Medical products are intended to make our lives better, to address illnesses and physical conditions, and to help medical professionals render the best medical care that they can provide. And while many medical devices are successful in helping to facilitate these goals, there are a number of devices that end up doing more harm than good. In some cases, the harm results from a manufacturer’s failure to design the device in a reasonably safe manner.
In some cases, the harm is a result of a company’s negligence. In others, the harm results from a company’s desire to prioritize profits over patients’ health and safety.
One of the most discussed dangerous medical products in recent news is pelvic mesh. There are a variety of manufacturers that have developed pelvic mesh products. In general, the device is intended to support damaged or weak tissue. They’ve also been used to address stress urinary incontinence in women. The device is also often known as vaginal mesh or surgical mesh.
Recently, a jury in Pennsylvania awarded a plaintiff a $20 million verdict in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson involving one of its pelvic mesh products. The plaintiff alleged that she received the company’s product during a surgical procedure to address her stress urinary incontinence. After one month, the woman reported experiencing severe discomfort and pain. It was later determined that the mesh product began to erode. Her treating physicians performed a number of surgeries to repair the damage, but they were ultimately unable to remove all of the mesh shards.
The jury verdict contained a $2.5 million award of compensatory damages, which is allocated to actual expenses that the plaintiff incurred, such as medical bills, lost wages, and estimated future medical care costs. It also awarded $17.5 million in punitive damages, which is a category of compensation designed to punish a defendant for particularly egregious conduct.
Thousands of other women have come forward recently, reporting severe injuries and damages that they attribute to a pelvic mesh product.
According to some of these event reports, women have experienced severe pain, infections, and bleeding as a result of eroding mesh. In other instances, the mesh migrates from the original location of implantation, causing serious tissue damage and chronic pain. When the symptoms and conditions are severe, the patient may require a revision surgery to remove the mesh and to repair the damage. Often, however, the impact of the injury persists long after the revision surgery and can lead to chronic conditions that the patient will have to endure for the rest of her life.
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At Therman Law Offices, we have assisted many Illinois residents with seeking compensation after they suffer devastating, life-changing injuries as a result of a company’s defective or carelessly designed product. We offer a free consultation to help you learn more about the legal process, your rights, and how we may be able to assist you. To get started, call us now at 847-263-0900 or contact us online.
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