For all women who suffer from the very common medical condition of fibroids, there are some recent developments in the treatment of fibroids, particularly uterine fibroids that you should know about. For many years gynecologists have been recommending hysterectomy for women with fibroids after they have had children or approached menopause. Many doctors informed their patients that they could remove the uterus and fibroids laparoscopically with the use of a product called a morcellator.
A morcellator is a medical device that cuts or shreds uterine and fibroid tissue into microscopic pieces so that it can be removed through a very small incision in the abdomen. Physicians often tout the advantages of doing surgery laparoscopically, and in many cases, the advantages are real. There is the advantage of a smaller scar and a quicker recovery. However, a very serious issue had been noticeably absent from the risk-benefit analysis for laparoscopic hysterectomy until now. And that is the risk of advancing undetected uterine cancers.
Very recently, there has been intense media scrutiny of what manufacturers of morcellators knew about the risk of spreading aggressive and rare uterine cancers. Information coming to light in the last several weeks reveals that manufacturers and doctors knew of the risk of taking an undiagnosed uterine cancer from a treatable Stage I to an advanced Stage IV if a morcellator was used during the surgery. However, despite this knowledge, the risk of “seeding” cancerous cells into the abdomens of these women was never disclosed to the women themselves.
It is extremely unfortunate that physicians were not disclosing this risk to their patients. It is also disturbing that manufacturers may have misrepresented the safety of this medical device. The harsh reality is that many women now find themselves facing a very grim diagnosis when the idea of cancer was never even a consideration in their decision to have laparoscopic surgery.
If you or someone you know has uterine fibroids or has had a laparoscopic hysterectomy we urge you to educate yourself about the risks of using a morcellator. Our medical malpractice law firm has female attorneys with extensive medical and legal experience and a track record of obtaining excellent results for our clients. We also have a full time nurse on staff who can answer your questions and concerns and direct you to multiple sources of information on uterine fibroids, laparoscopic hysterectomy, morcellation and uterine cancer. Do not delay, contact us today at (412) 253-2092 for a free review of your medical malpractice claim.
