Archives for February 2016

Johnson & Johnson pays $72M in talcum powder lawsuit

J&J talcPharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $72 million in damages ($10M in actual damages and $62M in punitive damages) to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer in 2015.  This Alabama woman had reportedly used baby powder and other talcum power products for over 35 years.  In its natural form, talc can sometimes contain asbestos, which is known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled. However, since the 1970s, no talcum products sold in the U.S. have contained asbestos.  The evidence around asbestos-free talcum products and cancer risk is more unclear.

The American Cancer Society reports that the outcome of research into the potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer is mixed, as some studies found a slightly increased risk in women who reported using talcum powder in the genital area, while other studies reported no increased risk at all.  Experts note that those studies finding an increased risk might not be highly accurate, because they relied on the subjects’ memory of talc use many years prior to the actual study.

Baby Powder made from cosmetic talc is one of Johnson & Johnson’s oldest products and a longtime part of baby care rituals.  Their baby powder continues to be popular with adults as well, and in many parts of the world, it remains an essential part of makeup and skin care routines.  Talc is also used in toothpaste, chewing gum, aspirin, and other consumer products.  The company says, “With over 100 years of use, few ingredients have the same demonstrated performance, mildness and safety profile as cosmetic talc.  Our confidence in using talc reflects more than 30 years of research by independent scientists, review boards and global authorities, which have concluded that talc can be used safely in personal care products.  Various government agencies and other bodies also have examined talc to determine the potential for any safety risks, and none have concluded that there are safety risks.  In fact, no regulatory agency has ever required a change in labeling to reflect any safety risk from talc powder products. “

During the Johnson & Johnson trial, the woman’s lawyers alleged Johnson & Johnson was knowledgeable of the potential risk of using products containing talc for feminine hygienic use.  The AP reported on a 1997 internal memo from a company medical consultant that said “anybody who denies” the risk of using hygienic talc and ovarian cancer is “denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary.”

Carol Goodrich, a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman, said the company stands by the talc used in all “global products” and they are “evaluating” their legal options.  The company is expected to appeal the verdict.

“The recent U.S. verdict goes against decades of sound science proving the safety of talc as a cosmetic ingredient in multiple products, and while we sympathize with the family of the plaintiff, we strongly disagree with the outcome,” Goodrich said in a statement.

Nora Freeman Engstrom, a Stanford University law professor, told AP the decision “doesn’t bode well” for the company, which is facing 1,200 still-pending lawsuits.

Sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/johnson-johnson-verdict-can-talcum-powder-really-cause-cancer/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/02/24/johnson-johnson-lawsuit-baby-powder-talcum-ovarian-cancer-link/80845030/

http://www.safetyandcarecommitment.com/ingredient-info/other/talc?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=J%26J+-+Talc+Powder&utm_term=johnson%27s%20baby%20powder%20safety&utm_content=J%26J+Talc+Safety+-+B|mkwid|sbSgO72Yo_dc|pcrid|85363849814

 

 

New “Smart Helmets” Help Keep Motorcyclists Safer

smart helmetCurrently, 19 states (including Virginia and Maryland) and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet, known as universal helmet laws. Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 28 states (for instance for those riders 17 or 18 years of age and younger). There is no motorcycle helmet use law in three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire).  The requirement that riders were a helmet is an attempt to prevent catastrophic head injuries to motorcyclists involved in accidents.

It would seem that any helmet is better than no helmet, researchers have developed a so-called “Smart Helmet,” to better protect motorcyclists.  Reuters reported that a new option in safety gear is available for purchase.  At around $600 consumers can buy “reality helmets” that offer built in 180⁰ “blind spot” camera and “Heads-up” display for “unparalleled situation awareness and safety.” Some helmets will even come with collision warning systems.

The “smart helmet” was designed by a man who survived a motorcycle accident himself.  Marcus Weller, worked toward realizing his dream of developing a safer, smarter helmet to help protect those on motorcycles.  In sum, the blind spot camera removes blind spots, and gives riders a better chance of avoiding unseen conditions that might cause accidents.  While this is a fantastic step in the right direction, even the smartest helmet on the market won’t help the motorcyclist who wasn’t seen by another driver, or didn’t realize the motorcyclists had the right of way.

Recently, in 2013 motorcycle fatalities fell 6.4 percent to 4,668 from 4,986 in 2012. In 2013, 56 out of every 100,000 registered motorcycles was involved in a fatal crash, compared with only 9 out of every 100,000 passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  Motorcyclists should always wear the gear that makes they feel the safest.  At the same time, they always need to be aware that there are d angers on the road that cannot be prevented, to which they can fall victim.  When a motorcyclists has been injured in a collision with another motor vehicle, they have every right to obtain the compensation they need to make themselves whole again after the accident.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, call the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick today for a free consultation.

Sources: http://www.motorcycleaccidentlosangelesattorney.com/blog/2015/11/new-smart-helmet-available-in-time-for-holidays.shtml

http://www.skully.com/

Reuters, “Smart helmet gives you eyes on the back of your head,” Ben Gruber, Nov. 12, 2015