Medtronic is warning the public that, no, you shouldn’t buy intubation hardware you’ve found through social media, even if it seems like a really good deal.
The medtech giant reported that it has found posts on various online platforms looking to sell stolen medical hardware illegally—including more than 5,700 of its McGrath MAC video laryngoscopes, which had previously been designated for destruction.
The company said the pirated goods—which help visualize the inside of the trachea during the placement of an intubation tube—had failed to pass internal quality tests while they were being manufactured in Mexico, and were never cleared for sale, distribution or importation into the U.S.
“These affected products are defective and should not be used,” the company said in its notice, describing how the scopes could potentially harm patients through trauma or respiratory failure.
“Medtronic is working closely with regulatory authorities and law enforcement organizations to help ensure that unauthorized advertisements are being removed as identified, and actions to recover the stolen defective products are underway,” it added.
Medtronic listed more than 1,650 serial numbers to be on the lookout for, but said some products were never marked or may have had their identifiers removed. Additionally, the stolen products would not be shipped in their proper packaging.
The company urged healthcare providers to only purchase these products directly from Medtronic or through its authorized distributors.