Transvaginal mesh implants, also known as vaginal slings, are surgical mesh products generally made of a plastic, used to treat specific medical problems in women. These products, made by many different manufacturers, have come to be associated with various risks and dangerous medical conditions. As a result, thousands of lawsuits have been filed by injured women in a U.S. District Court as well as state courts. At Michigan Injury Lawyers, we take these types of cases seriously. Our personal injury lawyers staunchly believe that no one should be subject to serious health complications due to defective product design or manufacture or failure to warn about related risks. Should you have a valid claim due to vaginal mesh failure, we will aggressively pursue legal action on your behalf to obtain the restitution you deserve for the injuries and losses you have unnecessarily suffered.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse | Stress Urinary Incontinence
Transvaginal mesh products are surgically implanted to permanently repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). These conditions typically occur in women after childbirth, menopause, or a hysterectomy. They are characterized by weakened pelvic muscles, tissues, and organs which ultimately sag or collapse. Because of loss of muscle support, urine leakage may result (SUI) or pelvic organs may drop into the vagina (POP). The surgical mesh product is generally inserted through the vagina to create necessary structure and relief from these stressful and embarrassing problems. Mesh products created specifically to treat POP and SUI in women by medical device manufacturers began to be marketed in 1998 and became popular with the release of products by Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson unit.
Since the release of these products, serious complications have been reported in thousands of women. Many of these women now claim that they were not informed of potential risks. After receiving more than a thousand reports of medical problems associated with the products of nine vaginal mesh manufacturers during a three-year period, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued a public health warning. In a 2011 press release, the FDA warned about the “clear risks” linked to surgical mesh implants. These risks include mesh erosion, pain, scarring, infection, organ damage, urinary problems, organ perforation, and other dangerous conditions.
In some cases, it has been reported that mesh had become so embedded in surrounding tissues that it required multiple surgeries to remove it. Other medical intervention required to treat vaginal mesh failure has included the treatment of serious infection, drainage of abscessed areas, blood transfusions, and more.
Vaginal Mesh Failure Lawsuits
Many women were implanted with surgical mesh products before reports of complications began to grow. As a result, these women have filed thousands of lawsuits against various manufacturers. These lawsuits have since been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in federal court. Existing lawsuits contend that these products are defective and that their manufacturers neglected to warn the medical community and consumers of their potential side effects. If you believe you are a potential candidate for a vaginal mesh failure lawsuit, we urge you to contact us. We offer a free case consultation to hear your story after which we can advise you on how best to proceed. Talk to an experienced attorney about your situation today.