Johnson & Johnson is requesting that a federal judge dismiss a class action lawsuit that alleges that the talcum-based product may increase the risk of ovarian cancer in those who use it in their genital areas.
The suit, filed by Barbara Mihalich, is seeking class action status for all consumers in Illinois who purchased Johnson’s Baby Powder, and alleges that the company failed to disclose that the talc may put women at a 33 percent increased risk for ovarian cancer. According to J&J, the plaintiff does not have ovarian cancer, did not use the product on her genitals, and shows no damages in her claim.
The Link between Talc and Ovarian Cancer
Several studies have found that the use of talcum powder on a woman’s genital area may significantly increase their risk of ovarian cancer because it may migrate from the vagina into the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries. One study, published in the medical journal Cancer Prevention Research in 2013, found that women who use talc on their genital areas may have a 20 – 30 percent higher risk of ovarian cancer than those who do not.
According to cancer.org, it is not clear if talcum powder use increases cancer risk, but until more information becomes available, the American Cancer Society is recommending that women who are concerned might want to limit their use and consider cornstarch-based products instead.
In October 2013, a South Dakota jury determined that J&J failed to adequately warn consumers about the risk of ovarian cancer from talcum powder in a product liability lawsuit brought by a woman who developed ovarian cancer in 2006 after using Shower to Shower body powder for 30 years. Harvard University doctor Daniel Cramer, who has been studying the link between talc and ovarian cancer for three decades, testified in the case that talcum powder “probably caused 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer every year.”
New cases and causes of action are being investigated now on an individual basis for those who have developed ovarian cancer after prolonged use of Talc. If you have questions about your legal rights we are here to help.
