If you are living with health complications from a vaginal mesh procedure, it is important that you know where to find help. The legal questions surrounding these issues are complex and it may not be immediately be clear to you what your options are.
The positive news is that there are multiple resources for vaginal mesh injury plaintiffs. If you are considering legal action, these resources could be an important part of the process. With the guidance of the BGAN Law legal team, you could secure fair compensation for your medical injuries.
One of the most significant and vital resources available is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The FDA is responsible for regulating consumer products involving food and medical care, and vaginal mesh complications fall under that umbrella.
The FDA has a website dedicated to surgical mesh implants. It explains that these medical devices are intended to support weakened or damaged tissue using mostly synthetic material. However, the FDA is also responsible for removing these devices from the market that applies to numerous devices designed to repair pelvic organ prolapse.
This resource outlines that surgical mesh can be built from synthetic materials such as polypropylene as well as animal-derived materials. This includes processed and disinfected tissue from pigs and cows that are used in place of synthetic mesh.
A key aspect of vaginal mesh litigation is the removal of the mesh devices used to treat pelvic organ prolapse from the market. Many consumers were not aware of the issues regarding vaginal mesh procedures until the devices were taken off the market. This announcement goes into detail about the reasons for the FDA Order as well as the specific devices that it applies to.
According to the Order—which was announced on April 16, 2019—the FDA announced that manufacturers should stop distributing these devices immediately. Previous actions were voluntary or did not apply to all devices. Unlike those announcements, this Order brought the sale and distribution of vaginal mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse to a complete halt.
The announcement names two specific manufacturers: Boston Scientific and Coloplast, as these were the last two manufacturers to make and sell these devices. It also highlights that these manufacturers have been unable to reasonably assure the public that the devices they manufacture are safe. The announcement also includes a brief history of the FDA’s regulatory actions regarding vaginal mesh devices going back to 2016.
Medical resources are also helpful to prospective vaginal mesh injury plaintiffs. The Mayo Clinic provides detailed information on what surgical mesh actually is, in addition to the purposes it serves.
The Mayo Clinic’s guide goes into detail on how vaginal mesh was intended to treat a number of conditions, including stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. It also highlights the safety concerns that many medical professionals have raised regarding vaginal mesh for years.
There are other resources available to you beyond what you can learn on a website. By far, the most important resource for anyone living with vaginal mesh complications is the guidance of legal counsel.
There is only so much research you can do on your own. While understanding the nature of this recall and the basics of vaginal mesh litigation is helpful, BGAN Law’s team could provide you with a greater understanding of what litigation might mean for you. Reach out to us as soon as possible to discuss your legal options moving forward.