A New Jersey jury has awarded $3.35 million to a South Dakota Nurse who had to undergo 18 surgeries after being severely injured by Johnson & Johnson’s Prolift transvaginal mesh (TVM). It is the first of over 2,100 lawsuits filed against J&J and its subsidiary, Ethicon.

Jury Says J&J Failed To Warn Women

According to Bloomberg News, the jury in the first of thousands of transvaginal mesh injury lawsuits filed against J&J found that the pharmaceutical manufacturers failed to warn women and surgeons about the increased risks of using transvaginal mesh implants and fraudulently misrepresented the Gynecare Prolift. The plaintiff, 47-year-old South Dakota nurse Linda Gross, endured 400 visits to doctors and physical therapists for examinations, testing and treatment, 18 surgeries and 20 different prescription medications to address serious TVM side effects.

Gross was awarded $3.35 million for her pain and suffering, lost income and medical bills. Although her legal battle may be over, Gross is still in pain – and may continue to be so for years to come. Bloomberg quoted her as saying, “I am fearful of dying because this pain is so bad.”

TVM Injuries Can Be Debilitating

Like Gross, other transvaginal mesh injury victims say that TVM injuries can be debilitating. The implanted device, used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), can become embedded in the body or erode. Common transvaginal mesh side effects include mesh erosion, pain, infection, bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse, organ perforation and urinary problems.

Numerous surgeries may be needed to correct the problem – if surgery is an option at all. In many cases, TVM erosion is so severe that surgery doesn’t help – the result being lifelong pain and permanent disfigurement.

Have You Been Injured?

Thousands of TVM injury lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration is now requiring over 30 of those manufacturers to conduct post-market studies about the dangers of transvaginal mesh. If you’ve been injured, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, to discuss your situation, determine whether you might be entitled to compensation and find out how this first jury verdict might affect your case.