Power Morcellator Lawsuit Alleges Tool Caused Fatal Uterine Cancer Diagnosis For Woman

December 31, 2015 – – Banville Law reports on another lawsuit filed against power morcellator manufacturer Ethicon, (a subdivision of Johnson & Johnson). The suit was filed on behalf of a deceased woman by her family. Their complaint alleges that the woman’s death was ultimately caused by the use of a laparoscopic power morcellator during her hysterectomy, which exposed, spread, and advanced previously hidden cancer cells.

Details of this lawsuit explain that the woman underwent her hysterectomy in order to remove uterine fibroids that had become painful. During this procedure, in order to perform a less-invasive surgery, surgeons used an Ethicon-brand power morcellator tool. The device was inserted into the woman’s lower abdomen where it works by rapidly spinning small blades which shred the fibroid tissue. These shredded pieces of tissue are later able to be removed from the body through the incision.

As this woman’s family alleges, and as many other plaintiffs claim, as the morcellator does this, it can expose previously undetected cancer cells and its motion can disseminate these cells throughout the body. This accelerates the cancer, advancing its grade and significantly impairing its treatability. Often, these cancers continue to grow despite treatment and become fatal.

In this particular case, the woman passed away from aggressive and widespread cancer less than two years after undergoing power morcellation. She was ultimately diagnosed with metastatic uterine cancer which, despite many attempts at various treatments, only continued to spread and grow. The family alleges that had the woman’s cancer not been spread by the power morcellator tool, it may have been contained and able to be treated more successfully. Cancer cells that are encapsulated within a uterine fibroid are virtually impossible to detect prior to surgery.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety warning which discussed power morcellation during gynecological surgery. They informed women that they should refrain from undergoing this procedure on uterine fibroids because of the risk of spreading hidden cancer cells. Additionally, they estimated that around 1 out of every 350 women who undergo power morcellation for hysterectomies and myomectomies may have uterine cancer cells they are unaware of.

As power morcellation lawsuits continue to mount, all suits against Ethicon brand morcellators have been consolidated to form multidistrict litigation number 2652 by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. They are being overseen by the Honorable Judge Kathryn H. Vratil in the U.S. District of Kansas. Ethicon morcellators have since been recalled, and the company is no longer producing them, however, many other manufacturers continue to make and market the tool.

The attorneys at Banville Law are dedicated to ensuring that everyone who has undergone power morcellation and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer will have the opportunity to explore all of their legal rights. These individuals and their families may be entitled to legal action and significant compensation. Banville Law is currently offering these individuals free legal consultations.

To request additional information on power morcellator lawsuits, or to ask questions, please contact Banville Law by calling (888) 997-3792.

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Contact Banville Law:

Laurence Banville, Esq.
888-997-3792
info@banvillelaw.com
165 West End Avenue, #1H
New York, NY 10023
United States (US)

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