Endometriosis Lawsuit Filed Over Ethicon Morcellator Cancer Complications
According to allegations in a recent lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon subsidiary, one of the company’s power morcellators used during a laparoscopic hysterectomy caused the dissemination and seeding of endometriosis, resulting in the painful spread of uterine cells into the abdomen.
The complaint (PDF) was filed by Joan L. Schwartz in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on February 4, joining a growing number of Ethicon morcellator lawsuits filed in recent months by women nationwide over the unintended spread of tissue due, often involving previously undiagnosed cancer cells.
Morcellators have been used in recent years during minimally invasive, laparoscopic hysterectomy and uterine fibroid removal procedures, allowing the surgeon to cut up and remove tissue through a small hole in the abdomen.
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Power morcellators used during a laparoscopic hysterectomy or uterine fibroid surgery may cause the spread of aggressive cancer.
Learn More About this Lawsuit SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATIONWhile this is designed to reduce the risk of complications following surgery, morcellators have been largely abandoned by the medical community due to the risk that the devices may unintentionally cause the spread of tissue throughout the abdomen. This poses a particularly unacceptable risk for women with undiagnosed and unsuspected sarcoma hidden within the uterus, rapidly disseminating the cancerous cells to other areas of the body.
Schwartz indicates that one of Ethicon’s Gynecare Morcellex Morcellators was used during a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy she underwent in April 2008. While Schwartz does not claim that the device caused the dissemination of cancer, she indicates that she was subsequently diagnosed with endometroisis and leiomyomatosis, which she attributes to the use of the device.
Endometroisis involves the painful growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus. As a result of the diagnosis, Scwartz indicates that she required numerous medical procedures to treat the side effects of endometroisosis.
“Plaintiff has had to undergo major exploratory surgery, right salpingo-oophorectomy, radical resection of peritoneal masses and a partial sigmoid resection and reanastomosis,” the lawsuit states. “She will likely have to undergo additional surgeries and treatments in the future.”
Ethicon Morcellator Lawsuits
The case joins a growing number of lawsuits filed over problems with Ethicon morcellators, the vast majority of which involving women diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma or other aggressive forms of uterine cancer that was disseminated by the device.
The litigation emerged after the FDA raised concerns about the link between uterine morcellation and cancer.
After concluding that there is no way to make the devices safe for women, Johnson & Johson’s Ethicon unit issued a morcellator recall in July 2014 and announced that they would no longer manufacturer or sell the devices.
Since October 2015, all Ethicon morcellator lawsuits filed throughout the federal court system have been consolidated as part of a federal MDL, or multidistrict litigation, which is centralized before U.S. District Judge Kathryn H. Vratil in the District of Kansas. Schwartz’s complaint likely will be transferred into the MDL for coordinated discovery and other pretrial proceedings.
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4 Comments
TamaraNovember 26, 2022 at 11:23 am
I had problems from the onset of menses at age 12. So severe, I began going to the doctor around age 15 because I didn't feel right. I was told I'd never have children , but I had 2...with complicated pregnancies plus c sections. Fast forward after about 6 laproscopy w/d&c I was diagnosed with endometriosis. My doctor also didn't want to do hysterectomy because I was young (late 20's-early 30's b[Show More]I had problems from the onset of menses at age 12. So severe, I began going to the doctor around age 15 because I didn't feel right. I was told I'd never have children , but I had 2...with complicated pregnancies plus c sections. Fast forward after about 6 laproscopy w/d&c I was diagnosed with endometriosis. My doctor also didn't want to do hysterectomy because I was young (late 20's-early 30's but already had tubes tied at birth of 2nd child). Ended up having an emergency hysterectomy at age 35 after trying a new treatment(shot) supposedly for endo, but it made me super sick. Always felt like I was ignored when I mentioned the sever pain and lack of energy I was experiencing over the years. The doctor said they took out my tubes as well because the Endo had destroyed them as well. I felt better as soon as I woke up from my surgery but I feel I missed out on a lot with my children when they were young because of all the years of pain & suffering.
JamieOctober 8, 2020 at 5:38 pm
I had to undergo total hysterectomy surgery due to my first dr DNC that caused the stuff to spread. Now at 36 I have to give myself hormone shots every month for the rest of my life. Do I have a case
TakiraSeptember 21, 2020 at 3:41 am
I have a difficult case also. I was complaining to my doctor for almost 3 years about abdominal and side pain. She kept saying she didn’t want to do a hysterectomy on me because she said I was to young. Long story short I have stage 4 endometriosis and ended up having a full hysterectomy and colon resection with reanastamosis. I feel like my doctor could’ve caught it before it got this bad. She ig[Show More]I have a difficult case also. I was complaining to my doctor for almost 3 years about abdominal and side pain. She kept saying she didn’t want to do a hysterectomy on me because she said I was to young. Long story short I have stage 4 endometriosis and ended up having a full hysterectomy and colon resection with reanastamosis. I feel like my doctor could’ve caught it before it got this bad. She ignored everything I was telling her. The first time I went in for surgery the doctors had to stop because the endometriosis was so bad that my organs were sticking together. So I had to go back in a few weeks later for surgery. I need a lawyer’s opinion.
JenniferDecember 30, 2016 at 2:17 am
This happened to me as well. My endometriosis spread and caused an almost complete bowel obstruction that led to posting a foot of my small intestine and my left ovary not to mention the years of excruciating pain.