What is the Bard PowerPort Lawsuit About?
The Bard PowerPort is an implantable port catheter device manufactured by Bard Access Systems, a subsidiary of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). The device is surgically placed under the skin and connected to a catheter threaded into a large vein near the heart. It’s used to administer long-term intravenous treatments, as well as blood transfusions, fluids, and contrast dyes for CT scans and other high-pressure imaging.
The lawsuits allege that the PowerPort’s catheter tubing, made from a polyurethane blend called Chronoflex AL mixed with barium sulfate, degrades and becomes brittle over time. This material failure makes the catheter prone to cracking and fracturing under normal physiological stress. When the catheter breaks, fragments can migrate through the bloodstream to the heart, lungs, or other organs. They cause life-threatening injuries that require emergency surgery.
A central issue in the litigation is that the PowerPort was cleared through the FDA’s 510(k) process in 1999. These allowed it to enter the market without clinical trials testing long-term safety or durability. Plaintiffs allege that Bard knew about the fracture risk and failed to adequately warn patients or physicians.
The FDA has received hundreds of adverse event reports documenting PowerPort complications, yet no recall has been issued for the catheter fracture defect at the center of the litigation (FDA MAUDE database; Drugwatch.com).
Injuries Often Linked to the Bard PowerPort
PowerPort injuries typically occur when the catheter fractures or the device migrates from its implanted position. Because the device connects directly to the vascular system near the heart, failures can be immediately dangerous. The injuries alleged in the litigation include:
Wrongful Death
In the most severe cases, PowerPort complications have been fatal. Wrongful death claims have been filed by surviving family members.
Device Migration
The catheter or fractured fragments travel through the vascular system to the heart, lungs, or other organs. Migration can cause vascular damage, organ perforation, or embolism.
Thrombosis and Blood Clots
Blood clots form around the catheter or at the insertion site, potentially leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, or stroke.
Infection and Sepsis
Bacterial contamination at the port site or through the catheter can cause bloodstream infections. Untreated infections can progress to sepsis or septic shock, which can be fatal.
Cardiac Puncture and Tamponade
Migrated catheter fragments can perforate the heart wall, causing cardiac tamponade — a life-threatening condition where fluid or blood fills the sac around the heart and prevents it from beating effectively.
Pulmonary Embolism
Catheter fragments or blood clots that travel to the lungs can block pulmonary arteries, causing sudden respiratory distress or death.
| Complication | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Catheter fracture | Chronoflex AL polyurethane degrades and cracks under physiological stress |
| Device migration | Fragments travel through bloodstream to heart, lungs, or organs |
| Thrombosis / DVT | Blood clots form around catheter or at insertion site |
| Infection / sepsis | Bacterial contamination through port site or catheter |
| Cardiac puncture / tamponade | Migrated fragments perforate heart wall |
| Pulmonary embolism | Fragments or clots block pulmonary arteries |
| Wrongful death | Fatal complications from any of the above |
If you or someone you love suffered serious complications after receiving a Bard PowerPort, you may be entitled to compensation. Our team is investigating claims nationwide and is ready to review your case at no cost. Contact us today to learn your legal options.
Who Qualifies to File a Bard PowerPort Claim?
Not every PowerPort complication results in a viable legal claim. The lawsuits focus on cases where a device defect, and not routine medical risk, caused the injury. Cases are strongest when the following factors are present:
Device Identification
You had a Bard PowerPort, BardPort, SlimPort, X-Port, or PowerPort with a Chronoflex polyurethane catheter implanted. Your medical records or surgical documentation should identify the specific device.
Documented Complication
You experienced catheter fracture, device migration, thrombosis, infection, cardiac puncture, pulmonary embolism, or another serious complication requiring medical intervention.
Medical Treatment Required
Claims typically involve complications that require hospitalization, revision surgery, emergency device removal, or ongoing medical treatment beyond routine port maintenance.
Timing
The PowerPort was implanted, and the complication occurred within the applicable statute of limitations for your state. Many states allow two to four years from the date of injury or discovery.
If you had a Bard PowerPort implanted and experienced serious complications, call for a free case evaluation. An attorney can review your medical records and determine whether your case qualifies for the MDL.
What Is the Current Status of Bard PowerPort Litigation?
All federal Bard PowerPort lawsuits are consolidated in MDL No. 3081 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Judge David G. Campbell is presiding. The MDL was established in August 2023. As of July 2026, approximately 3,376 cases are pending. This makes it one of the fastest-growing medical device MDLs in the country.
The first bellwether trial, Cook v. Becton Dickinson, began on April 21, 2026. This case involves an infection claim. Five additional bellwether trials are scheduled through early 2027, covering a range of injuries including catheter fracture, migration, and thrombosis. The outcomes of these trials are expected to significantly influence whether Bard moves toward global settlement negotiations.
No global settlement has been reached as of July 2026. Based on comparable medical device MDLs, attorneys have projected individual settlement values. These range from approximately $30,000 to $350,000 or more, depending on injury severity, medical costs, and supporting evidence. However, these projections are estimates only. Actual compensation will depend on the facts of each case.
Bard initiated a limited recall of 178 PowerPort devices in 2019 for an incorrect catheter tip (not for the fracture defect). A separate FDA Class II recall in 2020 addressed a brittle tip issue. Neither recall covers the Chronoflex material degradation at the center of the current litigation. The FDA continues to receive adverse event reports related to PowerPort complications.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?
The deadline to file a Bard PowerPort lawsuit depends on the state where you live and when your injury occurred or was discovered. Most states impose a statute of limitations of two to four years for product liability and personal injury claims.
The discovery rule is important in medical device cases. In many states, the statute of limitations does not begin at the date of implantation. Instead, it begins when you knew or should have known that the PowerPort caused your injury. This matters because many patients don’t immediately connect a complication to a device defect.
Waiting too long can eliminate your right to file. Medical records can be lost, and device evidence may be discarded after removal. Call to find out if your claim is still within the filing window.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?
Patients who were injured by a defective Bard PowerPort may seek compensation for the full range of harm caused by the device failure:
- Medical expenses. Past and future costs of hospitalization, revision surgery, device removal, emergency treatment, imaging, and ongoing medical care related to the PowerPort complication.
- Lost wages and earning capacity. Compensation for income lost during treatment and recovery, and for diminished earning capacity if injuries caused long-term disability.
- Pain and suffering. Non-economic damages for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life — particularly significant for cancer patients who were already managing serious illness.
- Loss of consortium. Damages for the impact on spousal and family relationships caused by the injuries.
- Wrongful death damages. When PowerPort complications are fatal, surviving family members may recover funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
Damage Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|
Medical expenses | Surgery, hospitalization, device removal, ongoing care |
Lost income | Wages lost during treatment + future earning capacity |
Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, diminished quality of life |
Loss of consortium | Impact on spousal and family relationships |
Wrongful death | Funeral costs, lost support, lost companionship |
Projected settlement values based on comparable medical device MDLs range from approximately $30,000 to $350,000 or more per claim. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bard PowerPort Lawsuits
Talk to a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit Attorney Today
More than 3,300 patients have filed federal lawsuits alleging that the Bard PowerPort’s defective design caused their catheters to fracture, migrate, and trigger life-threatening complications. Bellwether trials are underway in 2026, and the outcome of these cases will shape the future of this litigation.
If you had a Bard PowerPort implanted and experienced catheter fracture, migration, infection, blood clots, cardiac puncture, or other serious complications, you may be eligible to file a claim. Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys offers free, confidential case reviews with no upfront fees. You only pay if we recover compensation for you.
Call 866-582-7177 or fill out our free case evaluation form to find out if you qualify.
Related Mass Tort Cases
If you were harmed by a defective medical device or product, you may also want to learn about related litigation:
Copper IUD Lawsuit: Claims against manufacturers of the Paragard copper IUD alleging the device breaks during removal, causing retained fragments, organ perforation, and infertility.
Hernia Mesh Lawsuit: Claims against Bard and other manufacturers alleging defective hernia mesh products cause chronic pain, infection, organ perforation, and revision surgery.
Pressure Cooker Explosion Lawsuit: Claims against manufacturers of pressure cookers with defective safety mechanisms that cause severe burn injuries.