A Maryland talcum powder cancer lawyer may be able to help women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talc-based products for feminine hygiene purposes. Although talcum powder and baby powder manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has maintained the safety of its product, lawsuit allege that some women who have used the product developed ovarian cancer. Affected women and their families may be eligible to pursue a claim with the help of a Maryland talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Maryland today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Talcum Powder?
According to the American Cancer Society, talcum powder is a product made from the mineral talc that is used as a drying agent in many cosmetic products. While most people associate talcum powder with baby powder, used to prevent diaper rashes, it is also frequently used by adult women for feminine hygiene purposes, both to decrease moisture on and around the genitals, and to reduce odor.
The mineral talc often contains asbestos, as both minerals are mined from similar locations. As a result, early talcum powder products contained levels of asbestos that can cause some forms of cancer. Since the 1970s, all talcum-based products have been required to be asbestos-free.
Studies Linking Talcum Powder to Ovarian Cancer
One scientist who has been part of several studies surrounding talcum powder and ovarian cancer served as an expert witness in both lawsuits. The director of the OB/GYN Epidemiology Center at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, and a Harvard Medical professor, has authored five different studies on the subject over the past 30 years.
One of the earliest studies linking perineal talcum powder use and ovarian cancer was published by the doctor and his team in 1982. The study found that women who sprinkled talcum powder in their underwear or on sanitary napkins on a regular basis were at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to women who did not use talcum powder.
More recently, the Harvard doctor and his team released a study in Epidemiology that found an association between Johnson & Johnson’s product and ovarian cancer. Published in May 2016, the study looked at about 2,000 women who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 2,000 women who had not. Those women who reported to have used talcum powder on the genital area were found to be 33 percent more likely to develop the cancer. According to the researchers, the powder can travel through the vagina into the upper genital tract, including the ovaries, where it can cause an inflammatory response.
Maryland Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit Claims
Spending time and money to look good and feel good can be extremely important, which is why numerous women use talcum powder as part of their daily routine. However, the growing number of talcum powder cancer lawsuit filings may have some women wondering whether their everyday use of talcum powder in the genital area is as safe as they have been led to believe by a major manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson. As more women come forward with allegations that link regular talcum powder use to ovarian cancer, the company is facing growing scrutiny.
Maryland Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit Settlements
In February 2016, an Alabama woman’s family was awarded damages from Johnson & Johnson. As reported by USA Today, the woman sued the company after she developed ovarian cancer that she claimed was caused by her daily use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene. The woman died in October 2015, and her family took over the civil suit. The jury in the case determined that Johnson & Johnson was negligent in warning of the potential risks associated with talcum powder use and ordered the company to pay the family $62 million in punitive damages and $10 million in actual damages.
Even more recently, a South Dakota woman was awarded damages in her lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in May 2016. CBS News reported that the woman claims to have used talcum powder for many years before receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Ruling in favor of the woman, the jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $55 million in damages. The company is still facing over a thousand lawsuits.
How a Maryland Talcum Powder Cancer Lawyer Can Help
Product 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 product maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by the fault of others may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those killed 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 Maryland. 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.
