Device Recall of 5,400 Defective Philips Defibrillators

Philips Electronics, a Dutch company, announced a recall this Tuesday of 5,400 defibrillators for potential defective memory chips. The majority of these defective medical devices being recalled are defibrillators sold in the U.S. These memory chip failures render the device inoperable.

Affected defibrillators are Select HeartStart FR2+ Automated External Defibrillators (AED) (models M3860A and M3861A, distributed by Philips; and models M3840A and M3841A, distributed by Laerdal Medical). These medical devices were manufactured between 5/2007 – 1/2008.

Downplaying the seriousness of this recall of these medical devices on market for over two years, a Philips spokesperson stated that his company sells so many defibrillators worldwide that “the recall [of 650,000 potentially defective defibrillators] represents less than 1 percent [sold].”

Defibrillators are used by response teams to respond to sudden cardiac arrest by helping restart a patient’s heart. Other device manufacturers have recently recalled their defective AEDs for software flaws, inability to function in humid conditions, and other potentially fatal manufacturing errors. AEDs affected by the Phillips’ medical device recall will impact hospitals, first responders (fire departments and EMS), and other emergency and health organizations.

Philips is one of the world’s top three hospital equipment companies. So far no reports of injury due to product failure have been reported in Tennessee. Customers who have questions about the recall or wish to report product problems may contact HeartStart Customer Service at 1-800-263-3342.

If a Philips or another brand of defective defibrillator has caused harm to you or a loved one, contact Higgins Firm to explore your legal options with a defective medical device lawyer. Call 1.800.705.2121 or complete our defective medical device injury form. Our injury lawyers accept cases throughout Tennessee and select cases in Georgia and Kentucky.