Texas mom, Darlene Coker was a staunch user of Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder. Just like many others, she would dust herself and her two daughters with the product after showering. It left them with a fresh, clean feeling and made them smell wonderful. Little did Coker know that this seemingly innocent pulverized substance would contribute to her dying prematurely.

As time passed, Darlene started having agonizing pain and difficulty breathing. When she went to the doctor, she discovered she had Mesothelioma. This insidious condition manifests as it attacks the membrane lining that protects critical organs of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen and heart. Individuals, including miners and shipbuilders, construction workers and electricians have a higher risk of developing this illness because of the use of asbestos in their occupations.

Glaring Evidence

Darlene Coker was puzzled at how she came to have cancer from asbestos. She hired a personal injury lawyer and he was able to conclude that Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder was the culprit. Knowing that the mineral referred to as talc is mined from the earth where asbestos is also located; the attorney felt strongly that the product was tainted by this fibrous material. Coker then proceeded with a Johnson and Johnson lawsuit.

Johnson and Johnson stated that their Baby Powder was free of asbestos and they rejected the suggestion from Coker’s lawyer to hand over their talc test results as well. Even when Darlene’s pathology report showed that her lungs were full of four different types of asbestos fibers that are correspondent to contaminated talcum, the company asked the judge for the case to be dismissed. In the end, Darlene had to drop the case against the company.

Twelve years after she discovered she had cancer, Darlene Coker passed away.

The Talcum Cancer Connection

For years, Johnson and Johnson have rejected the idea that their powder products cause cancer, although Reuters found reports from a testing lab dating back to 1957 stating that their talc had tremolite, one of the fibrous types of asbestos in them.

Dealing with more than 11 thousand lawsuits, including ones from women with ovarian cancer, Johnson and Johnson was forced to turn over their internal documents. It was found that between 1971 and the early part of 2000, that the company knew that sometime their talc had small amounts of asbestos in it. Nevertheless, they failed to share this important information.

Multiple studies show there is a high risk for developing ovarian cancer from using powder in the genital/rectal areas when asbestos is present.

Of course, Johnson and Johnson maintain their position that their talc is safe and are appealing the verdict.

Seeking Legal Help

If you or someone you know has experienced health issues from using Johnson and Johnson’s products containing talcum powder, you need to contact a trusted and licensed law firm. They will be able to assist you in filing a Johnson and Johnson lawsuit. 

Source

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-cancer-special-report/special-report-jj-knew-for-decades-that-asbestos-lurked-in-its-baby-powder-idUSKBN1OD1RQ

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4820665/

James Montano