Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Talcum Powder, often known as baby powder, is a common health and beauty aid that has been available on the market since 1896. Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower have been marketed as a safe health care product to help keep your skin dry.
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined from the ground and later processed into powder form. During the refining process, naturally occurring asbestos is removed from the talc, essentially turning it into talcum powder. Prior to 1970, the asbestos was left in the talc. At that time the Food and Drug Administration required that the asbestos be removed from the talc for consumer use.
Talc powder has been marketed to treat skin problems for over 120 years. Targeted for women who wanted to stay feeling fresh and as a way to prevent diaper rash and sweating in babies, talcum powder has been marketed as a safe health and beauty product. However, as early as 1930, there have been medical studies conducted showing that using talcum powder increases the risk for cancer.
More recent medical studies, starting with the 1971 study showing that 75 percent of all cancerous ovarian tumors contained talc powder, and ending with the 2011 study showing that women who use talcum powder in their genital region have a 400 percent increased risk of ovarian and cervical cancers, show that women have been misled about the safety of this product.
At this time there have been two major settlements concerning talc use and cancer. There have been thousands of lawsuits filed against Johnson and Johnson since the beginning of 2016.
Basis of the Case And Parties Involved
The first case that was filed against Jonson and Johnson baby powder occurred in 2013. Deanne Berg filed a suit against Johnson and Johnson for failing to warn consumers about the dangers associated with talcum powder, especially when used in the genital area of women. Her case alleged that after years of use as a health and beauty product, Ms. Berg developed ovarian cancer. Her lawsuit stated that if Johnson and Johnson had properly warned her about the potential to develop cancer, she would not have used the product. This case settled before the end of the year.
A second lawsuit was filed in 2015 by Jacqueline Fox in Minnesota alleging that after years of continued use, Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder had caused her ovarian cancer. Mrs. Fox died from the ovarian cancer in October 2015 and her family continued the lawsuit. In April of 2016, the Minnesota court awarded the family of Jacqueline Fox $7 million in damages.
Just a week later an award of $55 million was made to Gloria Ristesund. Ms. Ristesund was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 and underwent a hysterectomy. In her case, she stated that she used baby powder as a health and beauty product consistently for over 40 years.
On April 30, 2014 a Class Action lawsuit was filed against Johnson and Johnson in Los Angeles, California for consumer fraud. Mona Estrada, the lead Plaintiff in the case has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after a lifetime of using Jonson and Johnson talcum products. This case alleges that Johnson and Johnson have known for over 40 years that there are dangers for women using talcum powder near their genital region to develop ovarian cancer but placed their profits ahead of consumer safety. This is an ongoing case at this time.
Each of these lawsuits alleges the following:
• Johnson and Johnson (Company) failed to disclose to the public the risks associated with using talcum powder products
• Company failed to conduct further research on the connection between ovarian cancer and talcum powder after receiving numerous scientific reports.
• Failure to recall products and reissue with appropriate warning.
• Company failed to warn women of the cancer risks after the recall about previously used products.
• Company failed to pursue different formulas of their powder products that would eliminate the use of talc.
Side Effects Associated With Talcum Powder
Talc has been marketed as a safe product with only one warning. The back of the canister states to avoid inhalation of this product. Babies are at highest risk for developing problems associated with inhaling talc. These problems could include wheezing, coughing, and lung irritation known as talcosis. Long term exposure to inhaling talc can lead to the onset of asthma or pneumonia.
Additional side effects, although not contained in the warning label, include:
- Increased risk of ovarian cancer
- Possible link to cervical cancer
- Possible link to uterine cancer
