Preview Newsletter
Morcellation Media Monitoring 06/06/2016
-
Lawsuit: Power Morcellation Spread Dangerous Tissue
Jun 2, 2016 | Top Class Actions
By Joanna Szabo
An Alabama woman recently filed a power morcellation lawsuit against Ethicon, alleging that the device used during a hysterectomy led to severe complications. -
Will Other Power Morcellator Makers Move To Settle Lawsuits?
Jun 3, 2016 | Righting Injustice
By Jennifer Walker-Journey
Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon, maker of about three quarters of the power morcellators on the market, has made efforts to settle almost all of the lawsuits alleging its device caused the spread of undetected uterine cancer. The company hasn’t said why it’s taken such swift measures to resolve the lawsuits, but manufacturers of other power morcellators are sure to take note.
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Morcellation
Full Text of Stories Below
-
Lawsuit: Power Morcellation Spread Dangerous Tissue
Jun 2, 2016 | Top Class Actions
By Joanna Szabo
An Alabama woman recently filed a power morcellation lawsuit against Ethicon, alleging that the device used during a hysterectomy led to severe complications.
According to the power morcellation lawsuit, Shannon W. underwent a hysterectomy on October 21, 2010 that used power morcellation.
The power morcellation device was manufactured by Ethicon and was used during her hysterectomy to remove tissue.
However, according to the lawsuit, the power morcellator used on the Shannon spread potentially dangerous tissue through the her body.
After her surgery, the lawsuit claims, Shannon began experiencing severe pelvic pain, as well as bleeding after intercourse. Through an ultrasound, a hemorrhagic cyst was discovered that may have indicated cancer.
On November 17, 2011, Shannon W. underwent surgery that removed a substantial tumor.
The power morcellation lawsuit alleges that it is because of the power morcellator device used during Shannon’s hysterectomy that dangerous tissue was spread throughout her body. This caused the need for the additional surgery, as well as pain and suffering.
Had the power morcellator not been used and an alternative method used instead, the lawsuit claims that these consequences and risks could have been avoided.
What is a Power Morcellator?
Laparoscopic power morcellators are medical devices that surgeons use to break up uterine fibroids during fibroid surgery. They are somewhat similar to a small drill, and its small blade rapidly rotates through an incision to break up fibroid tissues.
The tool makes extremely small incisions and is therefore considered a less invasive procedure than some alternatives.
Power Morcellator Side Effects
Power morcellator devices have been in use since they were approved by the FDA in 1991. However, they have been losing popularity in recent years as reports of serious complications have increased.
A power morcellator device is used to perform minimally invasive surgeries to cut up uterine fibroids to remove more easily. But patients who have gone through power morcellation surgery have complained that these devices, in cutting up and spreading fibroids, may put patients at a risk for more rapid growth of ovarian cancer.
Hysterectomies and myomectomies commonly use power morcellator devices to remove fibroids. If the uterus or uterine fibroids contain some form of cancer, the power morcellator can actually spread cancer cells throughout the body as it spreads tissue.
The FDA reports that around 1 in 350 women who undergo power morcellation surgery have undetected uterine cancer that, through surgery, can be spread to other parts of the body. This can speed up the spread of cancer, thereby increasing the overall risk to the patient.
Power Morcellation Lawsuits
A growing number of injured patients are filing power morcellation lawsuits. These lawsuits allege that patients were diagnosed with ovarian cancer or other cancers after undergoing power morcellation surgery.
Had plaintiffs been adequately warned about the risks linked with power morcellation, lawsuits claim, they would have chosen a safer alternative.
If you or someone you love has undergone power morcellation surgery and has since been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or another kind of cancer, you may be able to join litigation.
The Power Morcellation Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-00264-MHT-TFM, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern Division of the Middle District of Alabama.
-
Will Other Power Morcellator Makers Move To Settle Lawsuits?
Jun 3, 2016 | Righting Injustice
By Jennifer Walker-Journey
Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon, maker of about three quarters of the power morcellators on the market, has made efforts to settle almost all of thelawsuits alleging its device caused the spread of undetected uterine cancer. The company hasn’t said why it’s taken such swift measures to resolve the lawsuits, but manufacturers of other power morcellators are sure to take note.
Power morcellators are surgical tools used for laparoscopic hysterectomies and myomectomies (uterine fibroid removals). The tools are fitted with a long, tube-like blade that shreds entire uteruses or uterine growths within the body and removes them through a small incision in the abdomen. Power morcellators offer patients less scarring and shorter recovery than traditional open surgery.
In 2014, the FDA warned that 1 in 350 have undetected uterine cancer, and power morcellation could cause the spread of cancer, worsening the odds of survival. On the heels of the agency’s black box warning, Johnson & Johnson announced it was discontinuing sales of all its power morcellators. It is also the first company to move toward settling lawsuits alleging failure to warn.
Last year, the FBI launched an investigation into what Johnson & Johnson knew about the risks of power morcellators before recalling its device. Some speculate this may have influenced the company’s decision to settle the mounting lawsuits against it. The question remains, will other power morcellator makers follow suit?
Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon
-Gynecare Morcellex
-Gynecare X Tract
-Morcellex Sigma
-Diva by FemRx.
Lumenis Ltd
-VersaCut+Tissue Morcellator
Olympus
-PKS PlasmaSORD
-VarioCarve Morcellator
Karl Storz Gmb
-HKSE Steiner Electromechanic Morcellator
Richard Wolf GmbH
-Morce Power Plus
Cook Urological Inc.
-Cook Tissue MorcellatorSmith & Nephew
-TRUCLEAR Morcellation System
LiNA Medical
-Xcise
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Morcellation
Full Text of Stories Below
Add recipients
Suggested