A panel of judges met on Thursday, July 26th, to decide if a sixth multidistrict litigation (MDL) was necessary for transvaginal mesh patients. No news has been released yet regarding a decision.
Thousands of cases have come forward regarding the problems associated with transvaginal mesh surgery, including infection, bleeding, and pain during intercourse. Plaintiffs seek compensation for personal costs, including lost wages and multiple surgeries.
A sixth MDL would expand the lawsuit to not only take on new cases, but would also include suits against Mentor Corp, who sells transvaginal mesh kits through Coloplast. There are 24 plaintiffs in the case against Coloplast so far.
The propsed MDL would most likely be established in the Southern District Court of West Virginia (Charleston), with Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presiding. Judge Goodwin is currently overseeing MDLs against Bard-Avaulta, Johnson & Johnson (Ethicon), American Medical Systems, Inc, and Boston Scientific Corp.
Transvaginal mesh was marketed as a device that could stop pelvic organ prolapse, or stress urinary incontinence. However, the products have been linked to a variety of damaging side effects, including pain, infection, tissue deterioration, and continued organ prolapse. The devices often get “fast-tracked” approval through the FDA’s 510(k) process, without a full investigation and approval, because they are based on one original device – Boston Scientific’s ProteGen, which was approved in 1996. However, the ProteGen mesh device was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer in 1999, because of complaints that it was defective.
If you or a loved one has suffered pelvic organ prolapsed or stress urinary incontinence, and received a mesh implant that has caused further complications, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact the experienced lawyers at Strom Law Firm, LLC for a free consultation. We have a female lawyer on staff who is experienced in mesh complication suits. 803.252.4800.
