Medical Devices Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer in Women Undergoing Hysterectomies and Other Gynecological Surgeries
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The national pharmaceutical law firm of Baron and Budd is now accepting cases on behalf of women who underwent hysterectomies and other gynecological surgeries and were harmed by the use of a power morcellator during their procedure. The device – which, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, is used in between 55,000 and 75,000 hysterectomies in the U.S. per year – has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. (http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304432604579473362527708066)
“We firmly believe the fault lies with morcellator manufacturers that should have made those risks clear for both doctors and their patients.”
Power morcellators have been used in several types of hysterectomies since the 1990s. The device, which is used to cut into and then remove the uterus, is designed to be easier than other surgical alternatives. It is also designed to help patients recover faster. However, in some instances, a power morcellator can leave behind tissue fragments in a patient – if this tissue is cancerous it can allow the disease to rapidly spread. Morcellators have also been used in myomectomies, which involve the removal of non-cancerous growths known as uterine fibroids.
On April 17, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication discouraging the use of power morcellators in hysterectomies or myomectomies. According to the FDA, approximately 1 in 350 women who undergo one of these procedures have uterine sarcoma, which is a type of uterine cancer. The use of power morcellation presents a risk that cancerous tissue will be spread throughout the pelvis and abdomen and substantially lessen a patient’s chances of survival. (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm393689.htm)
“Even though the risk of using power morcellators has been known for decades, many women undergoing hysterectomies and myomectomies were unaware of the potential danger,” said Russell Budd, manager of national law firm Baron and Budd. “We firmly believe the fault lies with morcellator manufacturers that should have made those risks clear for both doctors and their patients.”
If you or a loved one underwent a hysterectomy or other gynecological procedure that involved the use of a power morcellator and were harmed as a result, you may be able to take legal action. Contact the national law firm of Baron and Budd by calling 1.866.472.9108 or sending an e-mail toinfo@baronandbudd.com to learn more.
About Baron & Budd
The law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Austin and Los Angeles, is a nationally recognized law firm with almost four decades of experience "Protecting What’s Right" for people, communities and businesses harmed by negligence. Baron & Budd’s size and resources enable the firm to take on exceptionally large and complex cases. The firm represents individuals, governmental and business entities in areas as diverse as PCB contamination in schools, FLSA (overtime) violations, pharmaceutical and medical implant injuries, water contamination, GM ignition problems, California Proposition 65 violations, mortgage and credit card fraud and asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma.
