Hernia Mesh Complications Lawyer Washington DC
Hernia mesh is a mesh used in surgery to support tissue weakened by a hernia. Hernia mesh can either made of animal tissue or synthetic materials, like Ethicon’s Physiomesh Composite Hernia Mesh and Atrium’s C-Qur mesh. However, some patients who have had synthetic hernia meshes have reported severe side effects and have had to have revision surgeries, leading to lawsuits.
Unfortunately, surgical meshes may cause serious complications like perforated intestines/bowel, peritonitis, bowel obstruction, sepsis, or abscess. In these cases, the patient often requires revision surgery to correct the problems linked to the hernia mesh.
In May 2016, Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, pulled its Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh after there were high revision rates and hernia recurrences following hernia surgeries. Ethicon said these complications were a “multifactorial issue” that included “product characteristics.”
Later in 2016, European and Australian health officials recalled Physiomesh after patients experienced side effects like bowel obstruction, pain, seroma, and hernia recurrence. Meanwhile, patients had already filed lawsuits against Ethicon in the U.S.
Similarly, hernia mesh patients also filed lawsuits against Atrium because its C-Qur hernia mesh also allegedly caused serious side effects. In lawsuits, plaintiffs allege that the C-Qur mesh is coated in Omega 3 fish oil, which can cause an allergic reaction.
Following the issues, Atrium has not officially recalled its C-Qur mesh, but lawsuits allege the company ordered a “stealth recall” by quietly stopping production of the mesh. The Atrium C-Qur lawsuits have now been bundled into a multidistrict litigation (MDL).
The side effects cited by plaintiffs in hernia mesh lawsuits are quite serious and painful. They include perforated intestines, perforated bowels, intestinal fistula, Bowel obstruction, bowel resection, peritonitis, abdominal wall tears, abscess, sepsis, lack of ingrowth of mesh, puncture of other abdominal organs, adhesions of the mesh to material of the bowel
Hernia mesh lawsuits often cite the following problems: defective design and/or manufacturing, failure to warn, negligence, loss of consortium, punitive damages, attorney fees
Attorneys have sought compensation for damages like medical expenses, past and present lost wages, loss of earning capacity and pain and suffering
In 2011, manufacturer C.R. Bard reportedly paid out $184 million to settle roughly 2,600 hernia mesh lawsuits—or $70,000 per plaintiff.
If you or a loved one has experienced serious side effects from hernia mesh complications, such as perforated intestines/bowel, peritonitis, bowel obstruction, sepsis, or abscess, our legal team may be able to help.
If you are in the DC area and are looking to file a lawsuit for any damages stemming from hernia mesh complications, you can reach us at a 24/7 live phone answering. So, if you need a DC lawyer who handles injury lawsuits contact Cohen & Cohen, call our DC Law Firm today.
