Although patients were assured that having transvaginal mesh inserted is a low-risk procedure, many severe complications have arisen from this surgery. Thousands of women have experienced complications such as infection, organ perforation, intense pain and inability to have intercourse. Many of these women have had to undergo multiple revision surgeries to attempt to manage symptoms. Some experts claim that the products are defective, insufficiently tested and that manufacturers failed to warn women of the potential risks. It sometimes takes two or three revision surgeries to repair the damage.
Johnson & Johnson and C.R. Bard have since pulled a number of their mesh products off the market.
Two women have received sizable verdicts after suing mesh manufacturers for their injuries. In July 2012, a California jury awarded Christine Scott and her husband $5.5 million after she underwent nine revision surgeries. Scott sued C.R. Bard in 2009 over its Avaulta Plus mesh product.
In February 2013, Linda Gross won $11.11 million in her lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon brand over its Prolift vaginal mesh product. Gross had 18 surgeries.
Because of the large number of vaginal mesh lawsuits that have been filed, a number of these cases have been consolidated into several multi-district lawsuits. It will take years, maybe decades, for all these cases to work through the courts.