U.S. federal marshals seize killer beds
{{date|March 23, 2005}}
[[Image:Food and Drug Administration logo.png|180px|right|Federal marshals seize killer beds on behalf of the FDA]]
On behalf of the [[w:FDA|FDA]], [[w:United States Marshals Service|U.S. Federal marshals]] have begun seizing beds which have killed at least seven patients out of about 30 who had become trapped by the products. Three versions of the bed were found to be "dangerous to health" by the FDA, with the specific danger of, "placing patients at an increased risk of entrapment and asphyxiation."

The model numbers of the faulty beds include the ''Vail 500, 1000, and 2000 Enclosed Bed Systems''. The beds are made by [[w:Toledo, Ohio|Toledo, Ohio]]-based Vail Products, Inc.

In a government press release, the FDA pointed out that Vail had failed to heed two previous warnings issued by the agency, asking the company to comply with regulations regarding proper labeling and usage directions. The FDA also said that Vail had failed to supply required documentation to the agency to comply with the ''Medical Device Reporting'' and ''Reports of Corrections and Removals'' regulations.

At the time this story was filed, the Vail web site made no mention of today's FDA announcement. Toledo's ''WTOL News 11'' reported that, "Company officials say their beds aren't dangerous if used properly." The Vail corporate web site claims that the beds allow, "the patient to move about freely within a safe, padded environment" and "control wandering."

The FDA is the U.S. agency responsible for regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2005/ANS01347.html
|title=FDA Asks U.S. Marshals to Seize Adulterated and Misbranded Hospital Bed Systems
|author=
|pub=U.S. Food and Drug Administration
|date=March 22, 2005 }}

*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/03/22/fda.beds.reut/
|title=FDA orders killer hospital beds to be seized
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=March 22, 2005 }}

*{{source|url=http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=3113529
|title=Federal Marshals Seize Products From Toledo Company
|author=AP, WTOL News 11 staff
|pub=WTOL News 11
|date=March 22, 2005 }}

*{{source|url=http://www.news-medical.net/?id=8639
|title=Some hospital beds pose a risk of suffocation
|author=Healthcare News
|pub=News-Medical.Net
|date=March 22, 2005 }}

== External links ==

* [http://www.vailbed.com Vail Enclosed Bed Systems]. ''Vail corporate web site''
** [http://www.vailbed.com/question01.htm Vail Enclosed Bed Systems FAQ]. ''It looks like a cage. Won't patients and families object?''
** [http://www.vailbed.com/message.htm An Important Message From Joy Vail Regarding Recent News Events].
  

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Federal marshals seize killer beds on behalf of the FDA
On behalf of the FDA, U.S. Federal marshals have begun seizing beds which have killed at least seven patients out of about 30 who had become trapped by the products. Three versions of the bed were found to be "dangerous to health" by the FDA, with the specific danger of, "placing patients at an increased risk of entrapment and asphyxiation."

The model numbers of the faulty beds include the Vail 500, 1000, and 2000 Enclosed Bed Systems. The beds are made by Toledo, Ohio-based Vail Products, Inc.

In a government press release, the FDA pointed out that Vail had failed to heed two previous warnings issued by the agency, asking the company to comply with regulations regarding proper labeling and usage directions. The FDA also said that Vail had failed to supply required documentation to the agency to comply with the Medical Device Reporting and Reports of Corrections and Removals regulations.

At the time this story was filed, the Vail web site made no mention of today's FDA announcement. Toledo's WTOL News 11 reported that, "Company officials say their beds aren't dangerous if used properly." The Vail corporate web site claims that the beds allow, "the patient to move about freely within a safe, padded environment" and "control wandering."

The FDA is the U.S. agency responsible for regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

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Crime and law United States Product recalls Published Food and Drug Administration Health Disasters and accidents North America