Recent ruling is first bladder sling case in ongoing transvaginal mesh lawsuits
When the female body experiences major trauma, whether it’s childbirth or a hysterectomy, serious problems can occur in the aftermath and recovery process. To deal with these issues, transvaginal mesh (TVM) implants are used to repair any damage and restore the body to its prior condition.
Unfortunately, these implants can have painful consequences.
Thousands of complaints currently exist against companies with TVMs that caused pain, bleeding and in serious situations, meshes that eroded, creating permanent scarring and organ damage.
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration claimed approximately 4,000 reports were filed and cited complications from TVM implants, just three years after they determined serious side effects were rare.
Most cases involve meshes created to battle pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In both cases, the pelvic muscles weaken. With POP, the organs cannot hold themselves in place and the mesh corrects this sagging. SUI is the result of stress weakening the bladder and is treated by inserting a bladder sling to properly support the necessary organs.
Friday, April 4 became a landmark day when a court in Texas released its verdict that Johnson & Johnson must pay $1.2 billion in compensatory damages to a female who was hurt by her TVM implant. Unlike all other cases, the plaintiff used a bladder sling, which was deemed “flawed” by the jury.
Did you or someone you love receive bladder slings or transvaginal meshes and experience painful complications? We may be able to help. Contact us today.
Footnotes
Beasley Allen. (2014). Big jury verdicts against Actos, transvaginal mesh manufacturers. [Link]
FDA. (2011). Surgical placement of mesh to repair organ prolapse poses risk. News & Events. [Link]
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Urinary incontinence surgery: When other treatments aren’t enough. Diseases and Conditions. [Link]
Motley Rice. (2014). Transvaginal mesh lawsuit. Medical Devices. [Link]
WebMD. (2014). Urethral sling for stress incontinence in women. Incontinence and Overactive Bladder Health Center. [Link]
