Blog: Unsafe Medical Devices

Medical Journal Highlights Current Power Morcellator Debate

Jan 27, 2016

This January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology features two articles diametrically opposed in their messages as to the true risk of power morcellation. In this month’s issue, a group of 48 top gynecological surgeons, headed by William Parker of UCLA, and a few women’s health advocates, including Carla Dionne of the National Uterine Fibroid Foundation (NUFF.org), published a letter directed to the FDA in defense of the use of power morcellation and challenging the FDA on...

What Is a Power Morcellator?

Jan 20, 2016

Power morcellators are made by multiple manufacturers, and provide a less-invasive option in gynecological surgeries. They are shaped much like a drill, and can be inserted into a woman’s lower abdomen through a tiny incision. Once inside, during hysterectomies or myomectomies, they work by rapidly spinning blades which shred, grab and/or and chop up organs and tissue for removal through small incisions. The tool has been used with increasing frequency for laparoscopic gynecological surgeries in...

Power Morcellator Surgery Victims Have Their First Day in Court as Consolidated Cases

Nov 18, 2015

At 1:00 p.m. CST today, women and their families who suffered injuries as a result of a power morcellator will have their first day in federal court as a consolidated litigation in front of the Honorable Kathryn H. Vratil in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. On October 15, 2015, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) entered an order transferring all power morcellator cases against defendant Ethicon to the...

Power Morcellators – the Risk of Spreading Uterine Cancer and Fibroids Exposed

Nov 13, 2015

One in 352 Women Women undergoing a routine laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy (fibroid removal surgery) with a power morcellator are at risk of spreading cancerous and infected uterine tissue throughout their bodies, reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2014. According to the analysis of scientific literature, the prevalence of unsuspected uterine sarcoma – a type of cancer – in women undergoing these routine surgeries was one in 352. Meaning: One in 352 women...