Trials Starting Apr 2026·2,700+ people have filed

Had a PowerPort implanted for chemo? The device is fracturing inside people's bodies.

Cancer patients are dealing with a broken medical device on top of everything else they're going through.

vs. Becton Dickinson (BD)vs. C.R. Bard

The story

When you're diagnosed with cancer, you're already facing one of the hardest experiences of your life. Many cancer patients have a port catheter implanted under the skin of their chest — a small device that connects to a major vein, making it easier to receive chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and other IV treatments without repeated needle sticks. The Bard PowerPort was one of the most commonly used.

The problem is that these devices are failing at alarming rates. The catheter portion is fracturing inside patients' bodies, breaking into pieces that can migrate through the bloodstream to the heart, lungs, or other organs. Some patients develop dangerous blood clots.

Others get severe infections. Some need emergency surgery to retrieve broken catheter fragments from inside their hearts. For people already weakened by cancer treatment, these complications are especially dangerous — and sometimes fatal.

The lawsuits allege that Bard knew about the fracture risk, that the device's design was prone to failure, and that they failed to adequately warn patients or doctors.

“Cancer patients describe the horror of learning that a device meant to help deliver their treatment has broken apart inside their body, requiring additional surgeries while they're already immunocompromised from chemotherapy.”

Reports from affected people

Health problems linked to this

●Catheter fracture — the device breaks inside your body

●Catheter migration — fragments travel through your bloodstream

●Blood clots (thrombosis)

●Severe infection at the port site or in the bloodstream

●Damage to blood vessels or organs

●Emergency surgery to retrieve broken fragments

●Cardiac complications from migrated fragments

Who's affected

✓You had a Bard PowerPort catheter implanted

✓The device fractured, migrated, or caused serious complications

✓You needed medical intervention (surgery, hospitalization) because of device failure

Probably doesn't apply if

✕Port catheter from a different manufacturer

✕Normal port removal at the end of treatment without complications

What you'd need to file

1Medical records showing Bard PowerPort implantation

2Records documenting device failure and complications

3Surgical records if the device was removed or fragments retrieved

Timeline

2000s

PowerPort becomes widely used

Bard's PowerPort becomes one of the most commonly implanted port catheters for cancer patients.

2020s

Reports of failures mount

Growing numbers of patients report device fractures, migrations, and life-threatening complications.

2023

Lawsuits consolidated

Cases combined into a federal proceeding in Arizona.

2025

Over 2,500 cases pending

Litigation nearly triples in a year as more patients come forward with similar device failure stories.

Apr 2026

First bellwether trials

Six test trials scheduled through February 2027, starting April 2026.

People are asking

I currently have a PowerPort. Should I have it removed?

Don't panic — talk to your oncologist. Not every PowerPort will fail, and removing it prematurely could interrupt your treatment. Your doctor can monitor it and decide the best course of action.

How do I know if my port is a Bard PowerPort?

Check your surgical records from when the port was implanted. The device model should be listed. You can also ask your oncologist or surgeon's office.

My port was removed normally after treatment. Do I have a case?

The lawsuits focus on device failures — fractures, migrations, and complications. A routine removal at the end of treatment, without complications, typically would not qualify.

Named products & brands

Bard PowerPortBard PowerPort SlimBard PowerPort M.R.I.

Could this affect you?

Quick check · 30 seconds

1.Did you have a Bard PowerPort catheter implanted?

2.Did the device fracture, migrate, cause blood clots, or lead to other serious problems?

3.Did you need surgery or hospitalization because of the device failure?

Not legal advice. Informal screening only.

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Heads up: This is not legal advice. We're not lawyers. This is educational info to help you understand what's going on. Talk to an actual attorney about your situation.