Jerry Woodell filed a legal complaint against the manufacturers of power morcellator devices for their refusal to address known safety concerns.

A North Carolina man named Jerry Woodell is taking legal action against makers of the power morcellator device that allegedly caused the death of his wife.

Woodell is seeking damages on behalf of his late partner Bethann, who developed cancer after undergoing a total laparoscopic hysterectomy procedure.

The Woodell Family’s Story

Jerry and Bethann Woodell.
Image: Ridge Funeral Home

In 2012, Bethann was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. For this painful but common condition, doctors recommended a hysterectomy.

In March of that same year, Bethann underwent a laparoscopic morcellation procedure to have the fibroids removed.

Less than six months after the surgery, Bethann began to experience unusual symptoms. She often felt fatigued and started to suffer from migraine headaches. She was admitted to the hospital, where doctors noticed that she had a growth in her pelvis.

Doctors originally thought the large mass was benign, but it was later discovered that Bethann had developed a high-grade cancer called leiomyosarcoma.

In an attempt to save her life, Bethann was exposed to intensive chemotherapy and underwent multiple surgeries. However, her cancer only continued to grow.

Despite a number of last-ditch treatments, Bethann passed away on Sept. 9.

Fighting The Potential Flaws Of Morcellation

Power morcellation can spread hidden cancer cells throughout the body.
Image: Contemporary OBGYN

On Oct. 22, Woodell filed a lawsuit against high-earning morcellator manufacturers. In his complaint, Woodell listed various injustices. He’s suing for product liability, wrongful death and personal injury.

The lawsuit alleges that the “spinning blades that shred, grind, and core tissue into smaller pieces” can leave behind fragments in the “abdomino-pelvic cavity, or attach to surrounding organs, and cancerous cells can travel to remote areas of the body.”

In his complaint, Woodell argues that device manufacturers were aware of the risks related to the spread of hidden cancer and refused to remedy the situation by altering the design.

“Long before [Bethann] underwent surgery in 2012, defendants knew or should have known that their laparoscopic power morcellators could cause occult malignant tissue fragments to be disseminated and implanted in the body, which, in turn, upstages any cancer present and significantly worsens a woman’s chance of survival,” according to the lawsuit.

Research shows that 1 in 350 women undergoing power morcellation procedures may have hidden cancer cells in their uterus. The FDA warns that if these women have surgery with a power morcellator, it “will spread the cancerous tissue within the abdomen and pelvis, significantly worsening the patient’s likelihood of long-term survival.”

If you developed cancer after having your uterine fibroids removed with a power morcellator, you might be entitled to compensation for this medical side effect.

Request a free, no-obligation case evaluation now to see if you qualify.

The post Man Files Suit Against Morcellator That Caused Wife’s Death appeared first on Citizens Report.

The Government Accountability Office will inspect the Food and Drug Administration’s hasty approval of power morcellators.

Despite the fact that power morcellators are associated with minimally invasive surgery, Congress holds these controversial medical devices accountable for hundreds of cancer-related deaths.

After a multitude of dangers linked to power morcellators, the federal government is finally paying attention.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has launched an internal investigation to evaluate the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the widely used surgical instrument.

How Could Surgery Spread Cancer?

Power morcellators are often used to fibroids, also known as benign growths, in the uterus.
Image: Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine

Many are inclined to believe that minimally invasive surgeries are safe, but that’s not always the case. Laparoscopic power morcellation procedures, which provide relief from uterine fibroids through small incisions, have extremely dangerous long-term side effects.

The devices treat uterine fibroids through two different kinds of procedures. Hysterectomies involve removing the uterus while a myomectomy focuses on eliminating the actual fibroids. A myomectomy is preferred for women wanting to have children. Less frequently, the devices are also used for renal nephrectomy or splenectomies.

Fibroids are painful mounds of tissue that cause heavy menstrual bleeding, extended periods and radiating pain. Fibroids are very common and can be removed by a medical professional.

During the power morcellation removal process, pieces of tissue are often left behind. The remaining tissue spreads throughout the body, forming undetected tumors that develop into cancer.

Women who underwent these procedures are increasingly being diagnosed with uterine cancer, causing the medical community to speculate on the safety of the devices. Since then, multiple studies have linked power morcellation to occult uterine cancer.

The Long-Awaited Investigation

The GAO will be evaluating the FDA’s 510(k) approval process and the time it took to add a warning label to power morcellators.
Image: Facebook

The devices, which are meant to come with few risks, have been used by medical professionals since 1991. As regulators begin to evaluate the devices, the truth will finally be uncovered.

The FDA issued a warning in April 2014 urging doctors to discontinue the use of power morcellators in their practices. The warning came after a study that unveiled the true number of women who developed cancer from power morcellation surgeries.

The results proved that 1 in every 350 women who had fibroids removed were at risk for uterine cancer. After six months, the FDA finally included a warning on the product’s labeling.

The investigation, which includes two major parts, was deemed necessary by twelve members of Congress. These lawmakers are determined to find out why the FDA waited months to warn the public about the dangerous side effects of power morcellators.

In addition, the investigation will evaluate the 510(k) approval process that brought the devices into the market with little speculation. The accelerated process, which limits the need for extensive pre and post-approval safety testing, may be responsible for the lack of awareness about the cancer-causing side effects.

Legal Support For Injured Patients

Patients who developed cancer from power morcellation deserve justice.
Image: ABC News

Federal investigators are set to start looking into the devices, but the issue remains largely unresolved until new regulations are enacted. Patients who underwent uterine fibroid surgery because they weren’t informed of the risks deserve justice now.

If you or a loved one developed cancer from a procedure that used power morcellation techniques, you are not alone. You are entitled to health-related compensation for problems caused by power morcellation procedures.

Click here for a free case evaluation to learn more about legal rights and remedies.

The post Federal Government Launches Investigation Into Power Morcellators appeared first on Citizens Report.

Uterine fibroids vary in size and weight; some are microscopic while others can grow very large and weigh several pounds. Some grow very rapidly while others shrink on their own. No matter the size or growth rate, these fibroids, also called leiomyomas or myomas, are non-cancerous and usually discovered during a routine pelvic exam.

In certain circumstances uterine fibroids can cause pain, severe bleeding, and even difficulty in conceiving. For these reasons some women choose to have them surgically removed either by a myomectomy, which is a procedure that removes only the fibroids, or a hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus.

The Risks of Laparoscopic Power Morcellation Surgery

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings about laparoscopic power morcellation, a minimally invasive procedure that uses a special medical device to blast uterine fibroids into very tiny pieces which can then be removed through a small incision in the abdomen. The surgery can be potentially dangerous. Although fibroids themselves are non-cancerous, should the patient have undiagnosed cancer, such as uterine, cervical, ovarian, or abdominal, the procedure can spread the cancer around the abdomen, making it much more difficult to treat.

In its research the FDA found that nearly 1 in 350 women who had power morcellation treatment to remove fibroids developed uterine cancer. Unfortunately at this time, there is no reliable detection method to predict whether a patient with fibroids also has uterine cancer.

Power Morcellation is an Attractive Procedure for Doctors and Hospitals

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, doctors and hospitals continuously look for ways to attract patients. One way is by offering minimally-invasive surgeries, such as power morcellation, which promise smaller scars and quicker recovery periods. It is for this reason that many gynecologists are still performing the potentially-dangerous surgery, despite the multiple warnings from the FDA.

What Can Women Do?

Women who have developed an abdominal cancer after a power morcellation surgery may be entitled to medical compensation. Lawyers provide free case evaluations to determine if the surgery patient is eligible. This is one such case evaluation.

Looking ahead, the FDA has announced it is considering possibly requiring an official warning of the power morcellation procedure in the future. In the meantime, what can women do to ensure their personal safety when deciding how to treat their uterine fibroids?

It is advised that women discuss all of their options with their doctor. Some may find other treatments such as an abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy, or a non-surgical option such as hormone therapy, good alternatives. If a laparoscopic myomectomy or hysterectomy is recommended, women should ask their doctor if power morcellation will be used and if it is the best option for them.

Women who developed Uterine Cancer, Stomach Cancer or Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) after undergoing Fibroid Removal or a Hysterectomy may be eligible for compensation. Don’t let your valuable legal rights expire – request a free case review by visiting:

Click here to receive your free case evaluation.

The post The Danger of Power Morcellation Surgery in Treating Uterine Fibroids appeared first on Citizens Report.