Back in 2012, Deborah Giannecchini was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She immediately accused Johnson & Johnson for distributing the baby powder that ultimately caused the illness.
Giannecchini isn’t the only woman who’s accused Johnson & Johnson of doing so. In fact, she’s the third woman this year to successfully file a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson.
The first happened in February, when a woman died from her ovarian cancer in 2015. The second lawsuit occurred in May, when an ovarian cancer survivor demanded Johnson & Johnson take responsibility. In both cases, the woman and her family received between $55 and $72 million dollars.
(Two other cases in New Jersey were thrown out on the basis of inadequate evidence linking the baby powder to ovarian cancer.)
This is why Giannecchini is accusing Johnson & Johnson.
Talc, a naturally-occurring mineral that is used in baby powder, as well as some makeup products, has been known to contain asbestos, a carcinogen.
Johnson & Johnson’s iconic baby powder has been known to contain talc – which has prompted these women to file lawsuits against the company for failing to warn them of this risk.
Mary Jane Minkin, MD, and other scientists, however, aren’t 100% certain that there is a causative relationship between talc-based products (specifically baby powder) and ovarian cancer. “The data is wishy-washy,” Minkin said. "And there are lots of different variables in these studies for researchers to consider.”
Giannecchini did win more than $70 for her lawsuit, and her attorney insists that this case only reinforces “the need for Johnson & Johnson to warn the public of the ovarian cancer risk associated with its product.” However, Johnson & Johnson continues to avoid taking responsibility for their product and its potential dangers.
Company spokesperson, Carol Goodrich, said, “We deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer. We will appeal today's verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder."
