A number of states’ attorney generals are taking action against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon regarding the companies’ vaginal mesh products. In May 2016, California and Washington sued Ethicon, claiming that the company engaged in deceptive marketing practices when it came to failing to disclose the potential dangers and health consequences associated with using transvaginal mesh products. Now, Kentucky has joined the fray, suing Ethicon on behalf of all residents in the state.
According to the complaint filed by the Kentucky attorney general, over 15,000 female patients were implanted with an Ethicon transvaginal mesh product without sufficient disclosures from J&J about the potential side effects that could result. This prevented the women from making informed decisions about whether to proceed with the implantation.
In a statement regarding the lawsuit, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said, “My office has talked to victims whose lives have been devastated by this company’s deceitful practices. We may not be able to give them back the lives they once had, but my office will do everything we can to hold this company accountable.”
Currently, Ethicon has been named in tens of thousands of actions asserting product liability claims against the subsidiary. These women generally claim that the pelvic mesh products caused a number of injuries either immediately after implantation or during the months that followed. In many cases, the mesh product migrated from the original location where it was implanted, causing tears in internal organs, severe abdominal pain, painful intercourse, and other complications. In many cases, women experiencing migrations required a second surgery to remove the mesh device and repair the internal damage that it caused. Although this resolved some of the complications, many women have been left with permanent and irreparable injuries that will affect their lives indefinitely.
In many cases, female patients’ husbands have asserted loss of consortium claims against J&J to seek compensation for the loss of their wives’ companionship, society, and support. The complications associated with the transvaginal mesh device can have severe implications for couples’ ability to engage in intimate activities, thereby having painful and emotionally devastating impacts on affected marriages.
J&J and Ethicon have responded to the lawsuits by saying that they lack merit and that the evidence will show that the companies acted appropriately when it came to providing warnings and sufficient information to patients before implantation. A multi-district litigation (MDL) proceeding has been organized to consolidate these claims and to promote their efficient resolution.
If you are a female patient who has suffered physical and emotional injuries as a result of receiving Ethicon’s transvaginal mesh product, you may be entitled to compensation. At Moll Law Group, our knowledgeable and compassionate transvaginal mesh lawyers have assisted victims throughout the U.S., including in New York, Illinois, Florida, and California, with seeking justice and compensation for their painful and life-changing damages. Based in Chicago, we provide a free consultation either in person or via telephone to discuss your situation and how we may be able to assist you. Call us now at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.
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