"Philips Concealed Thousands of Complaints on Dangerous Sleep Apnea Machines, Boosting Profits"

Philips Respironics, a major medical device company, kept complaints about dangerous foam in its breathing machines secret for over a decade while continuing to sell the devices. The foam used in the machines was found to crumble and release potentially toxic and carcinogenic particles into users' airways. Despite receiving thousands of complaints, Philips withheld the majority of them from the FDA and did not launch a formal investigation until 2019. The company continued to aggressively market and sell the machines, including to vulnerable populations such as infants, the elderly, and veterans. Users of the machines reported unexplained illnesses and newly diagnosed cancers. Philips finally issued a recall in June 2021, acknowledging the health risks.