A vaginal mesh lawsuit was filed against Boston Scientific Corp. over allegations that the manufacturer designed a defective bladder sling while over-marketing the product as a safe medical device.

Plaintiff Tammy M. of Missouri filed the transvaginal mesh lawsuit after allegedly suffering from infections, pelvic pain and other serious injuries as a result of the pelvic mesh implant.

According to the surgical mesh lawsuit, the plaintiff’s injuries are permanent. She was scarred, experienced severe erosion of her vaginal wall, and lost the ability to have sex, the lawsuit said. 

Tammy claims Boston Scientific intentionally concealed the risks involved with its pelvic mesh Obtryx Sling System while it advertised and sold it knowing that the device could cause patients serious injuries.

The bladder sling lawsuit states that Tammy was implanted with the vaginal mesh to treat her stress urinary incontinence but as a result of the pain she’s endured she will be forced to undergo an additional surgery to remove the device.

Bladder Sling Complications

Pelvic mesh is essentially a hammock-like device that is surgically implanted into the vaginal area to help treat pelvic organ prolapse. Bladder slings were originally marketed to women as a discreet way to treat the medical condition that often occurs after having a hysterectomy, after childbirth or during menopause.

However, soon after being released on the market, transvaginal mesh problems started being reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Between 2005 and 2010, the FDA received about 4,000 reports of vaginal mesh complications including organ perforation and vaginal mesh erosion.

By 2011, theFDA  announced that transvaginal mesh complications should not be considered a rare side effect of the medical implant.

Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits

More than 50,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs alleging that the pelvic mesh implant caused serious internal damage. According to a recent case list, Ethicon faces 25,000 vaginal mesh lawsuits while Boston Scientific is the named defendant in more than 16,000.

Boston Scientific recently agreed to pay $119 million in order to settle nearly 3,000 lawsuits.

In general, plaintiffs who file bladder sling lawsuits seek financial compensation to help pay for medical bills as well as for the pain and suffering they have endured.

If you have experienced bladder sling complications, contact a vaginal mesh attorney to find out if you have legal claim.

The Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-12994, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Eastern Division.