Worldwide Recall Launched as Surgical Device is Linked to Uterine Cancer
Sep 18, 2014
Waxahachie, TX (Law Firm Newswire) September 18, 2014 – Johnson and Johnson has issued a global recall as evidence mounts that a commonly used surgical device can accelerate the spread of uterine cancer.
The recalled device is a laparoscopic surgical instrument known as a power morcellator, frequently used for minimally-invasive hysterectomies and for the removal of uterine fibroids. The morcellator grinds tissue into smaller pieces for later vacuuming, according to Medical Daily.
New research published in major medical journals suggests that if the tissue being treated contains cancerous or precancerous cells, the device can spread those cells across a wide area and hasten cancer development.
“Although the company may not have acted maliciously, it seems that Johnson and Johnson indeed produced, marketed and profited from a device capable of aggravating a serious and often-fatal illness,” said John Hale, a Texas attorney who has represented a number of defective medical device claims. “The company has done the right thing in recalling the device. Now, attention should turn to the victims whose lives have been damaged or taken.”
According to Medical Daily, use of the device was initially stopped this spring after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the increased cancer risk. The FDA’s warning suggests that all power morcellation devices are capable of causing the increased cancer risk, but, according to Medical Daily, the Johnson and Johnson device represents 72 percent of the market.
Data from the new research suggests that age is a significant risk factor for undetected uterine cancer. As a result, women over 50, and especially women over 65, are statistically more likely to be negatively affected by the use of this device.
Learn more at http://www.hale911.com/
The Hale Law Firm
100 Executive Court, Suite 3
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Call: 888.425.3911
- Texas Named Among the 10 Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians
A new report on fatalities from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that Texas is one of the most dangerous states for pedestrians. In 2012, the rate of pedestrian fatalities in Texas was 1.83 per 100,000 population — meaning that nearly two out of every 100,000 Texans were struck and killed by a motor vehicle in 2012. This figure makes Texas the 10th most dangerous state for pedestrians. Experts agree that infrastructure is a key element in pedestrian safety, and the American Society of Civil Engineers claims that in 2012, nearly 40 percent of Texas roadways were […] - Care Needed: Texas Hospital Safety Fluctuates Dramatically by Institution
Preventable medical complications acquired at the hospital have become all too familiar in American life. In Texas, the truth about complications is, well, even more complicated. In Maine, a high-performing state, most hospitals – more than 70 percent – perform at the highest levels of safety. But in Texas, only 28 percent of hospitals perform that well, according to a national panel of hospital safety experts. A major new study from the Dallas Morning News confirms that in Texas, preventable complication rates vary widely from individual hospital to hospital. The Texas Patient Safety Check revealed Dallas Regional Medical Center to […] - Troubling News Emerges from 2013?s West Fertilizer Plant Explosion
Although it has been over a year since the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company killed 15, new reports on the tragedy are still surfacing. In the first official public health report, county officials have indicated that injuries were more severe than previously known. The report also suggests that many injuries may have been missed in the initial chaos following the explosion. This new report, issued by the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, finds that more than one in five of those injured by the explosion experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion. The report also states “some injuries, particularly […] - Studies Show Plastic Gas Cans Pose Risk of Explosion
They are as ubiquitous in American garages and gas stations as automobiles. Unfortunately, they may also be, in at least one respect, just as susceptible to unfortunate accidents. Scientists say that the common plastic gas can sold throughout the United States carries the potential for fiery explosion — and most Americans are probably unaware that the portable vessels could even pose such a hazard. In tests conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), scientists found that, under certain circumstances, gas vapor blends can ignite within portable cans and cause significant injury to those in the vicinity of the […] - At Some Texas Schools, Student Athletes Lack Crucial Catastrophic Care Insurance
High school sports, especially football, are a hallowed tradition in Texas. School districts in the state regularly set aside significant portions of their budgets for athletic programs. Government purse strings may be loose for the sports programs themselves, but spending on medical insurance for student athletes is checkered at best in some of Texas’ metropolitan regions. The risk of injury, including catastrophic injury, always hangs over high school sports events, particularly the rougher contact sports (including football). Many school districts provide catastrophic care insurance for students who experience serious accidents or illnesses while competing in school-sponsored sports. Policies typically carry […]
