Vaginal Mesh Settlement Update

The number of vaginal mesh lawsuits (also called transvaginal sling lawsuits) has skyrocketed. This is in part due to the fact that there are at least six companies involved, including Johnson & Johnson. Mostly though, this is because these products are just horrible, were not properly tested, and cause unspeakable and sometimes embarrassing injuries to people.

Background
Vaginal mesh is a medical device that is surgically implanted to treat pelvic organ prolapse. An extremely high number of patients suffer from infection, erosion of the mesh into the vagina, pelvic pain, organ perforation, and urinary problems. Women who have these devices implanted frequently need surgery to remove them, and sometimes follow-up surgeries to repair the damage to their bodies.

Manufacturers
Our lawyers are looking at cases including these vaginal mesh products:

• C.R. Bard Avaulta
• AMS Elevate Prolapse Repair System
• AMS Apogee Valut Suspension Systm
• AMS Perigee System
• AMS Monarc Sling System
• AMS Sparc Sling System
• Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon) Gynecare Gynemesh
• Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon) Gynecare Prolene Soft Mesh
• Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon)Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor Repair System
• Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon) Gynecare TVT Transvaginal Sling
• Boston Scientific Pinnacle Pelvic Floor Repair Kit
• Boston Scientific Uphold Vaginal Support System
• UGYTEX Dual Knit Mesh
• Covidien IVS Tunneler Sling
Even Congress is Concerned
In most medical device lawsuit cases, the scientific community first gets a sense that something is wrong. It sometimes starts as a medical journal article by one doctor who is particularly involved in the medical device. Other scientists or doctors see that report, and review their own case files, searching for patterns. Meanwhile, the FDA is receiving reports from victims of the device, and they start to see patterns, as well. Medical device lawyers then get involved, and do their own research. It is only when the lawyers begin filing cases that the actual documents from the defective medical device manufacturers see the light of day. Those internal company documents, more often than not, tell a story of greed and Wall Street profit-seeking that tramples public safety concerns.

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The vaginal mesh cases are reaching such a furor that even Congress is getting involved (See Bloomberg Article: Democrats Want to Let FDA Block Medical Devices Tied to Safety Recalls). House representatives introduced a bill to limit the ability of medical device companies to get FDA approval under the 510(k) process, which allows expedited approval for devices that are “substantially equivalent” to other devices already on the market. Under the bill there would be more information required on products, particularly those that have had problems or recalls in the past.

The vaginal mesh cases were a catalyst for this proposed litigation, which would give the FDA the ability to veto devices submitted under the 510(k) process. Current vaginal mesh products breezed through the FDA because they were based on similar mesh created by Boston Scientific. Boston Scientific’s vaginal mesh was recalled in 1999. This makes sense—no one would claim that a car based on the Ford Pinto is a good idea without extra testing.

Contact Us If You’ve Been Injured By A Vaginal Mesh Product
If you have received a vaginal mesh or transvaginal sling implant, and if you have any side effects or medical problems because of the implant, call our product liability lawyers to determine if your case can qualify for the vaginal mesh settlement that is on the horizon. You can call us at 1.800.553.8082, or contact us online for a free consultation.

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