The use of vaginal mesh to treat a variety of pelvic floor muscle issues and incontinence in women was common prior to 2019. In that year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that there was no medical justification for the use of these materials that the health risks outweighed any benefits when treating pelvic organ prolapse. These risks include bleeding, chronic pain, erosion, and infections.
The natural question that arose out of this discovery was what the makers of these products knew about these risks. It is now apparent that they put these products on the market, either without proper testing of the materials or after hiding the risks associated with their use. This means that they may be liable in a variety of vaginal mesh lawsuits and litigation.
Various types of vaginal mesh were a common material that doctors used to treat conditions in women. Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are two examples of these conditions where weakening in a woman’s muscles and ligaments could cause the location of their internal pelvic organs to shift or even have them prolapse out of the body. A common treatment option involved the implantation of vaginal mesh to provide structural support to these structures.
Sadly, we now understand that these materials can cause significant health problems. Bleeding, infections, and erosion of the material are all common complications that may have serious health consequences for patients. This became so prevalent that the Food and Drug Administration issued an order in 2019 requiring the end of the use of this material to treat pelvic organ prolapse. However, this did nothing to stop injuries from surgeries that had already occurred.
The makers of consumer products have a duty under the law to provide items that are safe for their intended use. This even applies to medical devices like vaginal mesh. Failures to do so, which result in injuries, give victims the right to demand compensation through lawsuits and litigation. These lawsuits are examples of product liability cases. These cases can demand compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and reductions in a person’s quality of life.
To win a product liability case, affected people must be able to show that a defective design or manufacturing error was the reason that a product was dangerous. As applied to vaginal mesh cases, this often involves evaluating what the makers of these products knew and did not know when putting their products on the market.
The team at BGAN Law is prepared to perform a full investigation into a vaginal mesh product’s testing history and make the connection between the implementation of these products and a person’s injuries. This includes discovering what the makers of these products knew about the risks of their product and evaluating if they intentionally withheld any key information from consumers or their healthcare providers.
All people deserve to receive medical treatment with the assurance that the devices used in these procedures are of appropriate quality. We now know that many forms of vaginal mesh failed to meet this standard. These products often fail after implantation, causing bleeding, pain, infection, and fracture.
If you have experienced these or other injuries after a vaginal mesh surgery, the makers of these products may be legally liable for your losses. Our legal team could help explain the goals and purposes of vaginal mesh lawsuits and litigation, and evaluate your specific experience to determine if legal action is justified. Place a call to schedule your appointment.