One of the First Morcellator Lawsuits Spurs Many Others

After a California couple filed one of the first lawsuits alleging that a power morcellator –  a device used to grind up and remove uterine fibroids – caused the spread of unknown cancer, at least a dozen more suits have followed. The March 2014 complaint alleged that just 12 days after her fibroid removal surgery, Sarah Salem-Robinson was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer that spread to her lungs by the use of a power morcellator. Salem-Robinson claimed that her diagnosis was the first time that she was even made aware of the risks associated with using a morcellator and accused the manufacturer of failing to adequately communicate the dangers of the device. In the wake of Salem-Robinson’s and other women’s cases, the FDA issued strict warnings advising against the tool, however some healthcare insurers continue to support the tool’s use.