A court recently ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a total of $127 million to women who developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s brand of talcum powder. In two separate talcum powder cancer lawsuits, juries handed down verdicts finding that the company failed to warn women of the risks of using talcum powder for feminine hygiene. This may be just the beginning for Johnson & Johnson, as more women are pursuing lawsuits claiming that they should have been informed of the risks associated with the product.
The lawsuits reference numerous studies going back as far as 1971 linking talc particles and ovarian tumors. There have been about 20 epidemiological studies that have demonstrated an increased rate of ovarian cancer in women using talc based products for feminine hygiene; most recently, this increase was reported at 33 percent.
Johnson & Johnson Knew of the Potential Risks
Furthermore, Johnson & Johnson appears to have been well informed about the potential hazards of using talc in feminine hygiene products. One of the lawsuits referenced a 1982 study by gynecologist Dr. Daniel Cramer who shared his findings directly with the company, advising them to put a warning on their talcum powder so that women understand the risk. Johnson & Johnson ignored this advice and instead increased the marketing of their Baby and Shower to Shower products, directing much of their advertising toward African American and Hispanic women.
Ovarian cancer is comparatively rare, comprising about three percent of cancer cases among women. It is a deadly form of cancer, however, and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, higher than any other cancer affecting the female reproductive system. The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,280 women, or about one in 70, will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. Recent studies suggest that the odds are closer to one in 50 for women who use talc based products regularly.
Philadelphia Medical Product Liability Lawyers at Shein Law Represent Ovarian Cancer Victims
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder, call the Philadelphia medical product liability lawyers at Shein Law. Our knowledgeable, dedicated legal team will thoroughly review the facts of your case and prepare an aggressive legal strategy to get you the compensation to which you are entitled. With offices conveniently located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call us today at 1-877-SHEINLAW (743-4652) or contact us online for a confidential discussion with a qualified medical product liability lawyer.