THE TRANSVAGINAL MESH LAWSUIT
Transvaginal mesh, also known as pelvic mesh or a bladder sling, has been a commonly used treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) for years. However, an inordinate number of patients have experienced severe and painful complications after having the medical device placed. Many recently filed claims in the transvaginal mesh lawsuit have alleged that the manufacturers designed a product with inherent flaws and failed to adequately test for safety and efficacy.
Attorneys from our national legal network are helping patients who have been affected by this dangerous medical device to file claims against the manufacturers for their pain, suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. If you or a loved one has suffered a complication after having transvaginal mesh implanted, please contact Olsen Law Offices to schedule a complimentary case evaluation with an attorney in your area.
Transvaginal mesh has been connected to many dangerous and painful complications.
WHAT IS TRANSVAGINAL MESH?
Surgical mesh is a small net-like device that is primarily used to strengthen weakened or damaged tissue. These types of devices can be used to repair hernias, organ damage, or muscle reconstruction. Transvaginal mesh has been commonly used to treat women who have suffered pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSVAGINAL MESH
From 2006 through 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received over 4,000 individual adverse event reports related to transvaginal mesh products, prompting the agency to update a statement to doctors and patients that complications occur more frequently than originally thought with these devices.
Our national network of attorneys has helped countless victims of corporate negligence.
One of the most significant problems with pelvic mesh products is that many of them are designed to stay in the body indefinitely. When complications, such as mesh erosion or organ perforation, require a revision surgery to correct, the removal of the product can be very difficult to perform, and cause even more complications for the patient.
Some common complications that are seen in transvaginal mesh patients may include:
- Mesh erosion
- Nerve damage
- Organ perforation
- Pain
- Infection
- Vaginal scarring
- Recurrence of prolapse
- Bleeding
- Urinary problems
- Blood vessel damage
PRODUCTS IMPLICATED IN LAWSUITS
There are hundreds of different pelvic mesh products from multiple manufacturers that have been available to patients for years. The majority of these products are remarkably similar, with only slight variations in materials, attaching mechanisms, and implantation instructions.
C.R. BARD
Bard has produced a number of mesh products and has also been in the news recently for complications associated with the company's IVC filter products.
- Uretex Urethral Support Systems
- Pelvilace Support Systems
- Align Urethral Support System
- Avaulta Plus
- Avaulta Solo
ETHICON
Ethicon is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, who has also been involved in recent litigation related to their talcum powder products.
- Gynecare Prolift + M Kit
- Gynecare Prosima Pelvic Floor Repair System
- Gynecare TVT Secur
- Gynecare Prolift Kit
AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS
A division of Endo International, American Medical Systems agreed to pay $830 million to settle over 20,000 vaginal mesh cases, though there are thousands of cases that are still pending.
- Monarc Slings
- Bio Arc Slings
- MiniArc Slings
- IntePro
- InteXen
- Perigree
COLOPLAST
In March 2104, Coloplast agreed to pay about $16 million to settle roughly 400 individual lawsuits surrounding their transvaginal mesh products.
- Minitape
- Omnisure
- Novasilk Sling
- Aris Transobturator Sling
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC
Boston Scientific agreed to settle 2,970 claims involving the company's pelvic mesh products for bout $119 million in April 2015.
- Advantage
- Obtryx Slings
- Uphold Vaginal Support System
- Pinnacle Pelvic Floor Repair Kit
Additionally, other companies, such as Covidien and Mentor, have been named as co-defendants in several lawsuits for their role in manufacturing or marketing certain transvaginal mesh products.
CURRENT STATUS OF LITIGATION
The majority of individual pelvic mesh claims have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL). This type of lawsuit combines pretrial proceedings, such as evidence discovery, to expedite all claims and reduce conflicting rulings in similar cases. However, in MDL cases, each claimant retains their own legal counsel and makes decisions pertaining to their individual case, rather than being bound to settlements or judgments as in a class action lawsuit.
CONTACT OLSEN LAW OFFICES
If you or a loved one has experienced complications after having a transvaginal mesh product implanted, please contact Olsen Law to arrange a complimentary case evaluation with an experienced lawyer in your area. Our national network of attorneys has helped countless victims of corporate negligence.
