Plaintiff Shannon S., personal representative of the estate of Elizabeth B., has brought a hernia mesh wrongful death lawsuit this month against Johnson and Johnson and their subsidiary Ethicon, Inc.

Elizabeth B. was a recipient of a Physiomesh hernia repair product developed, manufactured, marketed and distributed by the two related companies.

According to the legal documentation of this hernia mesh wrongful death lawsuit which was filed on June 5, 2017, Elizabeth B. had the Physiomesh product laparoscopically implanted by a qualified surgeon in August of 2012.

The product was used as directed by Johnson and Johnson and Ethicon to repair an abdominal hernia near the midline of the body. The midline is an imaginary line running from the top of the head to the groin down the center of the body as you face it.

Ms. Elizabeth B., whose estate is being represented in this hernia mesh wrongful death case by Shannon S., had a hernia that had become incarcerated.

An incarcerated hernia has parts of the intestine entrapped in the wall of abdominal muscle with part or all the blood flow to the bowel cut off. The results of this entrapment are severe pain, inability to have a bowel movement, reverse peristalsis (vomiting), nauseated stomach, and in the worst cases, tissue death of the trapped intestinal region.

Hernia Mesh Wrongful Death Allegedly Caused by Physiomesh

According to her hernia mesh wrongful death lawsuit paperwork, a month shy of two years after the hernia repair Elizabeth B. reported to the hospital of necessity because of difficulties she was experiencing from the former hernia mesh procedure.

When the patient was examined, it was discovered that she again had an incarcerated hernia of the sigmoid colon, or the last colonic section above the rectum.

The Physiomesh had adhered to the small intestine in this region and punctured this part of the colon as well. This puncture had allowed waste matter to spread throughout the abdominal cavity and led to a dangerously septic or poisonous situation for the patient. The sepsis led to the patient’s unexpected and untimely death.

According to the legal documentation, Shannon S. holds the defendants responsible for Elizabeth’s death due to the allegedly defective design of the Physiomesh product, which was recalled in other countries in May of 2016 and just removed from the shelves in the U.S. this year.

The living plaintiff brings five counts against Johnson and Johnson Inc. and Ethicon Inc., including Strict Product Liability, Defective Design; Strict Product Liability, Failure to Warn; Negligence; Wrongful Death and Survival Claim; and Punitive Damages.

Shannon S. is asking for punitive damages as the jury sees fit to effectively punish the twin companies for their failure in adequately assessing the risks of their hernia mesh product and/or warning the public about already known risks prior to distribution.

She seeks compensatory damages for the pain and suffering of Elizabeth B. as well as payment for all attorney and legal fees.

The Hernia Mesh Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-05428-RJB, in the U.S. District Court fo the Western District of Washington.