Pediatric hospital bassinets recalled for serious defects

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified medical care organizations and health care professionals about a Class 1 safety recall on certain models of perinatal pediatric hospital bassinets (Nemschoff Chairs Inc; Sheboygan, Wisconsin) because of defects that may put infants at risk.

Class 1 recalls are the most serious type of recall issued by the FDA for situations in which use of a product may cause adverse health consequences or death.

The bassinet consists of an acrylic tub with a mattress on top of a wheeled cart that contains drawers, shelving, or cabinetry, intended to transport infants within a facility. FDA cited issues with swivel caster wheels, door hinges, and drawer slides on the cart's frame, noting that the doors and drawers may open while the bassinet is in motion, making the cart's casters difficult to maneuver and potentially harming the infant or even causing death.