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Why are Plaintiffs Calling the PowerPort Defective?
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Though the lawsuit only recently began, attorneys for injured patients claim the PowerPort may have contained design defects for decades. Since the 2000s, C.R. Bard has submitted thousands of adverse event reports documenting PowerPort injuries to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Some of the most commonly reported medical complications include catheter fractures, blood clots, and even life-threatening emergencies like pulmonary embolisms.
The PowerPort defect claim
According to many existing cases, a specific material used to make the PowerPort—known as ChronoFlex—may be prone to breaking. ChronoFlex is mostly made with a polymer called polyurethane, but it also contains the chemical compound barium sulfate, which experts believe could cause micro-cracks to form within the device.
When a port-a-cath device like the PowerPort cracks or fractures, it could cause a number of medical issues to occur. If the catheter cracks, bacteria can get trapped within the crevices and possibly lead to serious infections. If it fractures, then tiny fragments could break off into the bloodstream, which could potentially be fatal if they reach a vital organ or obstruct blood flow.
Which PowerPort models may be defective?
Any PowerPort device that has “PowerPort” in the name can be eligible for the lawsuit. However, PowerPort injuries have been most commonly associated with the following devices:
- PowerPort isp Implantable Port
- PowerPort ClearVUE Implantable Port
- PowerPort ClearVUE isp Implantable Port
- PowerPort M.R.I. Implantable Port
- PowerPort isp M.R.I. Implantable Port
- PowerPort ClearVUE Slim Implantable Port
- PowerPort Slim Implantable Port
Has the PowerPort been recalled?
Though the FDA has received thousands of MAUDE adverse event reports for the PowerPort since 2000, Bard has never recalled it for injuries or design defects. As of August 2026, Bard has voluntarily recalled about 5,600 PowerPort units, but solely for manufacturing and packaging errors.
Because of this, lawsuit participants claim C.R. Bard failed to warn doctors and patients about the PowerPort being potentially defective. Since the company has been continually forwarding adverse event reports to the FDA, it should have been aware of the risks PowerPort users faced. But yet, as plaintiff lawyers have stated, Bard still chose to not recall the PowerPort or add additional warnings to the label.
Join the Bard PowerPort lawsuit
If you or a family member were injured after receiving a PowerPort chemo port in 2013 or later, you may be eligible for a settlement.
Ready to file a claim ?
See if you qualify for the PowerPort lawsuit.
Referenced Articles
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2026, February 19). Manufacture and user facility device experience (MAUDE) database. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/search.cfm
- Becton, Dickinson and Company. (2023, August 8). Statement on transfer of Bard PowerPort™ Implantable Port cases to multidistrict litigation. https://www.bd.com/content/dam/bd-assets/na/peripheral-intervention/web-assets/us/documents/media_statement_port_mdl_final_20230808.pdf
View more sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020, March 26). Class 2 device recall Power Port implantable port (Recall no. Z-1570-2020). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=179655
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020, March 26). Class 2 device recall Power Port M.R.I implantable port (Recall no. Z-1571-2020). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=179747
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, May 10). Class 2 device recall PowerPort duo M.R.I. implantable port (Recall no. Z-1550-2021). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=186690
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, May 10). Class 2 device recall PowerPort duo M.R.I. implantable port (Recall no. Z-1551-2021). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRes/res.cfm?id=186691
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, May 10). Class 2 device recall PowerPort duo M.R.I. implantable port (Recall no. Z-1552-2021). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRES/res.cfm?id=186692
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019, July 25). Class 2 device recall Powerport ClearVUE Slim implantable port
(Recall no. Z-2080-2019). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfres/res.cfm?id=171729
About the PowerPort Lawsuit
Products at-risk
All models of the PowerPort Implantable Port.
Who's being sued?
C.R. Bard; Becton, Dickinson & Company
Which complications are eligible?
- Catheter fracture
- Infection/sepsis
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Blood Clots (Thrombosis)
