Jim Onder - The Onder Law Firm
It is a sad fact that the public is only learning of the link between this particular device and the spread of cancer because women have lost their lives.
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) October 30, 2014
A New York woman has reportedly died as a result of cancer spread by power morcellator hysterectomy, according to an October 27, 2014 article in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.* Brenda Leuzzi was diagnosed with Stage 4 leiomyosarcoma, an aggressive form of uterine cancer, following a routine hysterectomy which took place in September of 2012, according to the article. Ms. Leuzzi’s battle with cancer was documented through numerous news stories and she and her family joined the public outcry against morcellator hysterectomy and cancer risks posed to patients, according to the news piece.
"In many cases women and their loved ones knew nothing about morcellator devices or their risks at the time of surgery. It is a sad fact that the public is only learning of the link between this particular device and the spread of cancer because women have lost their lives,” stated Jim Onder of the Onder Law Firm.
Ms. Leuzzi’s uncle testified about her experience with morcellator hysterectomy and uterine cancer at FDA hearings in July, according to another Democrat & Chronicle article.** A two-day hearing was convened to determine the agency’s stance on power morcellation for hysterectomy and other uterine fibroid surgeries. Gynecology experts and families affected by cancer from hysterectomy surgeries contributed information and testimony. Gene Manley, Ms. Leuzzi’s uncle, served as a spokesperson for his family, according to the D&C.
According to the July news article, Ms. Leuzzi was concerned with the risk of spreading cancer by surgery, even delaying her surgery a day in order to receive test results prior to the procedure. However, morcellator surgery of the uterus has been found to spread a form of cancer found in uterine fibroids that is not detectable, according to the article. "It is unacceptable that in an effort to avoid one risk we subject women to another," Hal Lawrence III, executive vice president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, testified before federal regulators referring to the risk of cancer from hysterectomy by morcellation, according to the news piece.
The FDA has yet to announce its final stance on power morcellation for hysterectomy or uterine fibroid surgery, but the leading manufacturer of power morcellators has done so. Johnson & Johnson announced in July of 2014 that it was issuing a voluntary recall for power morcellators used throughout the world. A New York Times article reported on July 31, 2014 that J&J was voluntarily asking doctors to stop using the devices and return them to the company’s Ethicon division.*** This decision followed an FDA warning urging doctors to stop using the procedure which was issued on April 17, 2014.
As women and their families learn of the connection between morcellator hysterectomy and cancer advancement, lawsuits have begun to surface. One hysterectomy cancer lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in California’s Northern District**** on May 13, 2014 has been progressing routinely, according to court documents. The plaintiffs, Sarah Salem-Robinson and her husband Alan A. Robinson, are suing Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation, the company that manufactures the power morcellator used in the plaintiff’s hysterectomy procedure, according to court documents. Ms. Salem-Robinson was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma two weeks after her hysterectomy, on May 30, 2012.
The Onder Law Firm, known nationwide for its superior work in family and product liability law, provides comprehensive information on hysterectomy cancer lawsuits at MorcellatorCancerLawsuitCenter.com. These surgery cancer attorneys offer no-cost, confidential case review to women and the family members of women who were diagnosed with cancer following morcellator surgery. Attorneys reviewing morcellator claims believe women who were diagnosed with cancer following hysterectomy or myomectomy surgery may be entitled to real compensation for the harm and damages they sustained.
The Onder Law Firm welcomes hysterectomy cancer lawsuit inquiries from law firms in regards to handling them or working as co-counsel.
About The Onder Law Firm
Onder, Shelton, O’Leary & Peterson, LLC is a St. Louis based personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The pharmaceutical and medical device litigators at The Onder Law Firm have represented thousands of Americans in lawsuits against multinational conglomerates from products liability for manufacture of defective or dangerous products to deceptive advertising practices. Other firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation. It is also a recognized leader in products liability cases such as window blind cord strangulation. The Onder Law Firm offers information from morcellator surgery lawyers at http://www.morcellatorcancerlawsuitcenter.com.
*Democrat & Chronicle, 10/27/2014, democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/10/27/brenda-leuzzi-dies-cancer-years-surgery-involving-morcellation/18007485/
**Democrat & Chronicle,, 7/11/2014, democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/07/11/jim-leary-barbara-brenda-leuzzi-morcellation/12553895/
***The New York Times, 8/1/2014, nytimes.com/2014/08/01/business/johnson-johnson-wins-praise-for-pulling-uterine-surgery-devices.html?_r=0
****Case 5:14-cv-02209-EJD - Salem-Robinson et al v. Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation