A class action lawsuit has been filed against Homedics LLC and Walmart Inc., accusing the companies of selling home blood pressure monitors that allegedly provide inaccurate results. The suit was brought by plaintiffs Eric Doyle and Gabriel Contreras on behalf of all similarly affected consumers.
The complaint alleges that the Equate Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitors, sold by the defendants, consistently give inaccurate readings, potentially leading users to believe their blood pressure is higher than it actually is. According to the complaint, some users have reported discrepancies as high as 47 mmHg compared to professional medical equipment.
The lawsuit also references a study conducted by Northwestern researchers which allegedly found that the products were only accurate within a range of plus- or minus-5.1 mmHg for diastolic pressure. This allegedly significant inaccuracy allegedly was not disclosed at the point of sale.
The complaint claims the case highlights the potential dangers of relying on home medical devices for critical health measurements and allegedly raises questions about the responsibility of retailers and manufacturers in ensuring product accuracy.
The lawsuit was filed Dec. 27 in Los Angeles federal court.
The plaintiffs are represented in the action by attorney Alexander E. Wolf, of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC, of Beverly Hills.