For many years, surgical mesh was routinely implanted in women who underwent pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery. Mesh manufacturers boasted that their products were wondrous: Improving the success of surgeries while reducing healing time – all without a threat of serious side effects. Some transvaginal mesh manufacturers funded medical studies to help support their claims in the medical community.
Unfortunately, doctors were largely convinced by the hype and surgeons began routinely implanting women with surgical mesh devices, or bladder slings. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t scrutinize the products either, choosing to rely on mesh’s past use in hernia repair operations as proof of its safety for vaginal use.
Several years ago, many brave women began coming forward with personal horror stories associated with their mesh implants. A few of the common complaints include:
• Mesh erosion through the vaginal tissue
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Urinary problems
For most women, the most debilitating symptom of vaginal mesh complications is pain. In one woman’s vaginal mesh lawsuit, she described the pain from her implant as “worse than childbirth.”
The pain can even be felt by the implanted woman’s spouse or partner. Dyspareunia – or painful intercourse – is one of the most personal and damaging symptoms of vaginal mesh; it can create physical pain for both the man and woman.
Surgical mesh lawsuits have flooded in the dockets in recent years. Manufacturers – such as Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, American Medical Systems and C.R. Bard – are finding themselves named as defendants in hundreds of lawsuits. The complications from their products have had a profound impact on thousands of women’s lives and often necessitate multiple corrective surgeries to remove the devices.
If you or your partner is suffering from the debilitating side effects of vaginal mesh, contact an experienced Michigan surgical mesh attorney to discuss your legal options for securing compensation.
At McKeen & Associates, we understand the personal nature of the harm you’ve suffered; we’re happy to confidentially discuss your case and help you find the avenue of recourse that’s best for you and your family.
Source: AboutLawsuits.com, “Vaginal Mesh / Bladder Sling Lawsuits,” July 1, 2011
