In April 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert cautioning against the use of power morcellators in gynecological surgeries. The FDA discovered that the procedures posed a significant cancer-spreading risk to women with uterine fibroids.
The FDA estimated that 1 in 350 women who undergo uterine fibroid removal or full hysterectomies have undiagnosed uterine cancer. The procedure uses a drill to cut fibroids into tiny pieces and then extracts them through the abdomen region.
In the wake of that original safety announcement, insurance companies begin declining coverage of the procedure to reduce the number of procedures being performed. Surgeons routinely conduct 10,000 or more laparoscopic power morcellation procedures each year. Unfortunately, though the procedure is minimally invasive, when the fibroids are cancerous, the cancer can be spread throughout the abdomen.
On Nov. 24, 2014, the FDA issued a follow up power morcellation safety alert. The FDA cautioned against the use of laparoscopic power morcellators in several categories of women, including post-menopausal women. The FDA has not banned the use of power morcellators, but they have expressed increasing concern about the use of such procedures.
In response to the safety alert, one of the nations largest hospital chains has decided to discontinue the procedure in all of its hospitals. HCA Holdings, Inc., a hospital chain that owns more than 150+ hospitals and more than 100 surgery centers has announced that the procedure will no longer be offered. The hospitals and surgery centers are located across 20 different states.
Greg Coleman Law hopes to see other hospitals follow suite and stop conducting power morcellation procedures that place women at grave risk.
Personal Injury Law Firm: Greg Coleman Law
At Greg Coleman Law, our experienced personal injury attorneys in Knoxville have the experience and resources to go after large companies and negligent hospitals.
If someone you love has developed uterine cancer after a power morcellation procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Call (865) 247-0080.
