Judge Allows Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Lawsuits To Continue With Failure To Warn Claims

Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Lawsuits Allege The Mesh Causes Severe Pain, Nerve Damage, Difficulty Walking And Other Complications.

A federal judge will allow hernia mesh lawsuits to move forward with negligence claims against several polypropylene mesh manufacturers and providers. While U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon dismissed strict liability and breach of warranty claims, she held that the plaintiff met the standard for claiming that defendants misrepresented and concealed from her and her doctors the serious risks, damages and defects of the hernia mesh. Named as defendants are Atrium Medical Corporation, Getinge Group, Getinge USA, Maquet Cardiovascular U.S. Sales, Maquet Cardiovascular and Maquet Medical System USA. (Case No. 15-830, U.S. District Court, District of Western Pennsylvania)

The Pennsylvania plaintiff underwent surgery in May 2009 to repair a right inguinal (groin) hernia, according to the complaint. The plaintiff maintains the polypropylene mesh implanted during surgery caused severe abdominal pain, severe leg pain due to nerve damage, and other complications. Although the plaintiff had additional surgical procedures, she was told by her doctors that the “mesh implant cannot safely be removed.” The plaintiff claims she continues to suffer from chronic neuropathic pain, decreased sensation in her rectal area, weight loss, abdominal pain after eating, weakness, cramps and other injuries due to the polypropylene mesh. As a result, the plaintiff said she will have to take medication for the rest of her life. The defendants unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the entire lawsuit. (Case No. 15-830, U.S. District Court, District of Western Pennsylvania)

“Although some of the plaintiff’s claims were dismissed, we still commend Judge Bissoon’s decision to allow the polypropylene mesh lawsuits to move into the next phase of the pretrial process,” says Dr. François Blaudeau, the founder of Southern Med Law.

Southern Med Law continues to offer no cost and no-obligation case reviews for polypropylene and Physiomesh Flexible Composite hernia mesh injuries. Men and women who believe they have been suffered injuries and hernia mesh failure are encouraged to contact Southern Med Law to discuss your legal recourse. For more information on hernia mesh and other mesh lawsuits and to speak with an attorney, call 1-205-547-5525 or visit www.southernmedlaw.com for further information and to fill out a contact form.

According to the FDA, Surgical mesh, made from animal material or synthetic material such as polypropylene, is commonly used in hernia repair. A hernia occurs when an organ, intestine or fatty tissue squeezes through a hole or a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hernias have a high rate of recurrence, and physicians often use surgical mesh to strengthen the hernia repair and reduce the rate of recurrence. The federal regulator estimates that more than 1 million hernia repairs are performed each year in the U.S., with 800,00 performed to repair inguinal (groin) hernias.
[fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/HerniaSurgicalMesh/default.htm, FDA, April 4, 2016]

The FDA notes that the most common adverse events following mesh repair include:

• Pain
• Infection
• Hernia recurrence
• Adhesion
• Bowel obstruction

Mesh can also cause complications when it migrates or shrinks.
[fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/HerniaSurgicalMesh]

Other mesh manufacturers are facing issues over their hernia mesh products. In May, Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary, Ethicon voluntarily recalled its Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh after a study found a higher risk of revision surgeries and hernia recurrence in patients with the hernia mesh implant. An analysis of data from German and Danish registries found the rates of hernia recurrence and revision surgeries after a minimally invasive ventral hernia repair using Ethicon Physiomesh Composite Mesh were higher than the average rates for comparable mesh products. In issuing the market withdrawal, Ethicon said it was not sure what caused the Physiomesh Composite failure rates, and therefore, would no longer sell the product.
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About Southern Med Law And Filing A Polypropylene Mesh Lawsuit

Dr. Blaudeau and the attorneys at Southern Med Law work hard to develop a strong reputation in healthcare litigation. As a practicing doctor, Attorney Blaudeau’s first-hand knowledge of medicine has made Southern Med Law an aggressive and effective law firm for those who were harmed due to negligent pharmaceutical manufacturers. If you or a loved one have been injured by Polypropylene Hernia Mesh, please contact Southern Med Law today to learn more about your legal rights. You can arrange for a free, no obligation Polypropylene Mesh lawsuit review by filling out our online form, or by calling the office directly at 205-547-5525.