A Louisiana resident, plaintiff Ronnie B., recently filed a Physiomesh hernia mesh lawsuit against Ethicon, Inc., a prominent subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, alleging the implant led to serious and continuing injuries.

According to the Physiomesh hernia mesh lawsuit, Ronnie was implanted with Physiomesh mesh in order to repair a hernia on March 4, 2016—just months before Ethicon withdrew the device from the market. As a direct result of the Physiomesh hernia mesh, Ronnie suffered from a number of serious health problems, the lawsuit alleges.

Ronnie claims that Ethicon’s Physiomesh hernia mesh was defective and wasn’t safe to use for hernia repair.

Physiomesh Hernia Mesh Basics

The Ethicon product known as the Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh, or Physiomesh hernia mesh, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in March 2010. The approval was granted through the 510k fast-track approval program, which allows companies to show equivalency to a similar product already on the market in order to avoid performing the full requirements of research and testing that would otherwise be required.

The device was marketed as a “sterile, low profile, flexible composite mesh designed for repair of hernias and other fascial deficiencies.” After its approval, the Physiomesh hernia mesh rapidly grew in popularity. However, it also became associated with a number of hernia mesh complications, some of which are quite serious.

In May 2016, Ethicon withdrew its Physiomesh hernia mesh product from the market due to a high rate of failure.

Patients implanted with Physiomesh hernia mesh were exposed to a number of risks, including but not limited to the following:

• Chronic pain
• Hernia recurrence
• Rejection of the mesh
• Infection
• Device migration
• Scarring
• Inflammation
• Organ adhesion
• Erosion
• Tissue and nerve damage
• Death

Ronnie’s Physiomesh hernia mesh lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, violation of the Louisiana unfair trade practices and consumer protection law, fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment, breach of express and implied warranties, and fraud, among others.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Physiomesh Hernia Mesh Complications

A growing number of patients are filing lawsuits against hernia mesh device manufacturers for causing these serious health complications. These patients allege that manufacturers like Ethicon failed to conduct adequate research and testing of their product, failed to warn about hernia mesh complications linked with the product, gave misleading information, and actively concealed knowledge of defects, among other things.

If you or someone you love has suffered from Physiomesh hernia mesh complications after undergoing hernia repair, even months after the fact, you may be able to file a hernia mesh lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries.

While filing a claim cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by Physiomesh hernia mesh, it can help to compensate for medical expenses and lost wages.

The Physiomesh Hernia Mesh Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-04739-SM-JCW, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.