Morcellator Lawsuits
Power morcellators used during hysterectomy and fibroid removal surgeries have been linked to the spread of undetected uterine cancer. If you or a loved one was harmed, we want to help.
What Is a Power Morcellator?
A power morcellator is a surgical device used during minimally invasive procedures — such as laparoscopic hysterectomies and myomectomies — to cut tissue into smaller pieces so it can be removed through small incisions. For years, these devices were widely used to remove uterine fibroids and the uterus itself.
The problem: morcellators can spread undetected cancerous tissue throughout the abdomen and pelvis. If a woman has an unsuspected uterine sarcoma or other malignancy, the morcellation process can upstage her cancer from a localized, potentially curable condition to a widely disseminated and often fatal one.
The FDA's Warning and Recall
In 2014, the FDA issued a safety communication warning against the use of laparoscopic power morcellators for the majority of women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy. The FDA estimated that approximately 1 in 350 women undergoing surgery for fibroids has unsuspected uterine sarcoma.
Despite this warning, manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson continued to market and sell these devices. In 2020, the FDA ordered manufacturers to stop selling most power morcellators for use in hysterectomy and myomectomy procedures, citing the risk of spreading cancer.
Injuries Linked to Power Morcellators
Upstaged Uterine Cancer
Morcellation can spread localized uterine sarcoma throughout the abdomen and pelvis, dramatically worsening prognosis and reducing survival rates.
Leiomyosarcoma Spread
Women with undetected leiomyosarcoma — a rare but aggressive uterine cancer — face catastrophic outcomes when morcellation disperses malignant cells.
Peritoneal Leiomyomatosis
Benign fibroid tissue spread by morcellation can implant throughout the abdominal cavity, causing chronic pain, bowel obstruction, and the need for repeated surgeries.
Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma
This rare cancer can be seeded across the pelvis and abdomen during morcellation, turning a manageable condition into a life-threatening one.
Wrongful Death
Families of women who died after morcellator-related cancer spread may have claims for wrongful death against device manufacturers.
Emotional and Financial Harm
Survivors face extensive additional surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and the profound emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis that could have been avoided.
Who May Qualify to File a Claim?
You may have a claim if you underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy or myomectomy using a power morcellator and were subsequently diagnosed with uterine cancer, leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, or peritoneal leiomyomatosis. Claims may also be available for women whose cancer was upstaged or whose prognosis worsened as a result of morcellation.
Manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon), Karl Storz, LiNA Medical, and others have faced litigation over these devices. Statutes of limitations vary by state, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible if you believe you were harmed.
Talk to Our Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one suffered harm after a power morcellator procedure, Cohen Hirsch LP is here to help. Our attorneys handle morcellator cases on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win.
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