France Info says that French prosecutors are looking into the recall of Philips respirators.
PARIS – France Info reported on Thursday that the Paris Prosecutor’s Office has started a preliminary investigation into the Dutch company Philips’ recall of breathing devices.
The office of the prosecutor could not be reached right away for comment. A Philips spokesperson was not able to confirm or comment on the report right away.
Philips started a large recall of ventilators and sleep apnea machines around the world in 2021. This was because a foam part could break down and become toxic, which could cause cancer.
The company is about halfway through replacing about 5.5 million of the devices, mostly in the United States, where it is in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice about a settlement.
According to a report from France Info, there were 370,000 devices in France when they were recalled, but only a third of them have been replaced by Philips.
