Hiring a Qualified Transvaginal Mesh Lawyer

Countless females suffer from medical conditions called stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Many of these women underwent surgery to receive a transvaginal mesh implant to treat their conditions, but instead experienced debilitating side effects far worse than they suffered in the first place.

While these devices have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are recommended by numerous physicians, they’ve been associated with severe side effects resulting in lasting complications that often need surgical repair.

The FDA released a notification in October 2008, warning the public of serious risks linked to vaginal mesh products designed to treat SUI and POP. In 2011, the FDA increased the severity of the warning, deeming issues as “not rare” due to the growing number of reported adverse events.

These cases began to receive an increasing amount of public attention, as thousands of patients experiencing vaginal mesh complications started filing product liability lawsuits against manufacturers of surgical mesh.

An experienced transvaginal mesh lawyer helps plaintiffs navigate through the process of filing product liability and personal injury lawsuits against major manufacturers. Patients need a seasoned legal professional to provide assistance in creating a solid case to increase their chances of receiving a verdict in their favor, or a desirable settlement from the defendant.

Why hire a vaginal mesh attorney

Legal proceedings regarding transvaginal mesh and other flawed medical devices can be a long, confusing process for plaintiffs. It’s imperative that patients hire a transvaginal mesh lawyer with significant experience in the field, and one who can help guide them through the process. These attorneys have the available resources and experience to develop a strategic plan of action to take on these pharmaceutical giants.

An experienced attorney will provide a detailed description of the types of litigation available for your case, which could include heading to state court to file a lawsuit, taking part in a class action suit, or filing a federal case to potentially join other similar complaints in multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Build a strong case that establishes liability

Patients have reported approximately 4,000 complaints of adverse events to the FDA, dating back to 2007. Many manufacturers, such as Ethicon, C.R. Bard, and Cook Medical have issued product recalls on transvaginal mesh devices, due to issues such as design defects.

A transvaginal mesh attorney is highly informed on all safety details, FDA warnings, product recalls, and advisories to assist in demonstrating liability on the part of the medical device manufacturer. If a company didn’t perform suitable testing prior to placing the product on the market or purposely deceived consumers with inadequate information on potential risk associated with mesh, a plaintiff’s lawyer may have the ability to obtain a settlement for their client totaling millions.

Your attorney will use the following evidence gathered by the FDA to build a solid case against the manufacturer:

• Mesh utilized in transvaginal pelvic organ prolapse repair poses additional risks not seen in traditional POP repair surgery not using mesh.
• Abdominally placed mesh used to repair POP seems to have less risk of complications when compared with transvaginal mesh surgery.
• There are no indicators that transvaginal surgery to repair the top area of the vagina or the back area offers any advantage over traditional surgical procedures.
• Transvaginal surgery to mend deteriorating tissue in the middle of the vagina and the bladder may offer anatomical benefits not seen in traditional surgery to repair POP; however this advantage may not help to improve symptoms.

Tips for choosing a transvaginal mesh lawyer

The lawyer you choose to represent you can make or break your chances of a verdict in your favor.

When searching for the right attorney, take the following advice into consideration:

• Choose a skilled professional: Pharmaceutical giants and medical device companies have top rate attorneys and endless amounts of money to spend on litigation. An attorney skilled at product liability litigation is the key to a successful case.
• Opt for someone you feel comfortable with: You’ll need to discuss very intimate, personal details with your chosen attorney, so choose someone you feel comfortable disclosing this information to, without feeling embarrassed. A good attorney listens to every detail, answers all your questions, and is willing to make time for you any time of the day.
• Select the best person for your case: In many cases your claim may require you to file suit in a state you don’t live in, so don’t choose a lawyer strictly because they’re the best your hometown has to offer.

Legal assistance for vaginal mesh injuries

A skilled lawyer can assist you with any legal issues, whether you need help with negotiations, assistance reaching a settlement with the defense, or proving your case to a jury in a court of law.

Currently, six individual MDLs centered on transvaginal mesh are underway against American Medical Systems (AMS), Boston Scientific, Cook Medical, Ethicon, C.R. Bard, and Coloplast, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Another MDL, a seventh one, involving lawsuits filed against Mentor Corporation is in currently in progress in Georgia.

Any woman who has been injured by devices of this nature should contact a transvaginal mesh attorney to discuss their legal options and determine if further litigation should be pursued.