NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Orange County, California product defect attorneys of BISNAR | CHASE (BestAttorney.com) say their firm’s defective vaginal mesh implant cases, particularly cases involving Bard Avaulta vaginal mesh defects, have increased by more than 40 percent in the last six months alone and could reach well into the hundreds as more female clients from across the U.S. come forward with serious health problems.
Nearly 300,000 synthetic vaginal meshes – which are primarily used to treat bladder control problems and to strengthen pelvic muscles – were implanted in patients in 2010. In a July report last year, the FDA found deaths, injuries and product malfunctions had increased fivefold.1
Three of the firm’s cases against C.R. Bard for its Bard Avaulta System (also known as Bard Avaulta Mesh Insert) involving Orange County, California women allege the plaintiffs suffer from a variety of complications linked to the mesh, including infection, erosion of the implant into the vagina, urinary problems, severe pain, depression and bowel and bladder perforations. Two women underwent surgery at Kaiser Permanente in an attempt to correct the problems.
Brian Chase, lead product defect attorney and partner at BISNAR | CHASE says the firm’s vaginal mesh defects cases have increased so drastically, it’s one of the most alarming defective product issues he’s seen in his 19-year career.
“Our clients are no longer the women they once were,” said Chase. “They live with scar tissue and infections. Many are no longer able to be intimate with their partners. Others suffer from severe depression and still others from the embarrassment of incontinence problems that persist even after the mesh has been implanted to correct the issue. We’re stunned by the number and severity of the cases we’re seeing.”
The FDA initially cleared the implants for sale but has since changed its stance, recently instructing manufacturers to conduct three years of safety and effectiveness trials to determine the rates of organ damage and complications linked to vaginal mesh implants. Reports say C.R. Bard Inc., Johnson & Johnson and 31 other manufacturers have received FDA letters.
Chase says his legal team has interviewed dozens of women who report a number of problems allegedly associated with the implants, including:
- Mesh that penetrates the vaginal wall and requires surgery to trim, leading to severe pain, infection, scar tissue and a lack of sensation in the vagina after corrective surgery
- Mesh that causes the sensation of “pulling” in the abdomen while walking or bending
- Incontinence problems that persist even after implantation of the mesh
- Severe depression linked to problems associated with mesh implants, including lack of intimacy and pain
- Severe anxiety due to persistent incontinence problems
- Reports of relationship issues, separation and divorce due to the physical and emotional trauma associated with mesh implants
- Significant decline in quality of life
Chase says women who think they may be experiencing problems due to vaginal mesh implants should contact their physician immediately, as the devices have been linked to life-threatening injuries. Women who have been diagnosed with medical problems due to vaginal mesh implants should contact BISNAR | CHASE at (800) 561-4887 for additional information.
1 Alex Nussbaum and David Voreacos, J&J, C.R. Bard Must Study Safety of Vaginal Mesh, FDA Says, BusinessWeek, January 10, 2012, http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-10/j-j-c-r-bard-must-study-safety-of-vaginal-mesh-fda-says.html
About BISNAR | CHASE
The BISNAR | CHASE Orange County, California Bard Avaulta Mesh Lawyers represent people who have been very seriously injured or lost a family member due to defective products such as a medical device throughout the country. The law firm has won a wide variety of challenging serious injury defective product cases against a number of Fortune 500 companies. For more information, please visit http://www.bestattorney.com/bard-avaulta-mesh-lawyers.html.