Power Morcellator News: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Notes Uncle’s Plea to FDA Following New York Woman’s Death from Leiomyosarcoma
New York, NY (PRWEB) November 17, 2014 -- As federal regulators consider taking further steps to mitigate the cancer risks associated with the use of power morcellators, http://www.morcellatorlawsuit2015.com) Bernstein Liebhard LLP notes that cancer victims and their families are pushing the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to impose a ban on the use of the devices in gynecological surgeries. Late last month, they were joined by the uncle of a New York woman who recently died from leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of uterine sarcoma, following a procedure to remove what were believed to be benign fibroids. According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Gene Manley has written to officials at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to implore that they take action to end uterine morcellation once and for all. Among other things, the letter reminds the FDA of its obligation to protect the public, and asserts that in order to meet this obligation, the agency needs to act now to ban such procedures.*
Mr. Manley’s niece, Brenda Leuzzi, passed away in late October, following a two-year battle with leiomyosarcoma. According to the Democrat and Chronicle, she was diagnosed with the disease just days after her fibroid removal procedure. Her doctors believe the power morcellator used in her surgery allowed undetected cancer cells present in her fibroids to spread beyond her uterus.**
“Our Firm has heard from so many families who allegedly lost a loved one to cancer due to uterine morcellation. We extend our sympathy to Mr. Manley and his family, and commend him for continuing to advocate on his niece’s behalf,” says Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is now evaluating potential morcellator lawsuits on behalf of women who may have experienced the spread of undiagnosed uterine sarcoma and other cancers due to uterine morcellation.
Power Morcellators and Cancer
Power morcellators are used in laparoscopic hysterectomies and fibroid removals to cut tissue into small pieces so that the material can be removed via a small abdominal incision. In April, the FDA publically discouraged doctors from using the devices in gynecological surgeries due to the possibility that they may spread undetected cancer cells present in the uterus into the abdominal cavity. According to the agency, as many as 1 in 350 women with fibroids may actually have undiagnosed uterine sarcoma. There is currently no reliable way to screen for cancer prior to morcellation, and the use of one of these devices may result in an upstaging of the disease and greatly reduce a woman’s chances for long-term survival.
Court records also indicate that a growing number of power morcellator lawsuits have been filed in U.S. courts on behalf of women who allegedly experienced the spread of uterine cancers due to the devices. Just last month, one such case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on behalf of a woman who allegedly developed seven cancerous tumors in her abdomen after undergoing uterine morcellation to remove fibroids. (Nielsen, et ux. v. Gyrus Acmi LLC, No. 2:14-2375)
The FDA is continuing to review the association between power morcellators and cancers. In July, the agency convened a meeting of outside advisors to discuss the matter, at which time a number of cancer victims and their family members asked the FDA to ban uterine morcellation. .*** However, the agency recently indicated that it is not ready to take such a step at this time.****
Women who allegedly experienced the spread of uterine sarcomas and leiomyosarcoma due to power morcellation may be entitled to take legal action against the manufacturer of the device used in their surgery. To learn more about power morcellators and cancer, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website. To obtain a free legal review, please call 800-511-5092.
*democratandchronicle.com/story/all-about-health/2014/10/31/relative-says-time-for-fda-to-cry-uncle/18238227/, Democrat and Chronicle, October 31, 2014
**democratandchronicle.com/story/all-about-health/2014/10/28/husband-grieves-over-unnecessary-death/18049069/, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, October 29, 2014
***bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2014/07/11/agreement-reached-whether-fda-should-ban-hysterectomy-cutting-tool/EkXZaFAUUnT5HZ7DBQvWbM/story.html, Boston Globe, July 11, 2014
****democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/10/09/power-morcellation-fibroid-gillibrand-schumer/16975935/, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, October 10, 2014
About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3 billion on behalf of our clients. The Firm has been named by The National Law Journal to the Plaintiffs’ Hot List, recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country, for the past 12 consecutive years. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is the only firm in the country to be named to this prestigious list every year since it was first published in 2003.
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Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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Felecia L. Stern, Power Morcellator Lawsuit Information, http://www.morcellatorlawsuit2015.com, +1 800-511-5092, [email protected]
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