Congressman Cohen Seeks GAO Review of Costs of Treating Patients Harmed by Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder
Contaminated talcum powder linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today wrote to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro of the U.S. Government Accountability Office seeking a review of the federal government’s costs associated with treating patients who used asbestos-contaminated Johnson & Johnson baby powder and became ill because of their exposure to this known carcinogen.
The letter reads in part:
“I write to request a review of federal spending linked to caring for victims of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J’s) contaminated talcum powder, often referred to as baby powder. For decades, J&J sold baby powder that was known to be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. Hundreds of thousands--more likely millions--of men and women are now suffering from ovarian cancer and mesothelioma as a result. Through our funding for health care, the federal government subsidized J&J by paying for the consequences of their misconduct. I want to know
how many taxpayer dollars were spent for this corporate subsidy.
“Since the 1970s, J&J has known its iconic baby powder contained asbestos. The company that mined the talc informed J&J of the contamination. The company also knew for decades that the fibers in talc can cause cancer. Yet, J&J continued to sell the baby powder, specifically marketed this dangerous product to women of color and ‘overweight’ women.
“Of course, it will be difficult to precisely capture the full costs, considering, new cases of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma arise every day. However, I believe it is critical that GAO develop a methodology to accurately estimate the cost of J&J’s misconduct to federal taxpayers. How much was spent by the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Health and Human Services to provide direct health care and medical treatments to those who regularly used J&J’s talc-based powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma since 1972?”
See the entire letter here.
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