Women in different parts of the United States are filing power morcellator lawsuits against different manufacturers of these products. Power morcellators are commonly used in procedures such as hysterectomies and uterine fibroid surgeries. The problem allegedly being caused by these products is that they are causing cancer cells that are otherwise contained in the uterus to spread to other parts of the body. Several hospitals around the country have stopped using these devices until a full risk assessment can be completed. Many experts expect these hysterectomy cancer lawsuits to continue to grow in number.
Companies that have already been named in these power morcellator lawsuits include Ethicon, Inc., which is a unit within the corporate umbrella of Johnson & Johnson and Karl Storz Endoscopy-America. Procedures that make use of power morcellators are supposed to minimize the invasiveness of these surgeries and thereby reduce recovery time for patients. Instead, women are alleging that they are encountering much more severe health problems as a result of their use. Allegations in these hysterectomy cancer lawsuits include the spread of cancerous cells to the abdomens and pelvic areas of patients.
What Is a Power Morcellator?
Power morcellators are medical devices used in surgeries performed on the uterus. Instead of making a large incision on a patient as was commonly done, these devices approach the removal of problem areas differently. The power morcellator instead cuts the tissue/target area into small pieces. When these problematic pieces are separated, they are removed through a very small incision in the surgical area. The theory is much like that which has prompted other laparoscopic surgeries in that smaller incisions reduce pain and the potential for infections and bleeding.
Power morcellators have been used in medical facilities across the United States, and they have been used in surgeries that include:
• Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy
• Robotic hysterectomy
• Laparoscopic myomectomy
Unfortunately, the spread of cancerous cells from the uterus and into the abdominal or pelvic area can seriously harm a patient’s long-term survival chances.
Power Morcellator Cancer Concerns and the FDA
In April of 2014, the FDA issued a public warning regarding the use of these devices. The FDA stated that 1 in 350 women who undergo these procedures is found to have unsuspected cancer cells in the uterus. The FDA also stated that it will convene what is known as an advisory panel later this year. This panel will look specifically into the possibility that using a power morcellator can lead to a heightened risk of the spread of cancer.
Hysterectomy Cancer Concerns and Your Legal Rights
If you have undergone a hysterectomy or any other procedure using a power morcellator, you need to make sure that you were not harmed as a result. If you have been harmed, you need to seek help in order to hold the manufacturer accountable. If you find yourself in this position, contact the power morcellator lawyers at Parilman & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation. You can either email the firm or call 800-800-DRUG.
