On December 30th, 2019, the power morcellator patient advocate and cancer survivor, Dr. Amy Reed, passed away at the age of 44 from leiomyosarcoma. Dr. Reed, along with her husband Dr. Hooman Noorchashm, became an advocate for patient safety after she was diagnosed with cancer following a hysterectomy procedure that used a power morcellator. Her death has brought renewed attention to the controversy surrounding the use of power morcellators in gynecologic surgeries and the need for greater patient advocacy in the medical field.

Power morcellators are surgical instruments used in minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries to break up large tissue masses into smaller pieces that can be removed through small incisions. However, if a patient has undiagnosed uterine cancer, the use of a power morcellator can spread cancerous tissue throughout the abdominal cavity, leading to the rapid progression of the disease.

Dr. Reed was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, following a hysterectomy procedure that used a power morcellator. She and her husband became advocates for greater patient safety and transparency in the medical industry, and they worked to raise awareness about the dangers of power morcellators.

Their advocacy efforts led to the FDA issuing a warning about the use of power morcellators in gynecologic surgeries in 2014. The warning recommended that the use of power morcellators be limited due to the risk of spreading undetected cancerous tissue. However, the FDA did not ban the use of power morcellators, and they remain available for use in gynecologic surgeries today.

Dr. Reed's death has renewed the call for greater patient advocacy and transparency in the medical field. Patients and their families must have access to accurate information about the risks and benefits of medical procedures, and they must be empowered to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Additionally, there is a need for greater accountability and transparency in the medical industry. Patients have a right to know about the risks associated with medical procedures and devices, and they should be able to trust that the medical industry is working in their best interests.

The use of power morcellators in gynecologic surgeries is just one example of the need for greater patient advocacy and transparency in the medical field. As medical technology continues to advance, it is essential that patients and their families have access to accurate information and are empowered to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Furthermore, Dr. Reed's advocacy efforts and her legacy serve as a reminder of the importance of patient safety in the medical industry. Patient safety must be a top priority for healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers, and efforts must be made to ensure that patients are protected from harm.

Moreover, Dr. Reed's story highlights the need for increased attention to patient voices and experiences in medical research and decision-making. Patients who have experienced adverse outcomes from medical procedures are often the ones who bring attention to the risks associated with certain treatments or devices. Their experiences can lead to changes in medical practice and policy that ultimately benefit patients.

Unfortunately, patients are not always included in the research and decision-making processes that shape medical practice. This can lead to a lack of understanding about the real-world experiences of patients and can result in treatments or devices being approved that ultimately cause harm.

One way to address this issue is through greater patient engagement in medical research and decision-making. Patients should be included in the design and implementation of clinical trials and other research studies. They should also be involved in the evaluation and approval of new treatments and devices, particularly those that have the potential to cause harm.

Patient advocacy groups can play a critical role in amplifying patient voices and advocating for patient-centered research and decision-making. These groups can provide a platform for patients to share their stories and experiences, and can work to hold the medical industry accountable for ensuring patient safety.

In the case of power morcellators, patient advocacy groups played a key role in raising awareness about the risks associated with the device. Dr. Reed and her husband worked closely with patient advocacy groups to push for greater regulation of power morcellators and to raise awareness about the dangers of the device. Their efforts ultimately led to the FDA issuing a warning about the use of power morcellators in gynecologic surgeries.

Dr. Reed's passing is a tragic reminder of the need for continued efforts to improve patient safety and to prioritize patient voices and experiences in medical research and decision-making. The medical industry must work to create a culture of transparency and accountability, and patients must be empowered to make informed decisions about their healthcare. The legacy of Dr. Reed and her advocacy efforts serve as a call to action for the medical industry to do better and to prioritize patient safety above all else.

In conclusion, the passing of power morcellator patient advocate Dr. Amy Reed is a tragic reminder of the need for greater patient advocacy and transparency in the medical field. Her advocacy efforts, along with those of her husband, led to important changes in medical policy regarding the use of power morcellators in gynecologic surgeries. However, more needs to be done to ensure that patients are protected from harm and that their voices are heard in medical decision-making processes. The medical industry must prioritize patient safety and work to create a culture of transparency and accountability. Patients and their families must have access to accurate information about the risks and benefits of medical procedures, and they must be empowered to make informed decisions about their healthcare. The legacy of Dr. Reed serves as a call to action for the medical industry to do better and to prioritize patient safety above all else.