Johnson & Johnson Discontinue the Ethicon Transvaginal Mesh Implant

Published June 21, 2012 on LawsuitInformation.org

Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson sent letters to the judges in federal and state court overseeing vaginal mesh lawsuits to notify them that the company is going to stop selling the following products: -Gynecare TVT Secure; -Gynecare Prosima Pelvic Floor System; -Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor System; -Gynecare Prolift+M Pelvic Floor System; and -Gynecare Gynemash PS.

These types of products are transvaginal mesh implants used to help women for the repair of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). These mesh implants made by Ethicon as well as other medical companies have been associated with serious, painful complications for women. Such complications include: infections, erosion of the mesh through the vagina, hardening or shrinkage of the mesh, pelvic pain, urinary problems and pain during sexual intercourse. In many cases, husbands and partners have injured themselves during intercourse.

Ethicon’s decision seems like a recall; however, Matthew Johnson, Ethicon’s spokesperson, is trying to convince the public that the company’s decision to stop selling the vaginal mesh implants has nothing to do with the products being unsafe. Evidence shows otherwise—more than 600 lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon over the transvaginal mesh products. Ethicon has requested that the FDA give the company 120 days to “cease commercialization” so that the company can provide surgeons and hospitals with time to pick alternative treatment options, notify their patients, and change marketing materials. The company has also asked the FDA to hold on to the recent orders that the FDA conduct studies on these unsafe medical devices in midst of the growing concerns.

The FDA has required companies and/or manufacturers of these types of transvaginal mesh products to conduct tests and studies on the products after the FDA received complaints from thousands of women who experienced complications after they underwent procedures to repair POP and SUI. The FDA is trying to determine the risk with vaginal mesh products and weigh the products’ benefits compared to the risks. It was in July, 2011 when the FDA warned the public about the serious complications with these mesh patches that are implanted in women to treat POP or SUI. When they made this warning, they received more than 3,800 reports of adverse effects caused by the surgical mesh or during the implantation of the patch.

If you have suffered complications due to the implantation of an Ethicon product or some other transvaginal mesh to treat POP, you have a right to compensation. By filing a claim against the surgical mesh manufacturer, you could receive compensation for medical costs, other financial burdens and the pain and suffering caused by this defective medical device.