Product News and Recalls

First Federal Transvaginal Mesh Claim Going to Trial

woman in pain due to transvaginal meshAn article from the Daily Report Online describes a woman in Georgia who filed the first federal claim against one of the Transvaginal mesh manufacturers. The claim against C.R. Bard detailed the health problems she’s endured as a result of receiving a vaginal mesh implant. She explains the Transvaginal mesh device was implanted to solve prior bladder problems, but it only made matters worse. She immediately sought medical help for the pain and discomfort she suffered, resulting in two additional surgeries to remove the device from her body.

According to the article, this case is the first of over 20,000 lawsuits currently pending against transvaginal mesh products, and going to trial Monday in multidistrict litigation (known as an MDL) before a U.S. District Judge in Charleston, West Virginia. The mesh implants are supposed to treat urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse – a condition in which weakened muscles are no longer able to provide adequate support for the pelvic organs.

FDA logoTransvaginal mesh litigation has expanded dramatically since 2011, and in addition to federal claims, the country is now seeing thousands of cases pending in state courts— two of which have already resulted in jury verdicts during the past year. Public awareness increased after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety warning in 2011. An earlier public health notification about the products had been released in 2008.

If you have a vaginal mesh implant, you should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a mesh lawyer to discuss your legal rights.