Bard PowerPort Lawsuits: What Chemo Port Patients Need to Know

A chemo port is a small medical device doctors implant under the skin in the chest, allowing patients to receive long-term chemotherapy during cancer treatment. Doctors can also use it to draw blood or deliver antibiotics without having to stick a needle in a patient each time.

Bard, a medical device company now owned by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), makes a widely used chemo port called the PowerPort. According to port catheter lawsuits, the material used to make the devices, called Chronoflex, can crack or break inside the body.

The FDA has received hundreds of reports of patients suffering Bard chemo port complications.

People who have filed lawsuits describe injuries that range from painful to life-threatening, including port catheter fractures, devices moving from their original implant site, serious infections and blood clots.

“Victims endure severe and persistent pain from serious injuries, complications and severe infections caused by using Bard PowerPort devices,” Brendan Smith, an attorney with the Simmons Hanly Conroy Law Firm, told Consumer Notice. “Plaintiffs allege the Bard PowerPort device has a flawed catheter component that leads to device fracture, migration and malfunction.”

Port Fractures and Broken Pieces

Port fractures occur when the catheter breaks. Pieces can travel through the bloodstream. In a study in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, researchers found that a chemical used in its Chronoflex chemo ports may make catheters more likely to break.

Device Migration

Device migration happens when a chemo port moves out of place. This may require emergency surgery to fix and pose health risks. Reports to the FDA describe cases where Bard’s PowerPorts migrated and caused complications.

Infections and Sepsis

Bacteria that collect in or around a failing port can lead to infections, including a serious blood infection called sepsis. Doctors often have to remove the chemo port. According to lawsuits, bacteria can accumulate in cracks in port catheters made with ChronoFlex, leading to infection.

Blood Clots

Clots can form around the catheter. Lawsuits allege this happens because material present in the bloodstream collects in small cracks and divots on the catheter, increasing the risk of blood clots. If these clots break off and go to the lungs, it becomes a medical emergency.

If you experience sudden chest pain, fever or shortness of breath, this could be a sign of a chemo port failure or a blood clot in your lungs. Call your doctor or go to the ER right away.

Lawsuits allege Bard knew or should have known the catheter material could crack and that they failed to warn patients and doctors. More than 2,800 people have filed lawsuits.

So far, Bard hasn’t recalled the PowerPort for the fracture issue, even though the FDA has received hundreds of reports of device problems.

Judges grouped these lawsuits together in federal court (MDL 3081) in Arizona to help the litigation process go more smoothly. People who file a Bard chemo port lawsuit can join the group of cases, no matter where they live in the U.S.

You may qualify to file a chemo port lawsuit if you meet the criteria for when your port was implanted, suffered specific injuries or had the port removed.

“Victims should prioritize seeking the necessary care and treatment from their medical professionals, which includes removing the catheter product,” Smith said. “Additionally, they should contact a law firm they trust to review their case and protect their rights.”

Lawyers are still accepting cases. If you aren’t sure if you qualify, a chemo port lawyer can help see if you are eligible. Deadlines to file a chemo port lawsuit vary by state. The sooner you act, the more legal options you’ll have.

Bard hasn’t announced any settlements for the fracture-related Bard PowerPort lawsuits. This is normal at this stage in the litigation. Settlement negotiations in large MDLs usually begin after bellwether verdicts give both sides a clearer picture of case value.

If juries side with the plaintiffs in the first bellwether trials, Bard could face pressure to settle the remaining cases. If Bard wins, they are more likely to keep fighting the cases in court instead of settling. The first trial begins April 21, 2026.

Individual case values could be higher or lower depending on the severity of the injury. For example, a port fracture case is more likely to cause serious injuries than an infection with a quick recovery. Medical costs and treatment required, lost income and whether the port was successfully removed also affect the case value.