8 June 2012
A leading lawyer has warned that UK courts could see a wave of legal action following the announcement by Johnson & Johnson to withdraw from the market 4 vaginal mesh devices sold by their Ethicon Unit following hundreds of lawsuits being brought in the US.
The devices are Gynecare TVT Secur, Gynecare Prosima, Gynecare Prolift and Gynecare Prolift+M.
These devices were used to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). For women with pelvic organ prolapse, mesh can be surgically implanted vaginally to support and uphold the pelvic organs. For women with stress urinary incontinence, mesh can be implanted vaginally to support the urethra.
Women who allege that their POP or SUI mesh products have caused them to suffer significant internal injury are bringing legal action in the US against Johnson and Johnson.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it received more than 1,500 reports of complications related to the mesh from 2008 to 2010, including cases where the it eroded into the vagina or caused bleeding and infection. The rate of problems was five times the rate reported from 2005 to 2007.
In January 2012, The FDA sent letters to 35 manufacturers of surgical mesh implants, including Johnson & Johnson, ordering new safety studies.
Jill Paterson a Partner in the product liability team at Leigh Day & Co said:
“We are currently investigating how many women in this country have been affected by these devices and would urge anyone who believes they have suffered adverse affects following a procedure involving one of these surgical mesh implants to contact us, in confidence, as soon as possible.”
If you would like to speak to one of our specialist product liability solicitors regarding vaginal mesh, please contact Gail Cronin on 020 7650 1219.
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