In June 2012, Johnson & Johnson made the decision to remove their defective transvaginal mesh (TVM) medical device from the global market. Though the medical device manufacturer cites future market performance as being the reason for the discontinuation of sales, their decision comes as there is an ever-increasing number of lawsuits citing links between their transvaginal mesh devices and severe health complications.
According to a Reuters report from June 2012, there are currently over 1,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits filed against Ethicon Inc., the subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson responsible for the manufacture of the defective transvaginal mesh. The Johnson & Johnson Gynecare vaginal mesh lawsuits are being heard by a federal judge in West Virginia and a state judge in New Jersey.
As a result of surgical implantation of Johnson & Johnson’s Gynecare Prolift transvaginal mesh devices, patients have claimed organ injury, bleeding, infections, and severe pain. Transvaginal mesh is used to treat women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence, both health conditions resulting from muscle weakening in the pelvic region.
According to a statement made by an Ethicon spokesperson, the medical device manufacturer has made a plan to pull several Gynecare products from the global market, including the Gynecare TVT Secur, Gynecare Prosima, Gynecare Prolift, and Gynecare Prolift+M, all transvaginal mesh devices.
Back in January 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered transvaginal mesh manufacturers, such as Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson, to begin studying patients with surgically implanted transvaginal mesh to better understand the safety of such products. As Johnson & Johnson has made the decision to pull four of their surgical mesh devices from the global market, the company has stated that it should no longer have to conduct studies of patients with their surgical mesh implants.
If you or someone you love has undergone surgery to receive one of the discontinued Johnson & Johnson transvaginal mesh devices and, as a result, has suffered enormously from physical pain and financial losses, you and your loved one may be entitled to receive compensation. For a free legal consultation about your Johnson & Johnson Gynecare transvaginal mesh case, contact an experienced defective medical device lawyer at Carey Danis & Lowe today by calling 800.721.2519.
