Johnson & Johnson Recalls Its Laparoscopic Power Morcellators
The laparoscopic power morcellators provided by Johnson & Johnson enabled surgeons to perform procedures such as hysterectomies with minimal invasiveness. Unfortunately, an estimated 1 in 350 women undergoing hysterectomies have an undiagnosed case of uterine cancer, and when the uterus is broken into pieces by this device, it can cause the cancer to spread. This is what happened to a Harvard anesthesiologist and medical professor who underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy and subsequently petitioned the FDA to put an end to the use of this method.
Accordingly, the FDA began conducting a study, the findings of which were published in July. As a result of this study, the FDA recommended that use of morcellators be suspended or restricted. Following this report, Johnson & Johnson announced that it will no longer produce the devices and has recommended that customers return them.
However, the wisdom of this decision is being challenged by many in the medical field who feel that the potential dangers are not as significant as the FDA is reporting. Outpatient Magazine reports on this argument in an article entitled “Johnson & Johnson Asks Customers to Return Morcellators.”
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