J&J Issues Worldwide Recall of Power Morcellators Due to Cancer Risk
J&J and other makers of power morcellators face lawsuits filed on behalf of women diagnosed with cancer after morcellation surgery.
Medical device maker Johnson & Johnson announced on July 30, 2014, its decision to recall all power morcellators used in hysterectomies and uterine fibroid surgeries, pending new information on the potential risk of cancer associated with the surgical devices. The decision came just a few months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its first warning about the alleged morcellation cancer risk, in which the agency advised doctors to avoid using power morcellators during surgery for uterine fibroid removal, to avoid a potential risk of spreading cancerous tissue. If you have been diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (LMS) uterine sarcoma or another type of cancer after undergoing surgery with power morcellation, contact an experienced morcellation cancer lawyer today for legal help.
Morcellation Surgery Linked to Cancer
Morcellators are electric-powered medical devices used to cut up large tissues during hysterectomies and uterine fibroid surgery so they may be removed through smaller incisions, thereby reducing recovery time and limiting the risk of surgical complications. The devices have made it possible for thousands of women to undergo laparoscopic, or minimally-invasive, surgical procedures to remove the entire uterus or to have problematic uterine fibroids removed. However, a number of studies have raised serious concerns about the safety of power morcellators, indicating that the devices may result in undetected cancerous tissues being spread throughout the body during surgery, resulting in a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) uterine sarcoma or other types of deadly cancers.
FDA Warns of Morcellation Cancer Risk
According to the FDA, roughly one in 350 women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy (uterine fibroid removal) procedures will have an unsuspected sarcoma, which is a type of uterine cancer. “If laparoscopic power morcellation is performed in women with unsuspected sarcoma, there is a risk that the procedure will spread cancerous tissue within the abdomen and pelvis, significantly worsening the patient’s likelihood of long-term survival,” the FDA stated in its recent warning. Although Johnson & Johnson has already removed its power morcellator from the market, there are a number of other morcellation devices that remain available for use, including Blue Endo’s MoreSolution Tissue Morcellator and Karl Storz’s Rotocut G1 Morcellator.
A Skilled Morcellation Cancer Lawyer Can Help
A number of women who underwent surgery with a power morcellator and were then diagnosed with cancer are pursuing lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other morcellator manufacturers, alleging that they designed defective products and failed to warn consumers about the cancer risks associated with the devices. If you believe you have been adversely affected by cancer resulting from morcellation surgery, our consumer advocates at the Leading Justice can help. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by dangerous medical devices, and can help put you in touch with a qualified attorney who has experience handling morcellation cancer cases. With a knowledgeable attorney on your side, you can protect your legal rights and pursue the financial compensation you deserve.