US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand sent an open letter to the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration expressing urgent concerns about the dangers of power morcellation devices. Prominent lawmakers, including Tennessee senator Lamar Alexander, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and Marco Rubio joined a bi-partisan group of senior leaders in the US Senate to increase the public awareness of the risks of power morcellators in hysterectomies and myomectomies. Senator Warren’s letter specifically highlighted the need for the FDA to clearly communicate the risks of power morcellation, which could spread undetected cancer. Warren and Gillbrand urged the FDA to put the lives of the patients first, because of the tragic consequences of the 24 year record of power morcellators spreading malignancies during laparoscopic surgeries.
Legal Commentary
The Food and Drug Administration determined that power morcellators cannot be made safer. Johnson & Johnson, previously the largest manufacturer of morcellators, has pulled their version of the device from the market. Many hospitals are no longer using the device in hysterectomies. Currently, more than 20 lawsuits against the manufacturers of the device have been filed in 16 different federal courts. Additionally more than 300 cases against the manufacturers of power morcellators are currently pending.
Previously undiagnosed cancer or malignancies can spread after surgical procedures using power morcellators. According to the FDA, as many as 1 in 350 women could have undiagnosed uterine sarcoma that can be spread during morcellation. For patients, this can be a costly, painful and potentially deadly complication. From a civil standpoint, our firm represents families who are the victims of the complications from a variety of surgical tools, including the power morcellator. If you or a loved one has experienced any of these problems because of a surgery involving the use of the power morcellator, we encourage you to consult with one of our attorneys as soon as possible. A successful civil claim will help compensate the victims for the costly medical expenses, their pain, suffering, and lost wages for time missed from work. Further questions can be directed to the Fears | Nachawati Law Firm through our website at cases.fnlawfirm.com/morcellation, by emailing Majed Nachawati at mn@fnlawfirm.com, or by calling our office at 1.866.485.6886.
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