Infant Falls and Skull Fractures Trigger Recall of GE Baby Beds

On December 17, 2019, the FDA alerted the public that GE Healthcare initiated a recall of its Giraffe Incubator, Giraffe OmniBed, and their accompanying care stations in response to several reports of infants falling from the products and sustaining serious injuries. The expansive recall affects 22,691 units manufactured between April 2008 and September 2019.

The Giraffe products are frequently found in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) of hospitals, and allow for infants who are unable to maintain their own body temperature to be treated in temperature-controlled environments. In both Giraffe products, the panels (or portholes) can appear securely fastened when in fact they are unlatched. If the infant contacts the unlatched panels, the panels may fall open and fail to protect the infant from falling. Indeed, there have been six reports of infant falls linked to the Giraffe products, with injuries including skull fractures, hematoma, and edema.

This is not the first recall GE has initiated with respect to its Giraffe products. In March 2019, GE Healthcare recalled its Panda and Giraffe Infant Warmers after finding that the bedside panels and latch areas can crack or break if the units are moved by their panels as opposed to their handles. Prior to initiating the March 2019 recall, the firm had received at least 338 complaints related to the infant warmers, with two of such complaints involving infants falling from the warmers and fracturing their skulls.

If your infant child has suffered injuries following a fall from an incubator, bed, or infant warmer in the hospital setting, contact one of the experienced product liability attorneys at Burg Simpson’s Cincinnati office today. Burg Simpson’s award-winning medical device team possesses the knowledge and resources to investigate your potential claim, and fight for the compensation you and your child deserve. Call 513-852-5600 or fill out our contact form for a FREE no-obligation consultation today!