Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson have been scrutinised by many over their affixation of marketing their talcum powder products towards Black women. The main concern around this issue is the links this product has had to ovarian cancer. Many cases have been made against Johnson & Johnson over deaths centred around ovarian cancer and possible asbestos in their talcum powder products.
69-year-old Elizabeth Driscoll's family made one prominent lawsuit around ovarian cancer and Johnson & Johnson. Elizabeth used Johnson & Johnson's talc-based product for decades, and her family blamed Johnson & Johnson for causing her ovarian cancer. Sadly, Driscoll passed away in September 2016, eighteen months after being diagnosed with ovarian
cancer. Unfortunately, her family never won the lawsuit.
Over recent months, Johnson & Johnson has received 34,600 lawsuits over its talc-based product and has set aside $3.9 billion for legal expenses. Leigh O'Dell, Elizabeth Driscoll's lawyer, has said that these recently emerging lawsuits are "overwhelming" to witness and that their cases against Johnson & Johnson are becoming more and more impossible to defend.
To add to these recent lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson advertised that Black women "were offensive in their natural state and needed to use their products to stay fresh," said Janice Mathis, the National Council of Negro Women executive director. Mathis further stated that "generations of Black women believed them and made it our daily practice to use their products in ways that put us at risk of cancer — and we taught our daughters to do the same. Shame on Johnson and Johnson."
This council has stated that a "large proportion" of its members use Johnson & Johnson products. A portion of them have "developed ovarian cancer as a result." therefore, this council is hoping that at some point shortly that Johnson & Johnson will be forced the comply with a change of marketing, so it's not targeted towards Black women, as well as reevaluating its talc-based products and their harmful effects.
The councils wish may be granted shortly as civil rights attorney Ben Crump has filed a lawsuit against this pharmaceutical giant due to their harmful targeting of the Black community. Crump is a well-known lawyer who represents George Floyd after his murder by Derek Chauvin and has. A lot of recognition from others since. So, this case should get plenty of recognition around the common concerns many have towards this branding.
In contrast, Johnson & Johnson have denied all allegations and have broadcasted their opinion that their marketing campaigns are "multicultural and inclusive." They have also disputed all claims that their brand causes cancer, despite all of the lawsuits against them.
Even though Johnson & Johnson have denied all links its products have to ovarian cancer, there is an overwhelming case against them. These cases seem to be increasing drastically by the month and will bury the Johnson & Johnson brand under - we will see the multiple lawsuits verdicts over upcoming months.
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