By Aaron Miller-
A US woman has been awarded over $70m (£58m) by a jury after successfully claiming that Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder caused her ovarian cancer .
Deborah Giannecchini
Deborah Giannecchini, 62, used the product for over 40 years, eventually accusing the multinational of “negligent conduct” in making and marketing the powder. The verdict will come as a shock to all who have used the powder for years without any issues or concerns that it could have a link to cancer.
The jury in Missouri accepted the woman’s claim after a few hours of deliberation. Johnson & Johnson plan to appeal the decision. The New Jersey-based company are insistent that their talcum products are safe and that no scientific evidence has been presented to prove that they cause cancer.
Deborah Giannecchini’s chance of survival in the next two years is just 20 per cent Ms Giannecchini, from Modesto, California, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012.
Despite her undergoing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, doctors say she will be lucky to be still alive in the next 2-3 years. Her ovaries, colon and spleen had to be removed after using talc products.
Other successful civil cases against Johnson & Johnson have alarmed their customers, many of whom have hurriedly switched to other products.about health The woman argued Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused her cancer In 2016 alone,Johnson & Johnson has already lost three court battles in the US this year to users of its baby and body powders.
The company have already paid out over £150m in damages, without counting this latest case. A spokesperson for Johnson &Johnson told the eye of media.com ” this verdicts are unfortunate but we will definitely be appealing them. Scientific evidence does not support the findings. Our sympathies are with those who have suffered cancer, but we don’t believe our products are to blame. A similar case was thrown out by a court, so this may be about how jury’s have decided a particular case.
Over 4,000 cases are still pending, and Johnson may be in for a very, very, expensive battle in the coming years. If they are right, they may need to find a few prominent scientists that can convince a court ahead of all the other cases waiting in the wings. Although Johnson & Johnson are appealing those verdicts, its not looking good for their reputation. Regular customers will surely be running a mile from a Johnson &Johnson store.