Transvaginal mesh is a product surgically implanted into women to treat conditions like pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. However, the mesh can produce a host of complications, including chronic pelvic pain, erosion of the mesh into the vagina, organ perforation, pain during intercourse, urinary tract infections, bleeding, and obstruction. Thousands of women have suffered from these symptoms after having transvaginal mesh implanted. The Food and Drug Administration recently halted sales of pelvic mesh amid concerns for safety. The mesh, once implanted, can only be removed through surgery and some women require several surgeries.
The Altoona Mirror reported on an Altoona woman who was recently awarded $120 million dollars by a jury for the complications she suffered from transvaginal mesh manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The verdict was made up of $20 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages.
68-year-old Susan McFarland had the vaginal mesh implanted in 2008 to treat urinary incontinence. The mesh eroded into McFarland’s vagina, causing pain. She also suffers from groin pain and the inability to have sexual intercourse without pain.
A revisions surgery was attempted in 2009, but it failed to help.
There are currently thousands of lawsuits pending against various pelvic mesh manufacturers nationwide. This is the seventh time a Philadelphia jury has sided with plaintiffs in vaginal mesh cases against Johnson & Johnson. The awards are now approaching a total of $266 million.
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