LegalView Blog http://blogs.legalview.com Legal News & Law Information Fri, 11 May 2012 14:49:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Vaginal Mesh Problems Cross Borders http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/mesh-problems-cross-borders.html http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/mesh-problems-cross-borders.html#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 14:49:41 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7361 vaginal mesh surgeries in 2006 recently filed a class action lawsuit in association with the complications they suffered after they were implanted with the vaginal mesh devices.  Last June the United States’ Food and Drug Administration released a statement saying that vaginal mesh complications after surgery were not uncommon.  They also stated that  vaginal mesh was not superior to other treatment options for vaginal prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. They two women suffered from intense pain following their surgeries that implanted the vaginal mesh. One of the women actually had to quit her job because she could not stand for long periods of time due to the excruciating pain. Complications are experienced in as many as 10% of women who have transvaginal mesh.  Side effects include mesh erosion and or mesh shrinkage. Both of these side effects can cause extreme pain, discomfort, painful intercourse, and even additional surgeries.]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/mesh-problems-cross-borders.html/feed 0 First Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits Scheduled http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/first-lawsuits-scheduled.html http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/first-lawsuits-scheduled.html#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 14:23:13 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7353 transvaginal mesh lawsuit that will go to trial against C.R. Bard Inc. This is the first date set for over 600 transvaginal mesh lawsuits against the manufacturers. The lawsuit claims the device caused organ damage. Currently there are about 1,000 liability lawsuits against four of the medical device makers that have been filed over transvaginal mesh devices. Woman claim that the device caused them to experience side effects such as pain during intercourse and loss of bladder control. The United States’ Food and Drug Administration ruled in June of 2011 that the vaginal mesh complications were not uncommon. They also decided that the vaginal mesh was not better than the more traditional treatments for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. According to many women vaginal mesh surgery has done little to solve their problems of pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. Women have been left with the symptoms of the original condition as well as new symptoms such as erosion and infections.  ]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/first-lawsuits-scheduled.html/feed 0 Two side effects of Transvaginal Mesh http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/two-side-effects-of-mesh.html http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/two-side-effects-of-mesh.html#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 14:02:45 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7348 Vaginal mesh was introduced as a surgical treatment option for POP and SUI. Many women who have undergone vaginal mesh surgeries are experiencing mesh erosion and or mesh shrinkage as a side effect. Mesh erosion is when the vaginal mesh moves  from the spot where it was implanted, and mesh shrinkage is a change in size of the mesh device.  Both of these side effects can cause extreme pain, discomfort, painful intercourse, and even additional surgeries. These two not uncommon symptoms have pushed patients to assert their rights in court against the makers of the mesh devices. The manufacturers knowingly marketed these medical devices without proper testing. Numerous lawsuits have been filed by different women across the U.S. Read more about vaginal mesh injuries, mesh erosion, and mesh shrinkage at LegalView.  ]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/two-side-effects-of-mesh.html/feed 0 Manufacturers Released Product without Testing http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/released-product-not-tested.html http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/released-product-not-tested.html#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 18:37:29 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7340 transvaginal mesh implants without having tested them. Among these manufacturers are medical device giants such as Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific. The products were allowed to be marketed because they were similar to another product that had already been tested. However, recent data shows that as many as 10% of women who have received these implants are experiencing complications. The FDA’s approval process has been placed under scrutiny after several devices have been recalled. The current protocol allows companies to introduce products without testing if  they are similar to devices already for sale. This is not the first time that FDA has faced criticism. In 2010 J&J was once again in the limelight after withdrawing hip prosthetics that experienced a higher-than-expected failure rate. The number of deaths, injuries or malfunctions tied to vaginal mesh for prolapsed organs has increased since the release of the product. The FDA has looked at reclassifying the mesh as “high-risk” due to this increase in numbers. In addition to J&J other manufacturers such as Murray Hill and C.R. Bard Inc. (BCR) have been urged to look into the damage and complications related to the products. Patients have been taking matters into their own hands as well. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against all of the manufacturers of the mesh. Read more about vaginal mesh complications at LegalView.]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/released-product-not-tested.html/feed 0 Alternatives to Transvaginal Mesh http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/alternatives-to-mesh.html http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/alternatives-to-mesh.html#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:06 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7328 Pelvic organ prolapse, otherwise known as POP,  is when a woman’s pelvic organs protrude through the vaginal opening due to multiple childbirths or a hysterectomy. The organs that can prolapse are the bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina, small bowel, and/or the rectum slip can also slip out of place. Thousands of women have used transvaginal mesh as a form of treatment for POP but recent findings show that the benefits of using the mesh do not outweigh the costs. As many as 10% of women have experienced complications as a result of the mesh. Listed below are alternative treatment options for pelvic organ prolapse.
  • Prescribed medications. Medical professionals may advise patients to take estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) if they believed the pelvic organ prolapse may be a cause of low estrogen.
  • Physical therapy. Medical professionals may recommend physical therapy in patients to strengthen the muscles of the vaginal wall. The stronger muscles may reverse the prolapse. These can be done through a series of exercises or by electrical stimulation.
  • Pessaries. Pessaries are a removable plastic, rubber or silicone device that can be used to help treated pelvic organ prolapse. The pessary can be placed temporarily or permanently and is used to support the pelvic organs
Please consult your doctor before choosing a treatment option so that the correct option may be selected for your  symptoms.]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/alternatives-to-mesh.html/feed 0 Multiple Manufacturers Face Lawsuits for Mesh http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/multi-manufacturer-lawsuits.html http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/multi-manufacturer-lawsuits.html#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 18:07:12 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7323 transvaginal mesh cases. Similar stories are also be reported with their rival manufacturers as well. The transvaginal mesh is used to help with pelvic organ prolapse or incontinence but seems to be hurting its recipients more then helping them. The lawsuits could cause a multimillion-dollar problem for the manufacturing companies. The lawsuits have followed a FDA reversal last year that stated that multiple women have been experiencing similar issues after having the mesh implanted. The number of women experiencing complications with the mesh inserts can be as high as 10 percent. Boston Scientific has not made any comments in conjunction with the litigation but has stated that the mesh is still a treatment option for patients and that they will continue to work with the FDA to ensure that appropriate information about the mesh products is provided to patients and their doctors. Some patients are questioning whether or not they were informed of the potential risks. Patients claim that the complications were underreported. These lawsuits can have a huge financial impact on the manufacturers and it one way of drawing attention to risks of the transvaginal mesh.  ]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/vaginalmesh/2012/05/multi-manufacturer-lawsuits.html/feed 0 Junior Seau’s Brain Examination http://blogs.legalview.com/tbi/2012/05/junior-seaus-brain-examination.html http://blogs.legalview.com/tbi/2012/05/junior-seaus-brain-examination.html#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 13:45:13 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7314 chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a degenerative brain disease brought on by multiple head injuries or concussions that can be linked to depression. Researchers had been contacting his family with the hope that they could see if he had CTE. Multiple research centers have been studying CTE including Boston University who looked at  former Chicago Bears safety, Dave Duerson's brain.  Duerson's brain showed brain damage due to repeated hits and  commited suicide in 2011. Duerson had left a note saying that he wanted his brain to be looked at for possible damage. The NFL has a class action lawsuit against them over concussion-related injuries. The lawsuit names more than 1,000 professional players. Multiple NFL players have had experience with memory lapses, anger and deep depression after suffering from multiple concussions. Seau had not participated in any of the pending lawsuits against the NFL. The only way to see if he had suffered from CTE is to wait and see what the researchers find after examining his brain.]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/tbi/2012/05/junior-seaus-brain-examination.html/feed 0 The FDA Allows What? http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/the-fda-allows-what.html http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/the-fda-allows-what.html#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 14:16:32 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7307 vaginal mesh that has never been scientifically tested. Consequently, women are also experiencing complications with the mesh at a rate of at least 10 percent. The vaginal mesh is used to treat pelvic organ prolapse, a condition where women's reproductive and urinary organs can herniate through the vagina. The mesh is used to hold the pelvic organs in place. The FDA has now released warnings that the mesh's risks may outweigh the benefits. They have released this information after thousands of women have already had the mesh inserted. The best way to fix this problem is to legally set in a place a better process.  Contact LegalView to help change the policies of the drug manufacturers.]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/the-fda-allows-what.html/feed 0 Vaginal Mesh Prematurely Rushed to Market http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/mesh-prematurely-on-market.html http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/mesh-prematurely-on-market.html#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 18:05:39 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7301 Unfortunately all medical devices are not created equal. Some medical devices can be rushed to market without proper testing if they are "closely related" to another product that is already on the market. This is exactly the case with transvaginal mesh. Some manufacturing companies such as C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson have put their products on the market knowing that they may have had an increased risk to the patient.  The risks outweigh the benefits and this is exactly what the FDA is saying about this synthetic mesh.
Transvaginal mesh is used to treat POP or pelvic organ prolapse, which is when female reproductive organs can protrude through the vagina.  The following is a list of types of POP:
  • Cystocele -  bladder protrudes into the vagina.
  • Enterocele -  small intestines protrudes into the vagina.
  • Rectocele - rectal tissues protrude into the vagina.
  • Urethrocele - prolapse of the female urethra into the vagina
  • Uterine prolapse - prolapse of the uterus
After experiencing this already uncomfortable condition, up to 10% of women experience complications.
The only way to stop this injustice is to force  manufacturers to properly test their products before going to market. The best way to enforce this procedure is to make it a legal matter.  Contact LegalView to help change the policies of the drug manufacturers.
 ]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/mesh-prematurely-on-market.html/feed 0 FDA Releases Several Warnings About Transvaginal Mesh http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/several-warnings-about-mesh.html http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/several-warnings-about-mesh.html#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 14:02:28 +0000 admin http://blogs.legalview.com/?p=7297 transvaginal mesh. The FDA’s statements stated that the risks when inserting a vaginal mesh outweigh the potential benefits. The mesh was cleared without clinical trial data requirements that other drugs are subjected to. The transvaginal mesh is a semi-permeable barrier that can be implanted by a physician into a woman that has experienced complications with pelvic organ prolapse. The mesh is designed to keep internal organs in place. Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition where a woman’s pelvic organs protrude through the vaginal opening. Pelvic organ prolapse can occur in women that have had multiple childbirths or a hysterectomy. The bladder is the most common organ that can prolapse, but others such as the urethra, uterus, vagina, small bowel, and/or the rectum slip can also slip out of place. Women who experience complications have been subjected to mesh erosion, painful sex or dyspareunia, mesh migration, mesh shrinkage, risk of infection, incontinence and/or internal bleeding. If you have experienced pain, infections, bladder or urinary problems, or other serious side effects due to vaginal mesh surgery, contact a LegalView attorney for a case consultation.]]> http://blogs.legalview.com/medical-devices/2012/05/several-warnings-about-mesh.html/feed 0