An Indiana morcellator cancer lawsuit may be an option for women who developed certain forms of cancer after having a procedure with a power morcellator. Many medical devices are developed to improve surgical procedures so that patients experience less pain and recover faster. However, flaws in the design of some products may lead to unintended side effects. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a claim with the help of an Indiana morcellator cancer lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Indiana. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Morcellator cancer lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Uterine Fibroids
According to WebMD, when abnormal muscle cell growths form in or around the uterus, the result is a uterine fibroid, or leiomyomata. These tumors are benign, but they may cause some women to develop uncomfortable or painful symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating, or long and painful periods.
For those who experience serious issues as a result of the uterine fibroids, surgery may be an option that provides relief. Myomectomy is the surgical procedure that involves removing the fibroids but keeping the uterus intact. For some, this resolves the problem. However, some women opt to have the uterus removed, as well, which is known as a hysterectomy. This type of surgery prevents the return of fibroids.
Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgery
Uterine-fibroids.org points out that a myomectomy may be performed laparoscopically. This method of surgery involves small incisions rather than a single large one, so patients typically only need general anesthetic and rarely need to spend the night in the hospital during recovery. The healing process is typically much shorter, as well, making it a popular option.
According to Contemporary OB/GYN, it has been common practice to cut up large fibroids so they may be removed through small incisions, so patients with tumors bigger than the laparoscopic cuts may still be candidates for the technique. For years, electromechanical morcellators have been used to fragment the tumors for removal quickly, but questions of their safety have recently become a concern for medical professionals and patients.
Diagnostics for Cancerous Fibroids Are Often Ineffective
Approximately one out of every 10,000 women develops a uterine leiomyosarcoma, which is a particularly aggressive form of cancer that often results in a low chance of recovery. These tumors mimic their benign counterparts, so they are difficult to identify. When leiomyosarcomas are minced by a power morcellator, some of the cells may scatter through the reproductive organs. These cells then act as seeds, growing into new tumors and lowering the already poor prognosis attending this form of cancer.
Morcellator Cancer Risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety communication to warn health care providers of the risk of spreading cancer through morcellation. For every 350 surgeries to remove fibroids through myomectomy or hysterectomy, FDA analysts project that there is one patient with an undiagnosed cancerous tumor. Physicians are advised to weigh the risks and benefits of fibroid removal with this medical device, and to offer all the information to patients before suggesting this option.
According to CBS News, although power morcellators are still available and being used, some have been pulled from the market, including those produced by Johnson and Johnson’s Ethicon division. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now gotten involved, attempting to determine whether device manufacturers were aware of the increased risks of procedures involving their products.
Morcellator Cancer Lawsuit Claims
The lawsuits against companies that produce power morcellators include circumstances so similar, the federal court system has considered whether to combine them to be heard at a single trial. This method, known as multidistrict litigation, is often used when there are many plaintiffs filing product liability claims against a drug or medical device manufacturer. Because the evidence for each case mirrors that of the other cases, a single judge may determine the outcome for all of them at the same time and speed up the judicial process.
How an Indiana Morcellator Cancer Lawsuit Can Help
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by defective medical devices may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to File a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Indiana. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
