consequences. If you believe you suffered serious harm after using a CPAP machine, you may be able to file a lawsuit and to seek financial compensation to cover your medical bills and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering. Do not hesitate to get in touch with a Fort Lauderdale CPAP injury attorney at our firm to learn more about filing a claim.
What is a CPAP Machine?
In order to understand how serious injuries and illnesses can result from use of a defective CPAP machine, it is critical to understand what CPAP machines are and how they work. According to Healthline, this particular device is a type of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, and they are most often prescribed by healthcare providers to treat various sleep apnea disorders. In particular, CPAP machines can be beneficial for patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, which “causes interruptions or pauses in your breathing, often because your throat or airways briefly collapse or something temporarily blocks them.”
A CPAP machine “pushes against any blockages, opening your airways so your lungs receive plenty of oxygen.” Yet when CPAP machines are defective, patients can inhale hazardous materials that can have life-threatening consequences.
Common Types of Breathing Machines
Sometimes the term “CPAP machine” is used broadly to refer to breathing devices. There are several different types of breathing machines that can be prescribed for patients with sleep apnea disorders, and any of these devices can have defects that result in serious harm. Common types of breathing devices that may cause injuries include, for example:
- CPAP machines, which produce pressurized air and maintains the air pressure at a steady level;
- APAP machines (or automatic positive airflow pressure machines), which monitor a patient’s breathing while they sleep and adjust air pressure to compensate for changes in the patient’s breathing; and
- BiPAP (or bi-level positive airflow pressure) machines, which have two different pressure settings and are typically used by people “who can’t tolerate CPAP machines,” according to Healthline.
Injuries Caused by Defective CPAP and Breathing Machines
Frequently reported injuries linked to CPAP machines and other breathing devices include but are not limited to:
- Acute Respiratory Distress System (ARDS);
- Cancers, including for example leukemia, lymphomas, and cancers of the bladder, brain, breast, esophagus, kidney, liver, lung, prostate, stomach, testicle, and thyroid;
- Heart diseases and conditions, including heart attacks or heart failure;
- Inflammation in the ears, nose, lungs, or throat;
- Kidney damage and disease;
- Lung disease;
- Reactive Airway Disease (RAD);
- Respiratory failure; or
- Death.
Contact a CPAP Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale
Do you need assistance filing a claim? Our Fort Lauderdale CPAP injury attorneys can get started on your claim today. Contact Boone & Davis for more information.
