Product News and Recalls

First J&J vaginal mesh case going to court

Johnson & Johnson is set to face the first of 1,800 cases to go to trial over the company’s vaginal mesh implants, Bloomberg reports.

A lawsuit by Linda Gross, 47, will be heard in Superior Court in Atlantic City, N.J. At issue is whether Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit adequately warned of the risks of the device.

But Bloomberg notes that several manufacturers are facing lawsuits by women who claim the devices, which are supposed to provide support for weakened pelvic muscles, caused organ perforation, pain, scarring and nerve damage.

Gross, a former nurse, claims the pain she suffered as a result of getting the implant ruined her quality of life and keeps her from working.

The report quotes her lawyers as stating: “She can no longer sit comfortably for more than a few minutes without having to either stand up or lay down to try to reduce the level of pain. She requires various daily medications to treat her severe chronic pain.”

In August, Johnson & Johnson stopped selling four mesh devices in the U.S. — including the Gynecare Prolift, which Gross had implanted in 2006.

Johnson & Johnson is the world’s biggest seller of health care products, the story says.

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.

See the story here:

https://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/01/johnson_johnson_trial_to_start.html