In August 2022, Brandie Songy, a Texas resident undergoing breast cancer treatment, received a Bard PowerPort implant for chemotherapy delivery. However, less than a year later, the device malfunctioned, fracturing and lodging in her heart, leading to severe complications that necessitated emergency surgery to remove the broken port.
The complaint, filed in late July in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, targets C.R. Bard Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., and parent company Beckton, Dickenson and Company. Allegations of negligence and product defects are central to Songy’s claims, seeking compensation for medical expenses and damages exceeding $75,000.
The BardPort Implantable Port, intended to facilitate repeated vascular access for medication administration and blood sampling, has become the focus of mounting legal scrutiny. Despite its purported medical benefits, Songy’s attorneys contend that Bard was aware of potential risks associated with the device but failed to adequately address or disclose them to patients and healthcare providers.
According to Songy’s legal team, Bard had received numerous reports of adverse events, including device fracturing, migration, thromboembolism, and infection. These reported incidents, allegedly ignored or downplayed by Bard, resulted in a range of severe injuries and complications for affected patients, some of which proved fatal.
The lawsuit not only seeks redress for Songy’s personal injuries and suffering but also aims to hold Bard accountable for its alleged misconduct and disregard for patient safety. The case underscores broader concerns regarding medical device safety standards and the need for rigorous oversight to prevent future harm to patients.
This legal action against Bard adds to the company’s history of legal controversies, including a notable case in December 1993 involving accusations of selling defective heart catheters and conducting unauthorized human experiments. The company’s guilty plea to hundreds of criminal charges and subsequent settlement with regulatory authorities highlight past lapses in ethical and regulatory compliance, raising questions about its commitment to patient welfare.
Through this lawsuit, Songy seeks not only justice for herself but also accountability and transparency from Bard to ensure that other patients are not exposed to similar risks and harm from defective medical devices.
