Ethicon, Inc. was founded in 1949 as a subsidiary of parent company Johnson & Johnson as a way to offer a larger selection of products, including medical devices such as surgical sutures. Within the Ethicon, Inc. division, the Gynecare Company was formed in order to offer a wide variety of Women’s Health products, including an array of vaginal mesh implants used in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Unfortunately, many of these mesh products including Ethicon Prolene mesh have become the subject of lawsuit cases. In 2011, the FDA warned the public that injuries from vaginal mesh were not rare, as they had previously stated. Although there was no official FDA Ethicon Prolene Mesh Recall, the company ceased in their marketing and offering of the device by their own decision following numerous injury and complication reports.
Ethicon Prolene Mesh Complications
A woman from Kentucky recently filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon stating that three of their products used to treat her pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence resulted in serious physical harm and disfigurement. The products used in her treatment included: Gynecare Prolift Posterior Pelvic Floor Repair System, Ethicon Prolene Mesh, as well as the Gynecare TVT Obturator system. Although these products were intended to be a permanent surgical solution for POP and SUI, instead they cause her harm and pain. This story is not uncommon, and many patients treated with Ethicon mesh have reported the following complications:
- Pain
- Erosion of the device through vaginal walls
- Vaginal Scarring
- Shrinkage/Contraction of the Mesh Implant
- Neuromuscular Problems
- Emotional Difficulties
- Urinary Problems
- Recurrence of Stress Urinary Incontinence/Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Many of these mesh related injuries require prompt medical attention. In the event of Prolene mesh erosion, a revision surgery will be performed in an attempt to recall the implant from the body. Sometimes, multiple revision surgeries will be necessary in order to fully remove the device. Unfortunately, some patients are never able to return to the quality of life they enjoyed prior to their mesh injuries.
File a Mesh Recall Lawsuit: Consult with an Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured by a vaginal mesh implant with an Ethicon or other brand of device, contact the Willis Law Firm today. Although located in Houston, TX, our firm is currently evaluation hundreds of mesh related claims nationwide. If you have been injured by mesh, contact our firm for a free and confidential Ethicon mesh recall lawsuit evaluation. We may be able to help you recover a substantial amount of financial compensation for your injuries. Don’t delay; let us help you today.