A New York woman recently filed a lawsuit against Ethicon, alleging that the company’s hernia mesh caused her to suffer from significant hernia mesh complications, necessitating device removal. The specific device involved in this lawsuit is Ethicon’s Physiomesh Flexible Composite hernia mesh.

The plaintiff, Fannie M., says she underwent surgery in October 2014 and was implanted with a Physiomesh Flexible Composite device from Ethicon. Ethicon is a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

Unfortunately, after implantation with the device, Fannie alleges she began to suffer from serious hernia mesh complications due to device failure. After she suffered serious injury, the lawsuit claims, Fannie had to undergo surgical removal of the device.

According to the lawsuit, Ethicon knew about these risks, but failed to warn Fannie and her doctor of the hernia mesh complications linked with its Physiomesh device. Indeed, the lawsuit claims, Ethicon had presented its Physiomesh device as “safe, effective, and reasonably fit for use.” Instead, Fannie says that due to the device’s alleged defects, she suffered from serious and permanent injuries, scarring, and economic damages.

Fannie filed her lawsuit on Jan. 8, 2019, in the Supreme Court for the State of New York.

Many other hernia mesh patients like Fannie have also come forward with allegations of defective hernia mesh devices and the resulting complications. If you or a loved one have suffered from hernia mesh complications, including device failure, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Hernia Mesh Basics

Hernia mesh devices are used after a person suffers from a hernia to reinforce a weak area, or even patch a hole. A number of major manufacturers make these devices, including Ethicon, Bard, and more.

Even though the use of these devices is common, more and more hernia mesh patients are reporting serious side effects, some eventually resulting in device removal.

Hernia Mesh Complications

Hernia mesh devices have been linked with a number of serious complications, including chronic pain, hernia recurrence, mesh rejection, infection, scarring, device migration, inflammation, organ adhesion, erosion, tissue and nerve damage, or even death. In cases of device migration, patients may eventually suffer from more serious problems like infection, adhesion, and device failure.

The FDA has warned about a number of hernia mesh complications, many of which are associated with devices that have already been recalled, including the Physiomesh device from Ethicon–which was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in 2016.

But complications caused by defective hernia mesh may not appear for several years after the initial implantation of the device. In cases of severe complications, patients may be required to undergo revision surgery to alleviate these problems. Of course, revision surgery itself brings about its own risks, exposing patients to further risk of infection and complications, as well as additional medical expenses.

Filing a Defective Hernia Mesh Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has suffered from device migration, inflammation, chronic pain, device failure, or other hernia mesh complications, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these side effects, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

The Hernia Mesh Complications Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-00047, in the Supreme Court for the State of New York.