Health industry super giant Johnson and Johnson was hit Monday with a $72 million dollar verdict in the case of a woman named Jackie Fox, who says that she developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s products “Johnson’s Baby Powder” and “Shower to Shower” talcum powders for decades.
After her diagnosis of ovarian cancer, Fox, who has since passed away, joined a group of women who were suing the company for what they believed was a failure to inform consumers that talc contained asbestos and could cause cancer.
Talc has not actually been used in powders since the early 1970’s when it was discovered that it contained trace amounts of asbestos. Companies quickly replaced the talc in their products with corn starch, which is a natural substance that has no links to cancer or other health problems.
However, studies have been inconclusive in this area. While some studies have show that, when used on the female genitals, small particles can travel to the ovaries, causing irritation and inflammation, possibly even cancer. Other researchers have dismissed these studies stating that they were improperly done and accusing researchers in charge of the studies of using asbestos type talc, not the corn starch based talc used today.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer states that modern day powders are not carcinogens when inhaled, however, they could possibly cause cancer when used on the genitals.
Fox’s son, Marvin, took over his mother’s claim after her death last year. A St. Louis jury awarded Fox’s family $10 million in actual damages and $62 million in punitive damages. Lawyers for the company have stated that although they are currently reviewing all their options, they expect that they will appeal this decision.
A Stanford University Law Professor, Nora Engstrom, told the Associated Press that this decision did not look good for Johnson and Johnson, who is still facing approximately 1,200 other lawsuits currently.
Source: USA Today
xHealth industry super giant Johnson and Johnson was hit Monday with a $72 million dollar verdict in the case of a woman named Jackie Fox, who says that she developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s products “Johnson’s Baby Powder” and “Shower to Shower” talcum powders for decades.
After her diagnosis of ovarian cancer, Fox, who has since passed away, joined a group of women who were suing the company for what they believed was a failure to inform consumers that talc contained asbestos and could cause cancer.
Talc has not actually been used in powders since the early 1970’s when it was discovered that it contained trace amounts of asbestos. Companies quickly replaced the talc in their products with corn starch, which is a natural substance that has no links to cancer or other health problems.
History
However, studies have been inconclusive in this area. While some studies have show that, when used on the female genitals, small particles can travel to the ovaries, causing irritation and inflammation, possibly even cancer. Other researchers have dismissed these studies stating that they were improperly done and accusing researchers in charge of the studies of using asbestos type talc, not the corn starch based talc used today.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer states that modern day powders are not carcinogens when inhaled, however, they could possibly cause cancer when used on the genitals.
Fox’s son, Marvin, took over his mother’s claim after her death last year. A St. Louis jury awarded Fox’s family $10 million in actual damages and $62 million in punitive damages. Lawyers for the company have stated that although they are currently reviewing all their options, they expect that they will appeal this decision.
A Stanford University Law Professor, Nora Engstrom, told the Associated Press that this decision did not look good for Johnson and Johnson, who is still facing approximately 1,200 other lawsuits currently.
Source: USA Today
