“There is a possibility that these products may have increased your risk of developing ovarian cancer and you should go get screened.” Dr. Blaudeau of Southern Med Law
Women who use talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes over a long period of time may be at risk for ovarian cancer, Southern Med Law’s Founder, Dr. François Blaudeau, recently told ABC 33/40, the ABC news affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Blaudeau was interviewed after the family of a Birmingham woman who died in October from ovarian cancer associated with Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, was awarded $72 million in damages earlier this week. Dr. Blaudeau, also a gynecological surgeon, said women use the talc-based products either weekly or daily. Additionally, women who live in Southern states use these products to “stay dry and be more comfortable.”
The family of the 62-year-old Birmingham woman said she used talcum powder for more than 35 years and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago. The family sued Johnson & Johnson alleging the company failed to warn about the ovarian cancer risks linked to its talcum powder products. The case was heard by a St. Louis circuit court jury which, on Monday, ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages, which are designed to punish a defendant for its actions. (Case No. 1422-CC09012-01,Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, Missouri) Dr. Blaudeau recommends that women get screened for the disease if they have used talcum powder products for more than 15 to 20 years.
[abc3340.com/news/local/doctor-explains-risks-of-using-baby-powder, ABC 33/40, February 24, 2016]
[reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-verdict-idUSKCN0VW20A, Reuters, February 25, 2016]
According to Dr. Blaudeau, there have been no studies to indicate that babies are at risk for cancer later in their lives if talcum powder is used on their bodies. However, studies have shown an increase in cancer risks with the use of talc in a powder form. One such study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 1999. The extensive study involved 78,630 registered nurses in the United States who frequently used talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes. The study began in 1982 and ended in 1996. By June 1, 1996, researchers found that 307 nurses had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
[http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/92/3/249.full, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, February 2, 2000]
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral, mined from the earth, and composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to baby powder, talc is used in chewing gum, rice, in manufacturing tablets, and in cosmetic products, such as blush. Talc that is used in cosmetics and in ingredients, with the exception of color additives, do not have to undergo FDA review or approval before they go on the market.
[fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm293184.htm, FDA, March 19, 2014]
Johnson & Johnson is facing 1,200 talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits, with 1,000 being filed in Missouri and the remaining are consolidated for pretrial proceedings in New Jersey’s Atlantic County Superior Court. (In Re: Talc-Based Powder Products – Case No. 300) The lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum-based body powders, including Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, cause ovarian cancer in women who use the products for feminine hygiene purposes.
[reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-verdict-idUSKCN0VW20A, Reuters, February 25, 2016]
About Southern Med Law And Filing Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits: Southern Med Law is led by Dr. François Blaudeau, an attorney and a practicing obstetrician/ gynecologist that is determined to stop the large manufacturers of personal health products and medical devices from injuring more women. The legal staff at Southern Med Law is an experienced group of attorneys who posses a deep understanding of the complex medical and legal questions at issue in all manner of product liability and personal injury claims. They are not afraid to take on the nation’s largest corporations in their pursuit of justice, and are committed to ensuring that all victims have access to the type of aggressive legal advocacy that assures success.
Southern Med Law
François M. Blaudeau, MD JD FACHE FCLM Esquire
2224 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Phone: (205) 547-5525
Cell: 205-547-5525
Fax: (205) 547-5526
francois@sml-legal.i-mlaw.com
www.southernmedlaw.com
Medical Negligence/MedicalDevice/Pharma/Qui Tam
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