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According to reports, Bard Canada, the makers of Avaulta, Align, and Adjust brands of transvaginal meshes, has agreed to pay some $2.4 million in order to settle claims made against them for the three products. As part of the settlement, however, the company makes no admission of liability or wrongdoing.
The settlement, the first class-action suit of its kind in Canada, will have an approval hearing scheduled on May 2nd. The court will then determine if the settlement agreement is fair, reasonable and in the best interests of the plaintiffs listed in the class action suit.
There are still dozens of lawsuits that have been filed both in Canada and the United States against manufacturers of transvaginal mesh. While such surgeries are popular and very often successful, other women complain of issues such as infections, chronic pain, painful sex and other internal damage caused by the products.
One Canadian woman involved in the class action lawsuit against Bard had received Align transvaginal mesh that was manufactured by Bard in December 2010, to treat incontinence. Within weeks of her surgery, she began to complain of pain and infections, having to go to the hospital on a weekly basis.
In her case, the Align transvaginal mesh had started to erode and migrated through her vagina. Attempts to remove the mesh by doctors proved unsuccessful. The infections continued and caused fluid to build up around O’Brien’s heart which caused her to suffer a heart attack in 2011. She is now hopeful that the pending settlement will allow her to find a doctor who can remove the rest of the mesh and fix the problem.
In recent months, the FDA has classified transvaginal mesh as a medical device that has a high degree of risk attached to it. Some 70,000 women filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of transvaginal mesh in 2015. Since its approval in 2002, thousands of women reported complications from its use. If you or someone you love has suffered from complications related to surgery involving transvaginal mesh, you may be entitled to compensation.
After you have consulted with your physician about your symptoms, contact the Strong Arm Attorney in Atlanta, John Foy & Associates to protect your rights. Contact us today.
