A growing number of product liability lawsuits are being filed over the use of power morcellators, medical devices used during hysterectomy and fibroid removal surgery, alleging that they cause the spread of cancer.

One such power morcellator lawsuit, filed by a Southern California woman, claims that morcellator device manufacturer Ethicon (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) was aware that morcellators could disseminate and upstage parasitic fibroid cells into other parts of women’s bodies.

Plaintiff Deborah E. underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy in September 2013 for the treatment of uterine fibroids.  During this procedure, an Ethicon Gynecare power morcellator was used to remove tissue.

In April 2015, Deborah reported to her doctor with abdominal pain and it was discovered through an ultrasound and biopsy that she had developed multiple abdominal pelvic masses and lesions in her liver.  She was advised she would require long term hormonal therapy and possible surgery to take out the masses.

According to the morcellation lawsuit, Deborah was admitted to the hospital at a frail 89 pounds later that year and it was further determined that her masses had grown in size, additional fibroids were detected and her bowel had been displaced into her upper abdomen, causing severe distention and pain.

Due to the severity of Deborah’s masses she will be forced to undergo at least 5 more major surgeries in the coming weeks in order to combat the damage allegedly caused by the power morcellator device.

Deborah is seeking to add her power morcellator lawsuit to the multidistrict litigation against Ethicon.

What is Power Morcellation?

Gynecologists use power morcellators when they perform laparoscopic procedures, such as a hysterectomy or a myomectomy in which they remove uterine fibroids.

These instruments have rotating blades that break large tissue masses into small fragments. Broken down tissues are then vacuumed away and out of the body.

The inherent risk of laparoscopic power morcellation is the dissemination of the broken-up tissue. Benign tissue can become implanted on abdominal structures and organs, resulting in conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis, potentially requiring further surgery.

FDA Discourages Use of Laparoscopic Power Morcellator

The FDA issued a safety warning in April discouraging doctors from using laparoscopic power morcellators to remove uterine fibroids because of the risk of spreading undiagnosed cancer and other injuries throughout the abdominal cavity. Shortly after, Johnson & Johnson suspended sales of its laparoscopic power morcellators sold by its Ethicon division.

According to the FDA, doctors use power morcellators in thousands of hysterectomies a year and there is a significant risk for cancer development or other complications after morcellation surgery.

A number of additional treatment options are available for women with uterine fibroids, including traditional surgical hysterectomy (performed either vaginally or abdominally) and myomectomy, and laparoscopic hysterectomy and myomectomy without morcellation, as well as other non-surgical options.

Morcellation Lawsuits

A growing number of morcellation lawsuits stem from the use of laparoscopic power morcellators in hysterectomies and other gynecological surgeries. Some doctors are still performing hysterectomies and uterine fibroid removals via uterine morcellation, despite the FDA warning.

The Ethicon Power Morcellation Lawsuit is Case No.8:15-cv-01902-CJC-JCG, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division.