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Health Care

With Every Breath

Millions of Breathing Machines. One Dangerous Defect

Philips Respironics received thousands of complaints about a dangerous defect in its breathing machines but kept them secret for years as stock prices soared. The devices, including the popular DreamStation for sleep apnea, went to children, the elderly and veterans before the global giant announced a massive recall.

Impact of Our Reporting
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With Every Breath

After CPAP Recall, Philips Must Institute New Safeguards in Agreement With U.S. Justice Department

The settlement comes nearly three years after the company acknowledged that an industrial foam fitted inside its machines could degrade and release toxic substances into the masks worn by patients.

by Michael Korsh and Evan Robinson-Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

With Every Breath

Amid Recall Crisis, Philips Agrees to Stop Selling Sleep Apnea Machines in the United States

The breathing machine manufacturer has faced relentless criticism over its handling of the 2021 recall of millions of devices. Philips must meet the requirements outlined in an agreement with the Justice Department before it can resume sales.

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, and Michael D. Sallah, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

With Every Breath

Congressional Watchdog Will Launch Inquiry Into FDA Oversight of Medical Device Recalls

Sens. Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the regulatory agency, citing ProPublica and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on the 2021 recall of Philips breathing machines.

by Haajrah Gilani, Emma McNamee, Phillip Powell and Juliann Ventura, Northwestern University; and Jonathan D. Salant, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

With Every Breath

“Unacceptable”: Senators Call on GAO to Probe FDA’s Oversight of Medical Devices, Citing Series on Philips CPAP Recall

Sens. Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter noting how the agency missed opportunities to protect the public from faulty medical devices, citing reporting by ProPublica and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

by Jonathan D. Salant, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica; and Michael D. Sallah, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

With Every Breath

U.S. Senator Expands Call for Crackdown on Philips Respironics

Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s letter to two federal agencies comes after a ProPublica and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found Philips kept secret thousands of warnings about its tainted breathing machines.

by Jonathan D. Salant, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

With Every Breath

Senator Calls for DOJ Action Against Philips for Keeping CPAP Machine Complaints Secret

The FDA also said it is “unsatisfied” with the company’s response to the crisis. Share prices dropped in early trading.

by Jonathan D. Salant and Michael D. Sallah, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Haajrah Gilani, Medill Investigative Lab; and Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica,

Philips Agrees to Pay $1 Billion to Patients Who Say They Were Injured by Breathing Machines

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica; Michael D. Sallah, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and Julian Andreone, Medill Investigative Lab,

FDA Repeatedly Rejected Safety Claims Made by Philips After the CPAP Recall but Waited to Alert the Public, Emails Show

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, and Michael D. Sallah and Michael Korsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

How Patients and Doctors Are Navigating the Fallout of the Massive Recall of Philips Breathing Machines

by Liz Moughon,

Philips Recalled Breathing Machines in 2021. Chemicals of “Concern” Found in Replacement Machines Raised New Alarm.

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica; Michael D. Sallah and Evan Robinson-Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and Margaret Fleming, Medill Investigative Lab,

“With Every Breath” Captures the Human Toll of Philips’ Failure to Disclose Dangerous Defects of Its CPAP Devices

by Liz Moughon,

Millions of People Used Tainted Breathing Machines. The FDA Failed to Use Its Power to Protect Them.

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, and Michael D. Sallah and Michael Korsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

People Who Used Recalled Philips Breathing Machines Face Painful Choices

by Margaret Fleming, Monica Sager, Nicole Tan, Susanti Sarkar, Evan Robinson-Johnson and Claire Gardner, Medill Investigative Lab; Photography by Liz Moughon, ProPublica,

Top Philips Executive Approved Sale of Defective Breathing Machines by Distributors, Despite Tests Showing Health Risks

by Michael D. Sallah and Mike Wereschagin, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

ProPublica and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Have Sued the FDA for Records Related to Recalled Breathing Machines

by Molly Burke, Medill Investigative Lab,

What You Need to Know About the Philips Respironics CPAP Recall

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, and Michael D. Sallah, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

We Spent a Year Investigating the Philips CPAP Recall. Here’s How We Did It.

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica; Michael D. Sallah, Michael Korsh and Evan Robinson-Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Help ProPublica and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Investigate the Recall of Philips Respironics Breathing Machines

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, and Michael D. Sallah, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Philips Kept Complaints About Dangerous Breathing Machines Secret While Company Profits Soared

by Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica; Michael D. Sallah, Michael Korsh and Evan Robinson-Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and Monica Sager, Northwestern University,