Powder on the wound: the court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $ 966 million

On Tuesday evening, October 7, it became known that a court in California ordered the American company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay a record $ 966 million in compensation to the family of a woman who died of a rare form of cancer. It is claimed that the 88-year-old pensioner's cancer developed precisely because of the J&J powder, since it contained toxic substances. The details of the case are in the Izvestia article.

The court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay compensation: what is known

A California court has ordered Johnson & Johnson, a manufacturer of sanitary and medical products, to pay compensation in the amount of $966 million for the death of an 88-year-old pensioner. It was found that in 2021, a woman died of a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma, due to the use of talc—based baby powder from the company, which contained asbestos.

According to court documents, J&J must pay $16 million in compensation and another $950 million in penalties, The New York Times newspaper writes.

The company intends to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. Eric Haas, vice president of J&J, said he disagreed with the verdict and called it "egregious and unconstitutional."

In addition, Johnson & Johnson denies that the baby powder could contain asbestos. Despite these claims, back in 2023, the company stopped selling this product after tens of thousands of lawsuits began to pour into the corporation, claiming that asbestos in talc leads to mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and other types of cancer. One of the lawsuits was filed by social activists in Russia, as the sale of these products in our country continued, although it had already been withdrawn in the United States.

It is important to note that the court's decision was made just a few months after a federal judge rejected Johnson & Johnson's attempt to settle existing and future lawsuits through the bankruptcy system. Using this scheme, the company could not pay compensation, but the court ruled that Johnson & Johnson could not escape responsibility in this way. In total, J&J tried to declare bankruptcy three times.

According to The New York Times, more than 90,000 lawsuits are pending against the company.

Mesothelioma: what is it

Mesothelioma is a tumor that develops in the connective tissue covering the internal organs. The most common are mesotheliomas of the peritoneum, pleura and pericardium.

The reasons for the development of this form of cancer are not always clear, but doctors point to some factors that seriously increase the likelihood of cancer. Among them is the asbestos contained in J&J talc. Inhaled fibers enter the lungs and can travel through the respiratory tract, penetrate the pleural membrane and chest wall. Over time, the body's cells are damaged, and asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis) occurs. The disease, it is noted, develops for a long time — 20-25 years.

In addition, the media reported, citing research by American scientists, that regular application of talc-containing powders to the organs of the reproductive system in women significantly increases the risk of developing uterine cancer. According to the researchers, this dependence may be due to the fact that the smallest particles penetrate inside and linger for years, causing chronic inflammation and then cancer.

At the same time, mesothelioma is statistically more common in men, as they are more likely to work in hazardous industries associated with asbestos.

Other possible factors for the development of mesothelioma include zeolites (minerals chemically associated with asbestos); radiation (including in the treatment of other cancers); age; mutation or alteration of the VAR1 gene (associated with tumor predisposition syndrome).

Asbestos: What is it, an application, a danger

Asbestos is a collective name for fine—fibrous minerals from the class of silicates. By chemical composition, it is classified as aqueous silicates of magnesium, calcium, sodium and iron.

Asbestos is very popular in construction. Wavy and flat slate is made from its mixture with cement. It is used as a refractory material when it is necessary to separate, for example, a fireplace, stove or chimney from a room. Fire-fighting canvases are also made of asbestos.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200,000 people die every year due to exposure to asbestos. According to their estimates, the mineral can lead to several types of cancer (in addition to mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancers), as well as chronic respiratory diseases.

To prevent health problems from asbestos, WHO experts urge manufacturers to completely stop using it.