Pelvic mesh is commonly used in pelvic surgeries after pelvic organ prolapse (POP), or when muscles in the pelvic region weaken, causing organs to bulge or slip into the vagina. Pelvic organ prolapse can happen due to age, childbirth, or other reasons and is associated with pain along with bladder leakage. Countless women receive this surgery each year and for many it offers great benefits. For thousands of women, however, the pelvic mesh used in the surgery causes serious complications. These complications include infections, weakness, pain, discomfort, scarring, urinary dysfunction and fatigue.
The mesh products at issue are made from a plastic called polypropylene. Some 70,000 women have filed federal lawsuits against some of the largest manufacturers of pelvic mesh products. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits generally allege that the polypropylene is a product not compatible with human tissue, leading to severe adverse reactions in the recipients of these mesh products.
Transvaginal mesh products first entered the market in 1996, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved them for use in the repair of stress urinary incontinence. Their use expanded to pelvic prolapsed in 2002. A few years later, complaints begin to mount concerning the product. The FDA issued a report linking the mesh to complications and considered reclassifying it as a dangerous product. For the many women with the device in place, removal is difficult and often requires several surgeries.
About 70,000 women have currently filed suit against seven manufacturers of the pelvic mesh products. The largest manufacturers include Bard, Boston Scientific, Ethicon, and American Medical Systems (AMS). The majority of the cases are proceeding in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of West Virginia.
Recently, there have been several trials in the pelvic mesh litigation. In September, a federal jury out of the Southern District of West Virginia awarded $3.27 million. That same month, a $72 million settlement was reached in a case in Dallas, Texas. The plaintiff involved suffered severe complications as a result of the device. Most recently, four women plaintiffs were awarded $26.7 million following a trial in federal court in Florida. The defendant in that case was Boston Scientific, who faces over 14,000 other federal lawsuits over its mesh devices. This Miami case, along with the West Virginia cases that have already gone to trial, are considered “bellwether” or test trials to assess the value of the numerous pelvic mesh claims.
Get Help for Your Injuries Stemming from a Pelvic Mesh Device
If you or a loved one has experienced complications after the insertion of a pelvic mesh device, you may be entitled to compensation. Litigation surrounding pelvic mesh devices is ongoing and it is not too late to obtain the compensation you deserve due to the harmful product inserted into your body. An experienced personal injury attorney well versed in mass tort litigation can assist you in obtaining the recovery to which you are entitled.
Lundy Law: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware Mass Tort Attorneys of Distinction
If you have been injured by a pelvic mesh device, it is not too late to join the numerous mass tort suits occurring across the nation. The Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware Personal Injury Attorneys at Lundy Law have assisted countless victims of medical malpractice and other acts of negligence in mass tort litigation. We seek to hold negligence corporations accountable for the injuries they inflict upon others. We have the knowledge, dedication, and experience to obtain the results you desire. Call the Super Lawyers at Lundy Law today at 1 (800) LUNDYLAW® to schedule your consultation.
