AMS Transvaginal Mesh, Ongoing Pain & Deformity

AMS Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuit Alleges Ongoing Pain & Deformity

A plaintiff has filed an AMS transvaginal mesh lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Texas, alleging the vaginal mesh devices she was implanted with led to ongoing physical pain and deformity. The federal case is currently pending in the Western District of Texas, but may be slated for transfer to multidistrict litigation(MDL) in the Southern District of West Virginia. Multidistrict litigation was established for cases involving complaints against American Medical Systems, to streamline the legal process by preventing duplicate discovery and conflicting rulings.

Details of AMS transvaginal mesh lawsuit

In this complaint, which was filed on June 26, 2013, the plaintiff asserts she was implanted with a number of devices manufactured by American Medical Systems and Caldera as treatment for her stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Stress urinary incontinence is a condition characterized by the uncontrollable loss of urine, while pelvic organ prolapse involves the shift of pelvic organs from their original location in the abdomen. Find more information about defective mesh implants and related side effects by clicking this link.

The plaintiff claims that she underwent two different procedures to address her conditions. The first, performed in July, 2002, involved placement of the AMS In-Fast – a sling system used to treat stress incontinence. The second procedure was performed in February, 2010, and involved implantation of both the AMS Elevate system and the Desara sling, manufactured by Caldera. Caldera is also listed as a defendant on this complaint.

Since the implantation of these products, Campos alleges she has suffered severe mental and physical pain, and has sustained permanent physical injury and deformity. It is likely the plaintiff will require additional medical treatment, including transvaginal mesh revision surgery, in an effort to remedy the complications and alleviate her symptoms. She has also suffered financial loss, including the ongoing expense of medical treatment.

Thousands of complaints filed against vaginal mesh manufacturers

The recent AMS transvaginal mesh lawsuit is far from the first heard by manufacturers of vaginal mesh devices. The AMS vaginal mesh multidistrict litigation currently has a list of more than 7,800 plaintiffs, all alleging similar complaints against the mesh manufacturer. In addition, thousands of cases have been filed against other vaginal mesh manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Bard Avaulta and Boston Scientific.

The women filing these lawsuits have all experienced similar complications from their mesh devices, including vaginal mesh erosion and extrusion, persistent abdominal pain and recurring infections. In July, 2011, the FDA issued a safety communication stating complications associated with vaginal mesh devices were not rare, as originally thought. In addition, the agency states in their communication that there is no evidence to suggest vaginal mesh is a more effective means of treating pelvic organ prolapse than traditional surgical methods that do not use mesh devices.

As a result of her injuries, the plaintiff claims she will continue to suffer from physical pain and deformity, as well as financial loss as she will likely undergo additional medical treatment. In addition, her husband, Manuel Campos, is listed as a plaintiff on the complaint, claims he has lost the services and companionship of his spouse as a result of his injuries. The couple is now seeking compensatory and punitive damages against AMS and Caldera, in an amount to be determined at the time of trial.

Author Bio:

Whitney Taylor has a deep rooted passion for women’s issues, this inspired her to dedicate much of her reporting towards the dangers of birth control pills, intrauterine devices, and surgical mesh implants.

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