In October 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Notification warning that it had received over 1,000 complaints during a three year period involving transvaginal mesh products. In July 2011, the FDA reported receiving a total of 2,864 additional reports of complications associated with these devices.
In addition, the agency noted that transvaginal mesh implants do not offer any greater relief from problems associated with pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence than traditional non-mesh repair. Quite the contrary, in fact 10 percent of women will experience serious complications with their transvaginal mesh device that will require additional surgeries and possibly removal of the device.
Sadly, the FDA also reported that seven women have died from post-operative complications and other problems stemming from their transvaginal mesh implants.
The problems and complications cited in the FDA’s Public health notification include:
- Mesh erosion through vaginal lining and other internal tissue
- Vaginal scarring
- Urinary pain and problems
- Painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
- Perforation of blood vessels
- Perforation of bladder or bowel
- Recurrence of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Recurrence of Stress Urinary Incontinence
- Infections
- Overall negative effect on patient’s quality of life
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the manufactures of transvaginal devices. Currently, five transvaginal mesh litigations are underway in the Southern District of West Virginia:
- In re: C.R. Bard, Inc. Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2187
- In re: American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2325
- In re: Boston Scientific Corp., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2326
- In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2327
- In re: Coloplast Corp., Pelvic Support System Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2387
Trials are set to begin on June 11, 2013 to hear four cases filed against C.R. Bard Inc.’s Avaulta products. These lawsuits have been selected as the litigation’s first Bellwether trials and may set the precedent for how juries will weigh claims in similar transvaginal mesh lawsuits against this company.
In February 2013, a jury awarded Linda Gross over $11.1 million for the injuries and suffering she endured after she was implanted with Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon transvaginal mesh product.
National Transvaginal Mesh Attorneys
The transvaginal mesh lawsuit lawyers at Phillips Law Firm are currently representing women across the United States that have been injured after being implanted with a transvaginal mesh product, such as C.R. Bard’s Avaulta. If you have experienced complications after receiving a transvaginal mesh product, it is important to contact an experienced national TVM lawyer immediately to determine if you may be qualified to take part in the multi-district litigation that is currently underway. Call us today at 1-800-708-6000.