Mass Torts Update - Monday, November 5, 2012 11:22 - 0 Comments

Transvaginal Mesh Litigation Update

A fifth multidistrict litigation (MDL) has been formed in the Southern District of West Virginia for transvaginal mesh products manufactured by Coloplast Corporation. Judge Joseph R. Goodwin is overseeing the new Coloplast MDL which joins the four others in that court including transvaginal mesh manufacturers C.R. Bard, Ethicon, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson), American Medical Systems, Inc., and Boston Scientific Corporation. Over 1,000 cases have been consolidated in these five multidistrict litigations. Additionally, hundreds of cases have been filed in coordinated state court actions.

The FDA has issued an updated safety communication warning doctors, health care professionals, and patients that the placement of surgical mesh through the vagina to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence may present greater risk for the patient than other non-mesh procedures. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the muscles and ligaments supporting a woman’s pelvic organs weaken and a pelvic organ slips out of place, or prolapses. Prolapse can involve the bladder, uterus, vagina, or rectum.

Coloplast manufactures three vaginal mesh products intended to treat pelvic organ prolapse, including Exair Mesh, Novasilk Synthetic Flat Mesh, and Restorelle Smartmesh. Coloplast also manufactures five bladder sling products intended to correct stress urinary incontinence, including the Aris Transobturator Sling, Omnisure Sling, Minitape Sling, Supris Suprapubic Sling, and T-Sling with Centrasorb. Stress urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine prompted by a physical movement or activity such as coughing, sneezing, or heavy lifting.

Lawyers in our firm’s Mass Torts Section are currently investigating transvaginal mesh products manufactured by American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, Caldera Medical, C.R. Bard, and Johnson & Johnson and Coloplast Corporation. If you need more information on this litigation, please contact Leigh O’Dell or Chad Cook at 1-800-898-2034 or by email at Leigh.Odell@beasleyallen.com or Chad.Cook@beasleyallen.com.