A widespread surgical technique used on thousands of women during hysterectomies is currently being debated after a Boston surgeon and his anesthesiologist wife blamed it for dangerously spreading her undetected cancer, according to the Boston Globe.
Morcellation, the technique in question, is typically employed during laparoscopic hysterectomies, a type of minimally invasive surgery. When a morcellator was used to cut Dr. Amy Reed's uterus, however, cancerous tissue spread throughout her abdominal cavity during the surgery, giving her stage 4 cancer.
Reed said the gynecologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital who did her hysterectomy did not inform her of the risk that morcellation can spread cancer.
About 600,000 hysterectomies are done in the United States every year, most done to treat benign fibroids using minimally invasive techniques. Morcellation is not generally recommended for use in patients who are known to have cancer.
Reed's husband believes doctors and hospitals are still using the procedure because it allows them to do more procedures faster. "There is a lot of money involved in this business," he said. Read the full article here:
Boston surgeon and physician wife push to stop common procedure they say worsened her cancer
If you are considering, or recently had, a hysterectomy, you should read this article.
If you have been injured due to medical malpractice, including surgical errors, please call to investigate your matter fully. Crandall & Pera Law is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.