A Colorado husband and wife recently filed a lawsuit against Allergan, alleging that the pharmaceutical company purposely hid its knowledge of breast implant cancer risks from patients and the medical community.

The plaintiff, Kendra P., underwent a breast implantation procedure on May 11, 2010, using Allergan silicone implants. At the time, her lawsuit claims, she was not warned about the breast implant cancer risks associated with these products—specifically, the risk of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

While the initial implantation of the silicone products went well, Kendra says she began to suffer from discomfort, tightness, pain, and swelling of the right breast in the subsequent years.

Kendra says that just over seven years after implantation of the silicone breast implants, she saw a plastic surgeon because of these complaints. The surgeon, Dr. Murphy, had recently learned about breast implant cancer risks, the lawsuit notes. Because of concern that these problems might be indicative of BIA-ALCL, Dr. Murphy suggested a biopsy.

Over the next month, Kendra says she was seen by several doctors, had conflicting diagnoses, and underwent several tests. Finally, a pathology report allegedly showed that she was in the initial stage of BIA-ALCL. She had the implants removed in June 2017.

According to Kendra’s lawsuit, Allergan was aware of the breast implant cancer risks associated with its silicone implants, yet failed to warn the public and medical community about these risks. Instead, the company chose to hide these dangers, the lawsuit claims, placing company profit over patient safety.

Kendra and her husband filed the breast implant cancer lawsuit on multiple counts, including negligence, failure to warn, and breach of implied warranty. The lawsuit was filed on June 14, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

The implants most associated with cancer risk are textured breast implants. Health Canada has responded by suspending the sale and use of these implants entirely after conducting a safety review.

Filing a Breast Implant Cancer Lawsuit

More and more patients are reporting being diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, and some are choosing to pursue litigation in response.

If you or someone you love has developed an illness related to your breast implants, especially BIA-ALCL, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of a medical device attorney. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by cancer, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be overwhelming, especially in the aftermath of a significant diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for litigation by connecting you with an experienced medical device attorney. Consulting a lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your compensation.

The Breast Implant Cancer Risks Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-01737-REB, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.