A new Apple Watch lawsuit accuses the wearable device's blood oxygen sensor of bias.
(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California. Apple is holding their first special event at the new Apple Park campus where they are expected to unveil a new iPhone.
Complainants claim that this issue remained until the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If this is true, then the issue could put people of color at great health risks.
Because of this problem, Alex Morales, one of the plaintiffs, decided to file a class-action lawsuit against the iPhone maker.
New Apple Watch Lawsuit Claims Blood Oxygen Sensor
According to Apple Insider's latest report, Morales purchased an Apple Watch between 2020 and 2021.
(Photo : Photo credit should read PHILIPPE MERLE/AFP via Getty Images)
Different models of the Apple Watch are displayed in the Apple Store in Lyon, central-eastern France, on April 10, 2015. Tech fans got their first look on April 10 at the Apple Watch, with would-be early buyers queuing to pre-order them online. AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE MERLE
Also Read: Apple Watch to Help Diagnose Cardiac Dysfunction, Mayo Clinic AI Algorithm Under FDA Review
When he bought this wearable, Alex was aware of the integration of the pulse oximetry feature.
The complainant explained that some reports already revealed that this blood oxygen sensor is less accurate based on skin color.
"The 'real world significance' of this bias lay unaddressed until the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic," explained the plaintiff via Fox Business.
The latest class-action lawsuit claims that evidence was already confirmed by many researchers, saying there's a clinical significance of racial bias of the pulse oximetry features based on patient records taken before and after the pandemic.
The Danger of Biased Pulse Oximetry
If what the new class-action lawsuit claims are true, then many people could be endangered if they rely on Apple Watch's pulse oximetry features.
Experts said that relying on the wearable's inefficient blood oxygen sensor to adjust supplemental oxygen levels could put people of color patients at risk for hypoxemia.
Aside from the biased sensor, the new lawsuit also alleges Apple of breaching express warranty, as well as having fraudulent acts and unjust enrichment.
Plaintiffs also claim that the Apple Watch violates the New York General Business and State Consumer Fraud Acts.
You can visit this link to learn more about the new class-action lawsuit against Apple's smartwatch.
Aside from its blood oxygen sensor tech, the Apple Watch is also facing other issues.
These include the Crash Detection feature flaws and the incorrect usage of the ovulation tracking function.
For more news updates about Apple Watch and other wearables, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
Related Article: Apple Watch's Built-In GPS is Confirmed! You No Longer Need Your iPhone; Included Models and MORE
