A Mississippi woman has filed a short form complaint accusing Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson of knowing about a vaginal mesh design defect, but promoting the product, anyway.

In November 2002, Plaintiff Rhonda G.’s doctor implanted vaginal mesh presumably to combat pelvic organ prolapse.

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when a pelvic organ falls from its normal place in the lower torso and pushes against the walls of the vagina.

This condition can occur when the muscles that hold the pelvic organs in place become weak or stretched from childbirth, surgery or aging.

Pelvic organ prolapse can be uncomfortable or painful, and more than one organ can be a problem at the same time. The organs most likely affected are the bladder, urethra, uterus, small bowel and rectum.

These organs are supported by the same muscles that are often strained during childbirth. When the muscles don’t heal with their previous strength intact, they can’t support the pelvic organs as well.

Vaginal Mesh Design Defect

To correct pelvic organ prolapse, many women, including Rhonda, have a procedure to install a vaginal mesh implant that helps support the organs that have dropped from their original place.

Doctors can place the mesh through the abdomen or through the vagina, which is quicker and less invasive. When placed through the vagina, they are called transvaginal mesh implants.

The vaginal mesh design defect is that oftentimes the mesh will erode after a short period of time. The erosion can be a result of the mesh hardening because it consists of plastic that can become hard and brittle after implantation.

The erosion leads to the mesh breaking up into pieces. These tiny fragments can have sharp edges that cut vaginal tissue or become embedded in other organs.

When the broken pieces of mesh become entangled with other organs, multiple surgeries can be needed to remove all of it.

If the mesh hardens, but does not break into pieces, the hardened material can still cause pain, infection, tissue damage and nerve damage because the muscles of the vaginal walls are always expanding and contracting.

Symptoms of mesh hardening include pelvic and vaginal pain, painful intercourse, pain or difficulty urinating, bleeding or repeated vaginal infections.

The mesh is most often surgically removed if it has hardened, but if it has done damage to other organs or the vaginal wall, subsequent surgeries might be needed.

The mesh might need to be replaced with a new, improved mesh because otherwise, the original issues of pelvic organ prolapse will return once the problematic mesh is removed.

Failure to Warn

Rhonda’s complaint includes holding Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson responsible for their failure to warn patients and medical personnel of the vaginal mesh design defect.

If she and other patients had known of the possibility of mesh erosion and how their health could be subsequently adversely affected, they might not have opted to have the implant.

If you or someone you know has undergone treatment for pelvic organ prolapse and suffered the consequences of vaginal mesh design defects, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit.

The Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-CV-8234 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.