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Apple Watch class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Alex Morales filed a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc.
- Why: Morales alleges the Apple Watch is misrepresented as being able to accurately measure blood oxygen levels.
- Where: The Apple Watch class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
The Apple Watch fails to accurately measure the blood oxygen levels in people of color, according to a class action lawsuit filed Dec. 24 in New York federal court.
Plaintiff Alex Morales says he purchased an Apple Watch because he expected the device to accurately measure his blood oxygen levels without bias against darker skin tones.
The Apple Watch class action lawsuit notes that the device purports to measure the wearer’s blood oxygen level directly from their wrist.
The importance of blood oxygen levels gained widespread appreciation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as low blood oxygen levels are an indicator of health. Low blood oxygen levels are associated with a greater risk of complications in the body’s tissues and organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Apple Watch class action says inaccurate blood oxygen readings can result in people of color being less likely to receive care
The fingertip oximeter was invented in the 1970s, and provided an easier method of measuring blood oxygen levels than earlier devices. However, fingertip oximeters were less accurate when measuring the blood oxygen levels based on skin color, the Apple Watch class action lawsuit says.
“The ‘real world significance’ of this bias lay unaddressed until the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, which converged with a greater awareness of structural racism which exists in many aspects of society,” Morales alleges in the Apple Watch class action lawsuit.
Researchers reportedly concluded that “reliance on pulse oximetry to triage patients and adjust supplemental oxygen levels may place Black patients at increased risk for hypoxemia.”
Because health care recommendations are typically based on readings of patients’ blood oxygen levels, the Apple Watch class action says white patients are more likely to obtain care than people of color with equally low blood oxygenation.
“Though one recent study concluded the [Apple Watch] was able to detect reduced blood oxygen saturation in comparison to medical-grade pulse oximeters this fails to recognize the failings of pulse oximetry in general with respect to persons of color,” Morales says.
The Apple Watch class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of various state consumer fraud acts, breach of warranty, fraud, and unjust enrichment.
Apple was recently hit with a class action lawsuit alleging its Apple Watch SE smart watch is not swim-proof as advertised.
What do you think about the allegations of bias for Apple Watch blood oxygen measurement? Join the discussion in the comments!
Morales is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.
The Apple Watch blood oxygen measurement class action lawsuit is Alex Morales v. Apple Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-10872, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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11 thoughts onApple Watch class action alleges device fails to accurately detect blood oxygen levels in people of color
Add me my watch doesn’t read my oxygen