Power Morcellator Cancer Lawsuits
Power morcellators are used to perform about 50,000 hysterectomy and myomectomy procedures every year. Surgeons use the devices to remove patients’ uteruses or uterine fibroids through small incisions, allowing for faster healing times than traditional surgeries. But studies have shown that morcellators can drastically accelerate the spread of cancer by dispersing slow-growing cancer cells throughout body tissues in the abdominal cavity.
If you or a loved one underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy or uterine fibroid surgery and developed uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS), abdominal cancer, or uterine cancer after the procedure, Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel wants to help. We’re a national law firm that’s been helping injured victims for more than 35 years, and we want to help you, too. Contact our defective medical device attorneys today—just dial (888) 485-8844 or complete a free online form to get the legal help you deserve.
Morcellator Hysterectomy Health Risks
Traditional hysterectomy surgeries require 3-to-7 inch incisions so surgeons to may remove uteruses intact. Power morcellators use blades that allow surgeons to cut and remove uteruses in pieces, which often makes the procedures less invasive.
But as morcellators slice tissue during surgeries, liquefied cancer tissue can be spread throughout a patient’s abdominal cavity. Women with undetected uterine sarcoma—a type of cancer that includes ULMS—may face significantly worse odds of long-term survival after morcellator surgeries. According to data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 1 in 350 women who undergo hysterectomies and myomectomies have an undetected uterine sarcoma.
FDA Response to Morcellator Cancer Risk
In April 2014, the FDA issued a safety communication discouraging the use of power morcellators during hysterectomy and myomectomy procedures. In addition, FDA officials recommended that doctors discuss cancer risks with patients prior to morcellator surgeries, even when specimen bags designed to contain uterine tissue from spreading to other parts of the body are used during procedures.
Johnson & Johnson Asks Hospitals to Return Morcellators
In April 2014, pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson, halted sales and marketing of its power morcellators to study cancer risks linked to the devices.
In July 2014, The New York Times reported that the company decided to withdraw three types of power morcellators from the market. Johnson & Johnson’s medical device unit, Ethicon, is now asking hospitals to return the following models:
- Gynecare Morcellex
- Gynecare X-Tract tissue morcellators
- Morcellex Sigma tissue morcellator system
Morcellator Lawsuit Help
At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, we’re not afraid to take on powerful medical manufacturer legal teams. It’s our job to protect your rights to the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. Don’t pay for a corporation’s negligence if you or a family member were diagnosed with uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) after a laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy procedure. Contact our attorneys today.
This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with The New York Times or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Cases may be referred to another attorney or law firm.