Johnson & Johnson hit with $72m damages in talc cancer case

Never thought that something like this would happen in todays world. Johnson & Johnson has been used by familys since….forever, powdering the bodys of the very young and the very old.

Is talc safe?

There have been concerns for years that using talcum powder, particularly on the genitals, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

But the evidence is not conclusive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies talc used on the genitals as “possibly carcinogenic” because of the mixed evidence.

I don’t think the family will ever get a payout, but i can see the talc market for Johnson & Johnson going down in first world countrys.

FTFY

I have always wondered what all that fine powder does to your lungs long term (yes, I know the article is specifically relating to ovarian cancer & sprinkling talc about your nether regions…).

I very rarely use it, but have been caught in the middle of ‘old men at the gym’ who love to let it all hang out while getting changed & apply vast quantities of talc into every available orifice, which results in a thick cloud of talc that it is almost impossible to escape from.

I don’t understand the stuff. I’m a project manager for construction sites. We put a lot of effort into making sure the workers don’t breathe in fine dust. The thought of voluntarily exposing very young children to extremely fine dust for no good reason at all doesn’t appeal to me.

Having visited an artificial limb fitting centre, one of the things i learnt was not to use talc on the stump before fitting your limb,it causes lots of problems with abrasion etc

And yet they use talc (not johnson johnson) to treat fluid in lung cancer patients.
Cancer Research UK says evidence for a link between talc use and ovarian cancer is “still uncertain”.

“Even if there is a risk it is likely to be fairly small,” the charity says.

I put some talc between my floorboards the other day to stop them squeaking. It didn’t work. Should I sue?

There have been concerns for years that using talcum powder, particularly on the genitals, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

Pish. I have always used it on my genitals, and am 100% confident I won’t get ovarian cancer.

Yours,

Mr. A. Man.

Reading that article one sentence strikes me, to the effect that the jury were distressed by J&J’s handling of the case. With a good PR specialist (Kapita from Spin?) they might have got away with a settlement out of Court.

Hmmm… I have a big tub of J&J baby talc which I keep for express purpose of applying to me bits and barse when I’ll be wearing a kilt and wish to keep my tinder dry.

Fortunately I only wear a kilt a couple of times a year so hopefully my ovaries are safe.

I put some talc between my floorboards the other day to stop them squeaking.

I’m not sure if this a euphemism or not… 😕

I’m not sure if this a euphemism or not…

ha! it is now.

I use it on my inner tubes, and I don’t mean falopian

Best dry lubricant ever for sticky new rubber. I’m constantly on here and Cycle Chat telling people to use talc on their tyres.

I’ve gone off J&J talc, and just use generic now for lubricating my tubes.

JB that $62,000,000 of the award was punitive damages, not just compensatory damages. Would be interested to see why the jury hammered the company so hard.

Another bizarre US jury decision that will no doubt be overturned on appeal.

Just because there is some very weak, conflicting evidence about the safety of a product falls a long way short of proving that product caused this particular case of a cancer which is diagnosed in more than 20,000 people in the US every year.

Bit like suing Bells because your dad got bowel cancer and he liked a glass or three every evening.

Considering how many children this is used on, the long term health costs could wipe out J&J. All those young people now who take smear tests could posibly be linked to J&J that was used on them by their parents.

Most likely suck to know that you gave your child cancer

Most likely suck to know that you gave your child cancer

I give my lot sausage sandwiches at the weekend, occasionally. The available evidence suggests I’m giving them cancer, too.

Oddly enough I don’t think I’ve ever actually applied it to my kids.

Or baby oil for that matter.

But I guess some people prefer their kids drier or more oily than I do?

I give my lot sausage sandwiches at the weekend, occasionally. The available evidence suggests I’m giving them cancer, too.

But being aware of the health risk you have a choice. Those mothers and fathers that were not aware of the health risk to the children did not have a choice. They thought it was safe

But that’s just like anything else that has recently been identified as a possible cause of cancer. Including sunlight.

All those young people now who take smear tests could posibly be linked to J&J that was used on them by their parents.

Don’t know how cervical cancer comes into it.

This is a nice sum-up of the available evidence. Not aware of any studies since then.

https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/talcum-powder-myth/

Another bizarre US jury decision that will no doubt be overturned on appeal.

Why will it be overturned?

I give my lot sausage sandwiches at the weekend, occasionally.

😯 😆

Member
Oddly enough I don’t think I’ve ever actually applied it to my kids.

They advised not to use talc on babies along time ago due to respiratory risks.

Theres some interesting discussion here : https://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/talcum-powder-myth/ about there having been a historic issue with talc that contained asbestos pre 1973 – it might (might) be that this judgement refers to use before then?

Mrs F – Yonks ago I read that baby powder was based on corn starch, because delicate little lungs couldn’t cope with talc. So I always used proper talc on my inner tubes. FastYoungGit may remember what, if anything, was used on him. I don’t.

They advised not to use talc on babies along time ago due to respiratory risks.

Hmm… maybe J&J shouldn’t be allowed to call it “baby powder” then?

On the Boots site:

“Best for Baby

Sprinkle Johnson’s Baby Powder onto your hands and smooth onto baby’s skin. This creates a smooth friction-free layer to reduce the effects of rubbing and chafing, to keep baby’s skin healthy and soft.

What about Baby Oil. I don’t think I’ve ever applied that to a baby. Does it stop them squeaking?

Never felt the need to use talc on my naked body or my son’s, what’s the point – from a marketing POV anyway?

It does help reduce sweatiness and chafing if you are going commando and dancing about like a loon (as per the kilt example above).

Also quite soothing on a slightly tender freshly shorn scrotum.

I don’t think they mention either of those in the marketing though 🙂

Dunno, but it makes em bloody hard to fish out of the bath.
Like a flailing 10 kilo bar of soap with the escape abilities of Harry Houdini on speed.

Basically expensive lawyers have managed to convince a jury that because someone used Talc for decades it must be why they got cancer. Despite virtually no evidence to back it up.

It’s also possible they were using Talc back in the days when it might have contained asbestos. They eliminated the asbestos risk in the 70s apparently.

Basically expensive lawyers have managed to convince a jury that because someone used Talc for decades it must be why they got cancer. Despite virtually no evidence to back it up.

I find it hard to believe that Johnson & Johnson’s legal representation cost any less than the family’s.

I used to use it – if I get ovarian cancer I would be sueing for a lot more than that…