This May, a St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $55 million to a plaintiff who suffered from ovarian cancer after using the company’s Baby Powder products.
After using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder for feminine hygiene for nearly 40 years, the woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. While her cancer is currently in remission after a hysterectomy, she is not the first to allege that Baby Powder caused her cancer. Dozens of women have filed talcum powder lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson for failure to warn consumers of the risks in using its products, which contain talc.
Johnson & Johnson has stated it will appeal the case. The company believes talc is safe to use and the labeling on its Baby Powder products is appropriate.
Talcum Powder and Cancer Link
In 1997, a Johnson & Johnson medical consultant issued an internal memo stating that anyone who denies the danger of talc usage for feminine hygiene and ovarian cancer is contradicting evidence provided in various studies.
Various medical studies, extending back to the 1980s, associate talc usage with an increased ovarian cancer risk. Yet, experts assert that a direct link is a scientific dispute and challenging to prove, despite the reality that talc has been discovered in the tissues of women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
In February of this year, a St. Louis jury demanded Johnson & Johnson pay $72 million in damages to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer. She used the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower as feminine hygiene products for 35 years. Her family’s lawyers stated the company was aware of the risks, yet did not warn consumers.
If you or a loved one used talcum powder and have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, contact the reputable South Bend personal injury attorneys at Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak. We want to help you receive compensation for your injuries and will guide you through the legal process.
For a free case review, call (574) 444-0741 today.
