Are There Dangers Associated with J & J Baby Powder with Talc?

Over the past decade, we have all heard about the Johnson & Johnson baby powder ovarian cancer trials. You, or a loved one, may even be one of the many women harmed by the talc in J & J’s powders. The company first developed Johnson & Johnson baby powder with talc in the 1890s—almost one hundred and thirty years ago. Yet as early as the 1930s, surgeons who dusted their surgical gloves with talcum powder prior to peritonitis surgeries found out that the talc fibers left behind caused inflammation in the abdominal cavity and surrounding organs.

By the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, there had been a number of studies showing that when women used powders containing talc for feminine hygiene purposes, the talc fibers could migrate up through the reproductive tract, embedding into the ovaries, and causing inflammation. This inflammation could later translate into ovarian cancer—a particularly deadly form of cancer, largely because it is seldom found early.

Despite the research, not only did J & J continue selling their talcum powders with no warning of any kind, they specifically marketed their talc-based products to women for feminine hygiene use. In fact, in 1965, a J & J ad featured a sultry woman with the copy “Want to feel cool, smooth and dry? It’s as easy as taking powder from a baby.” Twenty years later, the message was even more overt—“Your body perspires in more places than just under your arms,” and “Just a sprinkle a day helps keep odor away.”

Where Does the Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Litigation in Baltimore, Maryland Stand?

If you are a woman in Baltimore, Maryland, who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using J & J’s talc-based products for feminine hygiene, you have plenty of company. Currently, there are as many as 20,000 lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giant for baby powder ovarian cancer. Many of these lawsuits allege failure to warn, as it is likely J & J was aware of the potential hazards of talc fibers decades ago yet continued to maintain their products were safe.

While other manufacturers replaced the talc in their powders with cornstarch, J & J continued marketing their Shower to Shower with talc and baby powder with talc. Deane Berg filed the first lawsuit against J & J in 2009, with many more to follow. Every trial that resulted in a decision for the plaintiff was appealed by J & J, although very recently a Missouri Appeals Court upheld one decision from 2018 in which 22 women were awarded a very significant award. J & J has said they will appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

Has Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder with Talc Been Recalled in the United States?

Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder with talc and Shower to Shower with talc have not been recalled by the FDA, however, in May 2020, the company discontinued the manufacture of their talc-based products in Canada and the United States. Despite this, the company claims the reason for the discontinuation of sales is the media attention focused on the lawsuits against the company which has reduced sales. In 2018, J & J’s baby powder with talc was bringing in about $400 million per year.

Have the Baltimore, Maryland Statutes of Limitations Passed For Your Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Claim?

You have a limited window of opportunity in which to file a claim against Johnson & Johnson for the injuries you suffered as a result of talc. Although each state sets its own statutes, the statutes can be affected by a variety of issues. Because of this, it is important to speak to a qualified, highly skilled baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer regarding your statutes of limitations.

How Could Consulting with a Baltimore, Maryland Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer Be Beneficial?

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson baby powder with talc or Shower to Shower with talc for feminine hygiene purposes, a Sullo & Sullo baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer could be able to answer your questions and help you determine whether a lawsuit is right for you. Contact Sullo & Sullo today!