Scores of Ohio women who received faulty vaginal mesh implants could be eligible for court settlements, as the first products liability case related to the issue gets under way. More than 20,000 complaints have been filed nationwide in connection with the dangerous medical devices.
Jurors in the case intend to decide whether C.R. Bard, the manufacturer of the vaginal mesh, effectively warned patients and physicians about the risks of the implant. Plaintiffs in the case allege the mesh was not fit for use in human subjects. The case is just one in a federal multi-district lawsuit, according to official reports.
Thousands of women nationwide allege the New Jersey company used materials that were not suitable for use in humans when manufacturing the implants. Officials at the company reportedly knew the material should not have been used as a permanent solution to the deteriorating pelvic muscles and urinary incontinence it was designed to treat.
The trial slated to begin later this month is brought by a 54-year-old patient. She alleges she suffered pelvic and rectal pain after the implant was inserted in 2009. She went on to develop even worse symptoms, such as bleeding and bladder spasms, and she had to have multiple surgeries to correct the problems. The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to testify on behalf of the plaintiffs in this case.
This case is the first in a series of four that will be heard by a trial court to determine how to proceed with the rest of the litigation.
If you or a loved one has suffered physical problems because of a medical device or implant malfunction, consider seeking the aid of a qualified personal injury attorney. These professionals can help you learn more about your rights and responsibilities in court, guiding you to get the money you need and deserve to fix your medical problems.
Source: www.wvgazette.com, “Medical mesh implant trial gets underway in federal court” Kate White, Jul. 08, 2013