Electric hospital beds made by Medline may pose a fire hazard after two people died and 16 others suffered serious injuries, the US Food and Drug Administration has warned.
The beds use built-in motors and remote controls to adjust patients’ positions. Medline said electrical components can overheat in certain circumstances, including when a motor or another part becomes jammed.
The company said overheating could lead to smoking, sparking, melting, burning or fire, increasing the risk of electric shock and burns.
Accessories used with the beds may also create risks of asphyxiation or entrapment, which can result in injury or death.
Medline has issued an urgent safety notice telling customers to stop using its branded beds and related products unless they have first been modified. Vendors have also been advised to halt sales of the beds, including bed rails, mattresses and bed kits.
The Illinois-based medical equipment supplier said it was ending production of homecare and long-term care beds and accessories, and would leave the market.
In a statement issued on October 24, Medline recommended modifications for customers who continued to use the products. A company spokesperson said the beds could remain in use in line with Medline’s instructions, adding that further information about affected products would be provided.
