Alexis Benter

An increasing number of lawsuits are being filed against the manufactures of a device used in a surgical technique known as power morcellation – a procedure to perform hysterectomies on women. The technique allows for an easier removal of a woman’s uterus than was ever previously possible. The device was introduced in 1993 and has become popular with doctors performing hysterectomies. The controversy over the procedure has only recently come to light following many morcellator lawsuits and many women are calling on the FDA to ban the devices.

The main risk involved in using power morcellation to remove the uterus is the spread of leimysarcoma cancer, a highly aggressive form of cancer found in the uterus. This form of cancer has been known to spread to both the abdomen and pelvis. Numerous deaths have been attributed to leimyosarcoma cancer. It is often not tested for prior to performing the surgery and can lie dormant without symptoms before the morcellation is performed. Many women have claimed that they were never informed of the great risk that comes with the use of a Gynecare Morcellator. Because of this, Morcellation hysterectomy cancer lawsuits are on the rise.

Morecellation leimyosarcoma recently killed a women in New York two years after a power morecellation procedure was performed. On January 26, 2015, Dr. Amy Reed published a massive critique detailing the severe failings of the FDA in limiting the use of the power morcellation. Dr. Reed was diagnosed with leimyosarcoma cancer after receiving a hysterectomy in 2013. She worries that many lobbyists have prevented morecellator cancer lawsuits from receiving the public attention they deserve.

“Because these women were harmed by ‘life-saving devices’; bearing a seal of FDA authorization – and because their cancers were spread by our own doctors using an unsafe practice that is claimed to ‘benefit the majority’ – our federal government and its agency stands lethargic and ambivalent, ” said Dr. Reed in an article from Philly.com. This is a scary prospect for many women who could be having power morcellation surgery without being informed of the serious risks of morcellation cancer the procedure poses.

A team of Canadian researchers also published a study that found that power morcellation poses dire health risks for women receiving hysterectomies. Morcellated cancer lawsuits will continue to rise if these risks are not addressed. The Canadian study found that many women with leimyosarcoma cancer do not show any symptoms before the morcellator surgery is done. This lack of symptoms leads many doctors to operate without the knowledge that cancer could be spread. The study found that around one percent of women undergoing the surgery had leimyosarcoma cancer. This is a small number, but it differs greatly from the FDA’s current estimate. A large amount of these women later went on to file a leimyosarcoma lawsuit.

In November 2014, the FDA announced it would require doctors to give patients a warning about the use of power morcellators. They also issued a safety alert for women that may be undergoing power morcellator surgery. The number of morcellator cancer lawsuits continues to grow. Hopefully the FDA’s attempts and studies will reduce the number of cases of leimyosarcoma cancer and save lives. Many fear the FDA’s actions are not enough.

Women Who’ve Suffered Power Morcellation Cancer Side Effects

Women who developed Uterine Cancer, Stomach Cancer or Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) after undergoing Fibroid Removal or a Hysterectomy may be eligible for legal compensation. Their lawsuits are against the power morcellator manufacturers for designing an instrument to be used in an unsafe manner.

Women who have had this cancer side effect are urged to consult with an attorney that has low fees and no risk. If you’ve been the victim, then Click here to receive your free case evaluation.

The post Morcellator Cancer Lawsuit Spreads appeared first on Citizens Report.

Morcellation Hysterectomy Side Effects

Approximately 500,000 women undergo hysterectomies each year, and of these about 11% were performed using a device known as a morcellator. That means that about 50,000 women every year receive laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomies, all without knowing about a particularly dangerous morcellation hysterectomy side effect. The FDA has found that one extremely troubling morcellation hysterectomy side effect is a significantly increased risk of cancer.

What is Morcellation Hysterectomy Cancer?

Laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomy removes the uterus using a long, thin laparoscope and a device called a morcellator – a rotary blade instrument – at its end. The laproscope is inserted into the uterus via a small incision in the abdomen, where the morcellator removes the uterus piece by piece. The procedure was initially touted as a safer and less costly alternative to abdominal surgical hysterectomies, but it is now clear that morcellation hysterectomies pose a considerable risk to women.

About 1 in 350 women has undiagnosed, benign cancer cells called uterine sarcomas. These cells reside in the uterine wall, and may be released into the body as a result of morcellation, the shredding and spreading of cancerous tissues that were previously dormant.

Morcellation hysterectomy side effects also include fever, nausea, flu- and menopause-like symptoms, infection, internal scarring and long recovery times. By far the most serious danger of this procedure is a morcellation hysterectomy cancer, which usually takes the form of an aggressive uterine sarcoma such as leiomyosarcoma or an endometrial stromal sarcoma. These are highly malignant cancers with very low survival rates, usually around 15% in their advanced stages.

The largest manufacturer of morcellators, Johnson & Johnson, has voluntarily suspended its sales of this dangerous device. Other manufacturers have followed suit, and a few major hospitals chains have preemptively banned the procedure in recognition of its potentially lethal side effects.

What Can Women Do?

Morcellator Cancer Lawsuit in the Making

Thousands of women who were unaware of the risks of laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomy are already preparing a morcellation cancer lawsuit. Patients who developed leiomyosarcoma (LMS) or other uterine sarcomas after a laparoscopic morcellation hysterectomy should consult a lawyer using the link below.

Click here to receive your free case evaluation.

The post Cancer Included in Morcellation Hysterectomy Side Effects appeared first on Citizens Report.