Deaths in California and Canada Associated with Defective Bed Rails
At least two deaths of senior citizens have been attributed to certain models of defective bed rails that have been sold in North America from 2007 through December 2021. In both instances, the seniors became entrapped between the bed rails and the bed mattress when the rails were not properly attached to the bed. These deaths have led regulatory agencies and the manufacturer to recall more than a half-million units of these defective bed rails that had been sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to sales through medical supply stores, many units were also sold through major online retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Incidents of Senior Deaths
The two incidents directly associated with the portable bed rail units occurred to a 92-year-old man at an assisted living facility located in Canada and to a 93-year-old woman who was living in her own private home in California. In both cases, the portable bed rails were not properly and firmly attached to the bed, allowing the unfortunate seniors to become entrapped in spaces that had opened up between the bed rails and the sides of their mattresses.
There are many different models of portable bed rails for adults, and their primary purposes are to assist seniors and disabled people with getting in and out of bed, as well as provide protection against accidental falls out of bed. In the past, the devices were primarily marketed through medical supply stores that provided other common assistive devices like walkers and crutches. In recent years, these portable bed rails have also been popularly marketed directly to consumers through Amazon, Walmart, and other online retailers.
Details of the Recall
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall on December 6, 2021. It was simultaneously and voluntarily announced by the manufacturer, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare. The recall covers approximately 496,000 units that have been sold in the United States, another 68,000 that were sold in Canada, and a small number sold in Mexico. It specifically involves these models:
- Model 15064 “Bed Assist Handle”
- Model 15062 “Bed Assist Rail with Folding Board”
- Model RTL15073 “Home Bed Assist Handle”
- Model RTL15063-ADJ “Home Bed Assist Handle”
Those who have purchased the devices are urged to stop using them immediately — they can contact Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare for a refund (the units were priced from $30 to $80).
Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare is a dba (“doing business as”) of Medical Depot, Inc., a medical device manufacturer based in New York. In addition to portable bed rails, the company manufactures and sells other durable medical equipment such as beds, wheelchairs, rehabilitation, patient room, personal care, respiratory equipment, and electrotherapy devices.
Any other incidents involving these bed rails can also be reported at SaferProducts.gov.
Injury Cases from Defective Bed Rails and Similar Equipment
When injuries occur due to defective medical equipment such as these defective bed rails, those who have been injured – or their families in tragic fatality cases such as these – may be able to recover compensation for their losses. Claims and lawsuits based upon defective medical devices and other defective products can differ substantially from other types of personal injury cases.
Very often, multiple large companies may be involved as potential or actual defendants in these claims, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and installers of the equipment. With medical equipment, facilities such as the hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities who are using the equipment may also be potential defendants. Theories of liability for defective equipment such as this often involve both negligence claims and issues of strict liability, especially if the equipment was defective as designed.
View this video reporting on the potential dangers of both fixed and portable bed rails:
Sacramento Defective Medical Device Lawyer
Hello, my name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Defective Medical Device Lawyer in Sacramento. As our population ages, more and more people will come to rely upon assistive medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, and shower chairs. Unfortunately, some of these devices – such as these defective bed rails – may prove to be dangers themselves. If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in an incident involving a defective medical device, please give us a call at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. You can also contact us by using our online contact form.
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