Transvaginal mesh is a vaginal implant designed to help women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. Many patients have experienced severe complications due to the mesh perforating nearby organs and eroding within the vaginal walls.
Currently, there are an estimated 20,000 lawsuits against manufacturers of these transvaginal mesh products because of these serious problems, National Law Journal reports. The first federal trial against a company that produces these devices, however, recently ended in a mistrial in Charleston, West Virginia. A new trial is set for July 29.
U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin declared the mistrial after a doctor who was a witness for the plaintiff told jurors that he removes many transvaginal meshes, that doctors no longer use them, and that no one sells them. The judge called the comment “spontaneous” and “not true,” according to the Charleston Gazette.
The plaintiff in the case was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse in 2009. She then went through surgery for a surgical mesh implant. But instead of improving her condition, the mesh caused bladder spasms, pain during sex and bleeding. As a result, she says she had to endure two more surgeries to remove the mesh. She and her husband sued the manufacturer, C.R. Bard Inc.
Goodwin has been overseeing the claims against Bard and other manufacturers in federal multidistrict litigation. Defendants include Ethicon Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, American Medical Systems Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., Coloplast Corp. and Cook Medical Inc.
While there is a growing list of federal cases, mesh manufacturers are also getting sued on the state level. Thousands of plaintiffs have filed cases in state courts around the country.
Need Legal Help?
If you were surgically fitted with a transvaginal mesh device to treat pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, you expected that your safety and comfort would be priorities. If the mesh implant has caused you severe pain and complications, it’s natural to feel hopeless. But you’re not alone. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a transvaginal mesh failure, contact our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm. You may be able to seek compensation through a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of a defective medical product. Call (888) 324-3100 or use our online form so our attorneys can offer you advice about your rights.
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