August 17, 2016 — The Kentucky Attorney General has filed a lawsuit on behalf of 15,000 women who were not adequately warned about the health risks of vaginal mesh.
Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a statement announcing the civil lawsuit was seeking millions of dollars in penalties for violations of Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act.
Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon unit are accused of concealing risk information and deceptively marketing vaginal mesh. According to Beshear:
“The way this company clearly chose profits over people is outrageous. My office has talked to victims whose lives have been devastated by this company’s deceitful practices.”
Earlier this year, California and Washington state filed identical lawsuits. Another 32,000 federal lawsuits have been filed by women who were injured by vaginal mesh.
Lawyers say Johnson & Johnson was aware of the substantial risks associated with vaginal mesh and consciously chose not to provide warnings to patients or doctors.
Beshear specifically cites a failure to update labels in 2005, after the company’s medical director recommended the following warning:
“WARNING: Early clinical experience has shown that the use of mesh through a vaginal approach can occasionally/uncommonly lead to complications such as vaginal erosion and retraction which can result in an anatomical distortion of the vaginal cavity that can interfere with sexual intercourse.”
Vaginal mesh is made of polypropylene, a synthetic material that is not recommended for permanent implants. In recent studies, researchers have found that vaginal mesh causes a pro-inflammatory response that persists for years.
Do I have a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting vaginal mesh induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with pain or erosion, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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