news hour
News from the NOS•today, 00:28
Hundreds of users of Philips freediving devices have gone to court, writes NRC. They want to force the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS) to release confidential documents on the controversial devices.
Personal injury lawyer Mark de Hek has been trying to get the documents from last year. “The more than six hundred users I assist, but also the other 85,000 users in the Netherlands, have a great interest in receiving these documents quickly. People are worried, anxious and have emotional problems. They want to know what’s wrong with the device. on which they depend and which is potentially life-threatening “.
There are a thousand documents, including research reports, risk analyzes and correspondence between Philips and the ministry.
Philips warned in June last year of problems with the devices. Users are still unsure about Philips’ ongoing investigation. They must provide a definitive answer on the safety of the foam that can cause health problems
such as asthma, inflammatory reactions and cancer. A worldwide recall will cost Philips nearly a billion euros. Some patients tell NRC they don’t have a new device yet.
“Sorry for the uncertainty”
The newspaper reported that there were already problems with foam in apnea devices in 2016, but it took five years for Philips to publish them. Patients want to know what the ministry knew about it. “A ministry that claims to defend public health and welfare should be more active in the fate of these people,” says De Hek. “It is sad that both Philips and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports have left these people in the cold for over a year by not releasing these documents.”
Philips makes no substantive statements on ongoing investigations, informs the company to the newspaper. However, he apologizes for the uncertainty that has arisen. “We are doing everything possible to provide a solution to all patients as quickly as possible.”
