More than 40,000 transvaginal mesh cases are pending in the Southern District of West Virginia. These cases involve vaginal mesh manufacturers C.R. Bard, Inc., American Medical System, Inc., Boston Scientific Corp., Ethicon, Inc., Coloplast Corp., Cook Medical, Inc. and others.
There are several thousand more cases that are pending in state courts around the country, including the states of New Jersey, California, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Minnesota. Some of these cases were to be tried in November 2013 and others are coming up in February and April 2014.
Millions of women around the country have received a transvaginal mesh implants. The purpose of the implant is to help repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Pelvic organ prolapse occurs to women when their pelvic muscles weaken. This permits organs in that region to drop down and rest on the vagina. To remedy this condition doctors would insert the mesh through the vagina, which is a process much less invasive than if the doctor would open the abdomen to insert the mesh.
In the cases where the pelvis slides out of place, the condition of involuntary release of urine takes place. This might happen if a woman sneezes or coughs. The implant devices were designed to provide a substitute for the weakening muscles in that area. However, these devices have been linked to a laundry list of serious medical complications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have reported that some of the side effects related to transvaginal mesh implants include:
There are many other manufacturers of transvaginal mesh and sling devices. Individuals who have been injured by failures of transvaginal mesh implants and sling implants may be compensated for their injuries. The damages may include the costs of additional medical attention, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and loss of the ability to have sexual relations with a spouse or partner.
As recently as last March 2013, a New Jersey jury entered a verdict for a South Dakota woman in the amount of $7.8 million in punitive damages for the injuries she suffered as a result of a transvaginal mesh device that failed. There are thousands of other cases that are pending.
Recently, the FDA issued another warning to doctors and patients that the use of the transvaginal mesh placement through the vagina to treat or correct pelvic organ prolapse is a greater risk of serious injury to the patient as compared to other methods of treating this ailment. The risks are many, but the most common complications or injuries in the mesh coming out of the vagina or being exposed, perforation of a surrounding organ, increased pain and discomfort, infection and urinary incontinence.
The transvaginal mesh is made of plastic, often referred to as a polypropylene. With hundreds of thousands of women affected negatively by the transvaginal mesh implant, there are now more than 40,000 lawsuits that have been filed by women who have been injured. Most of these cases are merged for purposes of discovery in the U.S Federal District for the Southern District of West Virginia. There are still many more lawsuits that have been filed in state courts around the country.
If you or someone you know has been injured or died as a result of a failed transvaginal mesh implant or sling, please call us for an immediate free consultation.
Robert Kreisman of Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical product defect injury cases. Kreisman Law Offices has prevailed in trials and settlements in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding communities and has successfully resolved cases for those injured in transvaginal mesh implant and sling defect devices.
With our more than 40 years of experience in trying and settling medical product defect cases, Kreisman Law Offices provides the best possible services to our clients and have achieved unsurpassed results. Our service is unmatched. Please call us 24 hours a day at 312.346.0045 or toll free 800.583.8002 for a free and immediate consultation, or complete a contact form online. There is no charge for a consultation that will include an evaluation of your case, assessment of your damages such as lost income, lost wages, medical and hospital bills, past and future pain and suffering, loss of normal life and wrongful death.