No more mesh products
Posted in Firm News, Injuries on April 18, 2019
Many women throughout Washington and the United States suffer pelvic organ prolapse (POP), or the weakening of pelvic organs. For years, the most common method of treating POP was a surgical implant of mesh.
These methods may have to change. The Food and Drug Administration has warned manufacturers and patients alike about mesh products for nearly a decade. And now, the FDA directed manufacturers to terminate the sale of all mesh products.
The safety of mesh products in question
POP symptoms range from pelvic discomfort to incontinence issues. Surgical mesh implants are supposed to minimize these symptoms. However, the FDA reports that the mesh products are not only failing to treat these symptoms but that they are also causing women more serious health issues.
These common health concerns include:
- More urinary issues
- Infections
- Intestinal issues
- Organ bleeds or tears
- Severe pain
- Returning POP
These worsening symptoms influenced the FDA’s decision to pull the product from the market. They also decided to remove the products since the manufacturers have not provided evidence of whether the products are safe or not.
The impact on women
The FDA states that nearly 1 in 8 women elect to receive surgeries that treat their POP. And a large percentage of these surgeries involve mesh implants. The continuing sale of mesh products put these women at risk of devastating injuries.
Removing mesh products from the market could help prevent these injuries for others, but what about women who already have a mesh implant? Not all mesh products result in injuries. Some women might never experience injuries or worsening symptoms. However, it may be possible for anyone with a mesh implant to seek compensation, depending on how this situation develops.
Who is at fault?
In the FDA’s eyes, manufacturers like Boston Scientific are liable for the injuries their mesh products caused. Manufacturers–especially manufacturers of medical devices–all have a responsibility to create and sell safe products, as well as give proper warnings and instructions about those products.
A defective product may not be the only issue. The warnings about mesh products have been prevalent for years. However, hospitals and medical professionals nationwide continued to use them. And medical retailers continued to sell them.
Injuries resulting from defective medical devices often involve a wide range of negligent parties. These parties are yet to be determined now that all mesh products have been removed from the market.