Johnson & Johnson has lost yet another major lawsuit over their talc-based baby powder. Deborah Giannecchini, 62, who used baby powder for feminine hygiene for years, was awarded $70 Million for punitive damages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Giannecchini was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 3 years ago. Her cancer was found to be linked to her consistent use of baby powder.
This is a historic moment of justice, and one that will hopefully lead to the establishment of preventative measures, so that in the future more people will not have to suffer from preventable cancer.
Will Thousands of J&J Victims Finally Receive Justice?
In 2016 alone, Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Talcum powder isn’t the only dangerous product the company sells — cases are currently pending against the company’s transvaginal mesh, and prescription medicines such as the antipsychotic drug Risperdal®, the blood thinner Xarelto®, and the diabetes drug Invokana®.
Johnson & Johnson is facing approximately 1,700 talcum powder lawsuits in both state and federal courts — and they have lost the last 3 trials. Victims claim that the company ignored studies linking its baby powder and other talc-based products to ovarian cancer and failed to warn customers about the risk.
The recent surge in talcum powder lawsuits is a fairly-new (and long overdue) development. For years, Johnson & Johnson has gotten away with selling these dangerous products — and making lots of money off doing so. Only now is the general public beginning to realize the dangers that have been intentionally hidden from them in the name of corporate profit. It is promising that victims are speaking up and seeking justice for the wrongs that have been committed against them.
Despite Recent Verdicts, Johnson & Johnson Still Denies Dangers
From a scientific standpoint, the dangers of talcum powder are well-established and have been known within the medical community for some time. Despite this information, Johnson & Johnson still doesn’t acknowledge the validity of these scientific studies. How can a company stand behind a product when even gynecologists, and other medical professionals, advise against its use?
From the perspective of a corrupt business, however, the reluctance to admit to any wrongdoing is unfortunately not that surprising. Johnson & Johnson stands to lose millions and millions of dollars over their actions. With each new successful case against them, it will become increasingly difficult for them to deny the obvious.
An Important Movement Is Gathering Steam
Lawsuits allow for corruption to be aired, and scrutinized, publicly. How else would a woman find out about the dangers of talcum powder — considering that the company refuses to acknowledge scientific evidence and put a warning label on their packages or change the instructions for use?
The only effective weapon against big business is awareness and public conversation. Hopefully, coverage of these recent lawsuits will educate women about the dangers of talcum powder use for feminine hygiene. Perhaps women currently using the product will be convinced to stop — and perhaps women currently suffering from the harmful effects of talcum powder will find the strength and the resolve to speak up and demand justice.
