The surgical tool known as a power morcellator has been facing increased scrutiny in recent years due to allegations that the device spreads undetected uterine cancer.
The power morcellator is a device first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1991, and it is used to remove fibroids in uterus or for a hysterectomy by making extremely small incisions.
During a morcellator hysterectomy or other surgery, unwanted tissue is cut up and shredded in the body cavity, in order that it may be removed in smaller, more manageable pieces. This procedure allows for fewer surgical complications and allows patients to recover more quickly.
However, reports of power morcellation complications associated with gynecological surgeries such as hysterectomies or myomectomies have been increasing in recent years.
Morcellation Procedure Complications
In April 2014, the FDA released a safety alert targeting power morcellator devices. The statement acknowledged that the morcellation procedure used to remove fibroids in the uterus could potentially spread cancer cells, undetected by the doctor.
Many women develop these kinds of uterine fibroids, but usually they do not cause any negative symptoms. For other women, the fibroids cause symptoms that interfere with daily living, causing prolonged menstrual bleeding, as well as pelvic pain and other unwanted symptoms. In these more serious cases, a morcellator can remove the fibroids in uterus in a relatively non-invasive manner compared to a traditional hysterectomy.
According to reports, while the power morcellator is used to remove fibroids in uterus, it can also cut up surrounding tissue fragments that may be cancerous. Once these cancerous tissue fragments are cut, they are left behind at the end of the surgery. Left undetected in the patient’s healing body, these fragments are then able to spread to other parts of the body.
In response to the FDA’s warnings, Ethicon eventually pulled its power morcellator device off the market. Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is the largest single manufacturer of power morcellators.
Additionally, once this information came to light, the government began discouraging doctors from performing morcellator hysterectomy or other morcellation procedure. They also encouraged medical professionals to discuss the risks and benefits of such devices with their patients before operating.
Power Morcellator Risks
According to the FDA, approximately 1 in 350 women who undergo these kinds of power morcellation procedures will have undetected uterine cancer that can spread to other parts of the body, taking root and becoming a potentially life-threatening cancer.
The cancer risks include leiomyosarcoma, a very rare, very aggressive cancer that would be extremely dangerous if spread throughout the body.
Power Morcellator Lawsuits
A growing number of people have begun filing power morcellator lawsuits, alleging cancer diagnosis after a morcellator hysterectomy or surgery that involved power morcellation.
These plaintiffs allege that, had they been adequately warned about the potential dangers of power morcellation, they would not have agreed to the morcellation procedure.
If you or someone you know has undergone a surgery where a doctor has used a power morcellator, and have since been diagnosed with cancer, you may be able to file a morcellator cancer lawsuit.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The morcellation cancer attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, morcellator cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer in the uterus, pelvis or abdomen within two years of undergoing surgery for a myomectomy (removal of fibroids), hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), or salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes), you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify by filling out the short form below.
An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.
- First Name*
- Last Name*
- Street Address
- Apt. #
- Zip Code*
- Phone*
- Email*
- Approximately how long ago did you/your loved one have surgery to remove uterine fibroids?*
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Less than 1 year
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1-2 years
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2-3 years
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3-5 years
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5+ years
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- What were you/your loved one diagnosed with?*
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Uterine cancer
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Endometrial cancer
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Ovarian sarcomas/cancer
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Parasitic myomas
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Leiomyomatosis
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Endometriosis
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Adenomyosis
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Fibroid/uterine tissue growth on other organs requiring surgery
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No diagnosis/injury
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Other cancer (please specify in additional information box below)
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- What year were you/your loved one diagnosed?
- ¿Necesita un orador español?
- Yes
- No
- Additional Comments:
- I understand and agree that submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship and that the information I submit is not confidential or privileged and may be shared.*
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Yes
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