What are the Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Dangers?
You may have heard some of the news regarding Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits over the years and had questions about the dangers associated with talcum powder—a seemingly benign product. Although Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder was first developed in 1890, it was not until the 1930s that the first accounts of the harmful effects of talc on human tissue were recorded.
By 1971, researchers discovered talc particles on 75 percent of ovarian tumors removed from women who had suffered from ovarian cancer. Even though this study—as well as many others performed by scientists in other countries—seemed to back up these results, Johnson & Johnson did not respond to allegations of harm from talc until 1982.
In 1992, researchers definitively fund that the frequent application of talcum powder to the genital area increased the likelihood of ovarian cancer, and The National Toxicology Program reported a year later that cosmetic talc could cause tumors in animals. By 2003, the Anticancer Research Journal published a large-scale review stating that there was a 33 percent increase in the risk of ovarian cancer for those who used talcum powder long-term for feminine hygiene.
Where Does the Baby Powder Litigation in Detroit, Michigan Stand?
The first lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson was filed in 2009 by Deane Berg, a woman who developed ovarian cancer at the age of 49 after using J & J baby powder with talc for feminine hygiene purposes for many years. While the jury found J & J liable for Berg’s ovarian cancer, they awarded no monetary compensation. Through the next decade, many women were successful in their lawsuits against J & J, although the company appealed all of those decisions.
In June 2020, a Missouri Appeals Court upheld a particularly large settlement awarded to a group of 22 women. Johnson & Johnson has said they will appeal that decision to the Supreme Court. There are currently as many as 20,000 lawsuits pending against J & J by women who developed ovarian cancer after using J & J baby powder with talc or J & J Shower to Shower with talc for many years. Many of these lawsuits were filed by women in the state of Michigan, as well as women across the nation.
Has J & J Baby Powder with Talc Been Recalled in the U.S.?
Even though the FDA did not order a recall of J & J’s talc-based products, in May 2020, the company chose to discontinue sales of J & J’s talc-based products in the United States and Canada. Despite this move, Johnson & Johnson continues to assert their talc-based products are perfectly safe, and that the only reason they discontinued selling the products was a decline in sales based on the constant litigation they had faced for over a decade.
Have the Statutes of Limitations Passed for My Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Case?
If you believe your ovarian cancer diagnosis was the result of your use of J & J’s baby powder with talc, it is important to know that you have a specific window of time in which to file a product liability claim against J & J. This window of time is known as the statutes of limitations and vary from state to state. It is important to know these statutes can be impacted by a variety of issues, therefore, speaking to an experienced baby powder ovarian cancer attorney is important; your attorney can evaluate the facts surrounding your Detroit, Michigan claim.
How Could Consulting with a Detroit, Michigan Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer Be Beneficial?
If you have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer after many years of using J & J talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, you could potentially have a baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit. Speaking to a Sullo & Sullo baby powder ovarian cancer attorney could be extremely beneficial for your health and your future.