More Lawsuits Regarding Talcum Powder Expected for 2017
Over the past year, hundreds have sued the health giant Johnson & Johnson claiming their talc/baby powder product, after decades of use, is tied to ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson has lost millions of dollars in these trials and 2017 may come to reveal that more lawsuits will be filed. This is because of the latest evidence and findings that further link the product to ovarian cancer.
Talcum powder (more commonly known as baby powder) is marketed as a safe and gentle product – a substance that absorbs moisture, useful in keeping skin dry and preventing rashes, and rarely causes skin irritations or allergic reactions. The characteristics of talcum powder make it a popular product to use on babies, and for feminine hygiene but studies dating back to as early as the 1970s, revealed that a mineral in the talc itself is connected to ovarian cancer. A more recent study from the Tisch Cancer Institute of Mount Siani Hospital in Manhattan researched 24 published analyses and studies that included more than 300,000 women with ovarian cancer. It was found that even though the results are acute, there is an association between genital use of talc and ovarian cancer. Scientists and researchers concluded that women who use talcum powder daily have a 20% higher risk of developing the cancer than women who do not.
Johnson & Johnson, despite these findings that have been published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, filed a bid to delay any more talcum powder trials in the Missouri Court of appeals. The judge denied Johnson & Johnson’s request and the latest trial regarding plaintiffs who developed ovarian cancer after decades of using baby power in the groin area, will continue to move forward with jury selection beginning in April 2017. More lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson are expected to happen as juries continue to side with the plaintiffs; concluding Johnson & Johnson knew their products were not safe.
The link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer remains challenging; being able to pinpoint risk estimates based upon small sample sizes that may not always be reliable. However, the number of cases and lawsuits is continuing to grow as Johnson & Johnson currently face more than 1,700 talcum powder lawsuits across Missouri, California, and New Jersey.
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was a frequent user of the product. If you are looking for a firm that can handle Personal Injury lawsuits, or are simply unsure if you have a case, there is no obligation to discuss your case with one of Goldberg, Persky & White’s attorneys. Contact us today.
