Pelvic Mesh Prompts Thousands of Lawsuits

Major manufacturers of pelvic mesh products face thousands of federal lawsuits brought by women who claim they were injured by the devices and seek compensation for their pain and suffering, reimbursement of medical costs, and punitive damages.

More than 6,000 pelvic mesh lawsuits have been consolidated in federal court in West Virginia, according to the Associated Press. The suits allege the manufacturers performed inadequate testing on the devices, did not disclose the potential risks, and made fraudulent safety claims about the products. The manufacturers have denied the allegations.

Transvaginal meshes are plastic medical devices used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and incontinence. Used with stitches to support organs in the pelvic region of women, they have been found to cause painful and dangerous side effects such as erosion, urinary problems, and painful intercourse.

According to AP, some doctors believe the lawsuits against the manufacturers are misguided and the problem lies with surgeons who are inexperienced with the products. But a plaintiff’s attorney said that it was the responsibility of the manufacturers to educate doctors about the products.

The AP reports that a number of transvaginal mesh trials involving American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, and Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary) are scheduled to take place in the coming months. Five bellwether federal cases against Bard are also set to start in June.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe medical product such as transvaginal mesh, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a transvaginal mesh lawyer may be able to help you.

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