Even if there is a correlation, there might not be a cause and effect relationship.
For example, it's known that female reproductive cancers are associated with the levels of various female sex hormones. Female sex hormones also affect the vaginal lining and external genitalia (in particular, moisture levels). It might be that women who are prone to ovarian cancer due to hormone levels also have a vaginal/labial situation that makes them more likely to apply powder to keep the area dry. If that were the case, you'd see a correlation with no cause and effect relation whatsoever.
(just an illustration... I'm not claiming this is what's going on, but I'd probably try to argue something like that if I were a lawyer for J&J).
However, if the coverup of the correlation is as described in the article, that would be a bad, bad thing.
For example, it's known that female reproductive cancers are associated with the levels of various female sex hormones. Female sex hormones also affect the vaginal lining and external genitalia (in particular, moisture levels). It might be that women who are prone to ovarian cancer due to hormone levels also have a vaginal/labial situation that makes them more likely to apply powder to keep the area dry. If that were the case, you'd see a correlation with no cause and effect relation whatsoever.
(just an illustration... I'm not claiming this is what's going on, but I'd probably try to argue something like that if I were a lawyer for J&J).
However, if the coverup of the correlation is as described in the article, that would be a bad, bad thing.