Dialysis filters formerly made by Baxter International Inc., known as dialyzers, helped remove waste from the blood of patients with failed kidneys. On Monday, November 5, 2001 Baxter said that its recalled dialysis filters appear to have played a role in recent patient deaths being investigated in several countries. As a result, Baxter said, it had idled two production plants and decided to discontinue the products in question. Expecting numerous lawsuits from patients' families, Baxter has set aside $100–150 million for litigation and related expenses.

Baxter recalled the filters in mid-October 2001, and representatives said they believe that a chemical used in routine testing at the manufacturing plant in Ronneby, Sweden, may have played a role in many of the deaths. Baxter, based in Deerfield, Illinois, previously said it found nothing to indicate its products were at fault in the dialysis patients' deaths. The fluid, a chemical solution known as 5070, is used to test for leaks and somehow was not fully removed from all filters before being packaged and shipped and evidently entered patients' bloodstreams, officials indicated.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health authorities are investigating at least 51 deaths, including 23 in Croatia, 15 in Spain, seven in Taiwan, two in Colombia and two each in Texas and Nebraska. All victims were using Baxter dialyzers.