A recent study exhibits an association between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer in females.
Johnson & Johnson is a large pharmaceutical company for a great range of pharmaceutical, cosmetic and hygiene products, has steadily issued safety warnings and product recalls.
Talcum powder cancer lawsuits are among the many product liability lawsuits the pharmaceutical company is facing. Others include the link between Tylenol and liver failure, Ethicon transvaginal mesh injuries, gynecomastia from Risperdal use in boys with early hip failure, and DePuy hip replacement parts. If you have been injured due to the use of Talcum Powder and you’re looking for an experienced personal injury lawyer in Baton Rouge contact Simien & Simien today for a free consultation.
South Dakota Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdict
In South Dakota, a jury decided that Johnson & Johnson did fail to warn consumers of the risks of ovarian cancer from talcum powder products; however, no damages were granted for injuries.
In October 2013, the verdict was handed down in a product liability case brought by Deane Berg after she developed ovarian cancer in 2006. She claimed to use Johnson & Johnsons Shower to Shower body powder for the last 30 years.
According to Berg, she did not have any risk factors associated to ovarian cancer, while three separate doctors examined her cancer tissue and found talc in the tissue through the use of an electron microscope. The doctors determined that the cancer was caused by Shower to Shower.
Further medical studies presented to the jury linked female genital exposure to talcum powder with the increased risk of ovarian cancer. Of course, Johnson & Johnson would argue the findings of these studies could not justify an ovarian cancer warning on talcum powder.
The South Dakota jury would find that Johnson & Johnson did fail in its duty to warn the public about the possible cancer risks associated with the body power, however did not hold Johnson & Johnson liable for Bergs ovarian cancer. So, no damages were awarded to Deane Berg.
According to Dr. Daniel Cramer of Harvard University, who has been researching the link between talc and ovarian cancer for the past 30 years, testified that talcum powder was probably responsible for at least 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year.
In fact, an article published in the New York Times in 1982 found Johnson & Johnson was aware that a study found women using talcum powder on their genitals were three times as likely to develop ovarian cancer.
Several other studies found that when talc body powder is applied to a woman’s genitals, it can travel through the vagina and into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. According to the American Cancer Society, the findings throughout the years were inconclusive.
Contact our talc powder lawyers if you or a loved one has developed ovarian cancer following the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Talcum Baby Powder for a free case evaluation.
