A Montana resident recently filed a Bair Hugger lawsuit against 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare, Inc., alleging that the medical device makers designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold defective Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming devices that resulted in severe and permanent personal injuries.

Plaintiff Peter R. underwent right hip replacement surgery in 2009, during which  the Bair Hugger device was used.

According to the Bair Hugger lawsuit, the use of the forced-air warming system introduced contaminants into Peter’s open surgical wound. These contaminants allegedly resulted in a Mycobacterium Goodii Infection, which led to Peter requiring multiple additional surgical procedures.

As Peter allegedly continues to suffer from permanent damages as a result of this infection, his Bair Hugger lawsuit not only claims that the defendants developed a defective product, but that they concealed and continue to conceal their knowledge of the dangerous risks associated with the Bair Hugger.

The defendants allegedly have been aware of the dangers of pathogenic contamination associated with their product since at least 2009, but have not warned of these dangers in response. Instead, the defendants actively and aggressively marketed the Bair Hugger as a safe tool to use during surgeries.

Ultimately, the Bair Hugger lawsuit alleges that the defendants had a duty to inform the public of their product’s risks, but failed to adequately warn the medical community, consumers, and the plaintiff about these risks.

Peter filed this Bair Hugger lawsuit asserting his injuries were directly caused by the defendants’ actions and inactions in relation to the creation and marketing of the Bair Hugger product, as well as their concealment of its risks and dangers. He hopes to regain some financial damages to help compensate for the financial, medical, and emotional damages he has suffered since his surgery.

Bair Hugger Lawsuits

Many more people may have been harmed by the Bair Hugger medical device during surgeries like Peter’s hip replacement surgery. More than 50,000 Bair Hugger units are currently in use across the United States.

Plaintiffs involved in Bair Hugger lawsuits across the country allege that the Bair Hugger, used to warm patients during surgery, actually exposes patients to contaminants in the room by blowing hot air on exposed surgical sites. The air currents sweep up and deposit bacteria from the floor, blowing them directly into the surgical site.

Many injured parties are coming forward with allegations that the Bair Hugger device caused serious infection and sometimes permanent injury during surgeries.

If you or someone you know has suffered from infection or injury after undergoing a surgery where a Bair Hugger was used, you may have cause to file a Bair Hugger lawsuit.

In general, Bair Hugger lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

The Bair Hugger Lawsuit is Case No. 0:15-cv-03338, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.