Johnson & Johnson has begun settling some power morcellator lawsuits where women alleged that they developed uterine cancer as a result of the medical device. The laparoscopic power morcellator was used during minimally invasive surgery to essentially blend up tissue into small pieces so that it can be removed through small incisions in the abdomen. The electrical device was used during hysterectomies and to remove uterine fibroid tumors.
The problem with power morcellators is that as the device blends up cancerous cells, it spreads them around the abdominal cavity, essentially seeding cancer throughout the pelvic cavity. As a result of the increased risk of spreading serious cancer cells, the FDA issued a warning and J&J pulled its devices off the market.
Power morcellator cancer lawsuits allege that J&J and Ethicon (a unit of J&J) knew that the devices were defective and were contributing to the spread of serious and potentially deadly cancer, but failed to warn doctors. One type of cancer, leiomyosarcoma, that is alleged to have been spread through out women’s pelvic cavities by the device, is particularly deadly and has a very poor survival rate.
Women who have developed uterine cancer or leiomyosarcoma following a laparoscopic procedure where a power morcellator was used should immediately reach out to an attorney who handles product liability cases involving medical devices. If family members have lost a loved one following such a procedure, they also have claims under wrongful death laws. Statutes of limitations operate to bar claims if they are not brought in a timely manner, so people harmed by the device should bring claims as soon as possible.
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