Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder And Ovarian Cancer

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been encouraging women to use their talcum powder for genital dusting since the 1980s. “Just a sprinkle a day keeps odor away,” is the slogan they have been using in their advertising campaigns, obviously invoking negative connotations about the cleanliness of female genitals. What’s worse is that studies dating as far back as 1971 have shown a potential link between the use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer.

J&J uses talcum powder in their products, particularly J&J’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower. At a 1982 meeting with Dr. Daniel Cramer, an epidemiologist at Birgham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, J&J executives became aware of the potential link between ovarian cancer and the use of talcum powder. Dr. Cramer had published a statistically supported study that same year, in the journal “Cancer,” on the use of talc and ovarian cancer.

A number of studies have been published since Dr. Cramer’s, connecting the use of talc on the genital region with ovarian cancer. The following developments also took place after Dr. Cramer’s study was published:

• Plaintiff Deane Berg of South Dakota was offered a $1.3-million an out-of-court settlement by J&J for her signature on a confidentiality agreement. The agreement, which she declined as stated in a recent interview with the New York Post, was drafted to prevent her from discussing her case. The jury did not award her any money in the case, but “it was never about the money,” stated Berg.
• In February of 2016, a St. Louis jury returned a verdict of $72 million to the family of Jackie Fox, who passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 62, had been using J&J’s talc-based products for a large portion of her life on a daily basis for genital dusting.
• In May of 2016, a verdict of $55 million was returned to Gloria Ristesund and 5 other plaintiffs by another St. Louis jury.
• Over 1,000 claims have been filed against J&J, across the country, by women who have developed ovarian cancer. All these women trusted the J&J brand, and had been faithful to their products, all their lives.

Despite all these developments and cases against J&J, the company has continued to unwaveringly deny any link between the use of talc and ovarian cancer. J&J also refused to pull their talc-based products from the market.

Toxicologist Alfred P. Wehner, an internal consultant for J&J, wrote two letters to the company officials in 1997. He attacked the company’s stance on the issue stating, “Anyone who denies this, risks that the talc industry will be perceived by the public like it perceives the cigarette industry: denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary.”

Wehner also stated in the letters that J&J needs to stop putting pride and profit over people and needed to start heeding his advice. He emphasized the fact that J&J must admit the truth about the link between the use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer, and they needed to do it without delay.

A cancer diagnosis signals a difficult road for both the patients and their families. J&J needs to honor the trust these women have shown in them and put the best interests of the people over their own pride and profits, by taking action immediately.

For more information on Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling 800-835-5762 & 954-456-2488 today.

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