Philips CPAP Recall FAQ: Your Most Important Questions Answered

Philips Respironics recalled 15+ million CPAP, BiPAP, and mechanical ventilator devices in June 2021 because the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam inside the devices was degrading — releasing black particles and toxic chemical gases (including formaldehyde and diethylene glycol) directly into the air pathway. Users were breathing these particles and carcinogenic compounds nightly for months or years.

Recalled devices include: DreamStation CPAP and BiPAP, DreamStation Go, DreamStation 2 (some versions), SystemOne CPAP, A-Series BiPAP, C-Series BiPAP, Dorma 400 and 500, REMstar series, and Trilogy 100/200 ventilators, among others. Over 15 million devices worldwide were affected. See our complete list at /affected-devices/.

Track 1 — Economic Loss ($445M, approved September 2023): For anyone who owned a recalled device. Covers the diminished value of your device and related economic losses. You do NOT need health problems to qualify. Track 2 — Personal Injury ($1.1B, announced April 2024): For users who developed health conditions including cancer or respiratory damage from foam exposure. Health documentation required.

Potentially yes. The two tracks cover different types of harm — owning a defective product (economic) versus physical injury from using it (personal injury). These are legally distinct claims, and many users qualify for both. Filing for one does not waive your rights to the other.

Yes. The Economic Loss settlement is specifically for device owners, regardless of whether you experienced health problems. Your recalled device has diminished value — you paid for (or received as a benefit) a device that turned out to be defective and potentially dangerous. Economic loss claims do not require a health injury diagnosis.

Qualifying conditions in the personal injury settlement include: cancers (lung, kidney, liver, bladder, throat, nasal/sinus), respiratory damage including RADS and pulmonary fibrosis, COPD exacerbation, pneumonia, and other serious conditions with a documented connection to foam particle/gas exposure. Injury tier and severity affect potential compensation.

Yes, and it's real. Deadlines vary by state and claim type. Most states have a 2-3 year statute of limitations for product liability claims. Critically, the discovery rule means your clock may have started in June 2021 (when the recall was announced) — not when health problems first appeared. Some states (Tennessee, Kentucky) have 1-year deadlines. Check your state at /states/ and consult an attorney promptly.

No. Registering your device with Philips for the repair/replacement program is separate from your legal claims. Simply registering does not waive your rights unless you signed a specific legal release. Many people registered and still have valid claims. Consult an attorney to review any documents you may have signed.

You do not need to currently possess the device to file a claim. Documentation that establishes your device use can include: physician prescription records, insurance EOB/claims, DME supplier records, VA records, Philips registration confirmation, or other documentation. An attorney can advise on what records are available and sufficient.

We cannot promise any specific amount — and any attorney or website that does is misleading you. Compensation depends on the injury tier, strength of documentation, individual health circumstances, and the specific settlement terms. The personal injury settlement has tiered compensation based on the severity of documented health conditions. Economic loss claims involve different valuation. A free case evaluation will help you understand your specific situation.