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Women worldwide continue to suffer from vaginal mesh complications (11 July 2017)

Date: 11/07/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Women worldwide continue to suffer from vaginal mesh complications

Following reports in April about the severe complications of vaginal mesh implants and recent reports that hernia mesh implants are causing chronic pain, the NHS has been accused of trying to divert media attention from the problems, whilst further complaints have been lodged in Australia.

It has recently been found that NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) worked together in order to “avoid media attention” of the problems caused by the mesh implants. Minutes of a meeting held in October 2016, obtained by the Press Association, revealed that NHS England and the MHRA agreed they would endeavour to limit public exposure of the scandal surrounding the vaginal mesh implants that have caused life-changing damage to several hundred women.

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson have been accused of downplaying the risks of their vaginal mesh implant, as 700 Australian women have taken three Johnson & Johnson companies to court, with several claiming the devices ruined their lived.

The women have spoken out about the unbearable and debilitating pain caused by the mesh devices eroding into surrounding tissue and organs, causing infections and complications, and becoming too embedded to be removed. Allegedly, the complications are related to Johnson and Johnson’s failure to properly warn patients and surgeons of the risks linked to the product, and their failure to test the devices.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the consultants who trialled the devices were aware of the risks, with one French doctor having reportedly written to another in a 2005 email that he would “not like my wife to undergo this procedure” and imagined that others would agree.

Professor Thierry Vancaillie of Australia’s Women’s Health and Research Institute has expressed his concerns about the patients who have been affected by the mesh, saying: “The suffering of these women is beyond belief…Some of them are unable to function, they are unable to walk, they lose their ability to have intercourse, they lose their ability to work…their mental health is affected.”

Vaginal mesh implants are used to treat incontinence after childbirth or for repairs after pelvic organ prolapse. In England, over 11,000 women were fitted with mesh implants between 2006 and 2016, NHS data has shown, with about 12% of users having reported problems.

Amidst this string of complications, a campaign – ‘Sling the Mesh’ – has been launched, which has brought together a community of women who have fallen victim to the implants, with an aim to stop the use of the mesh all together.

Rebecca Thomas, Director of Clinical Negligence at Duncan Lewis states:-

“Women have suffered in silence for too long and the true extent of this problem on a worldwide basis is still unknown. The impact on the health, welfare, earning capacity, mental health and the strain on family relationships for those women who are affected cannot be overstated. One of our client’s with a vaginal mesh has been taking opiate based painkillers for many years and this will also have long term consequences for her health”.

Rebecca Thomas is a Director of Clinical Negligence at Duncan Lewis. Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in her field and represents clients in a wide range of cases including claims involving cosmetic and dental negligence, surgical and orthopaedic injuries arising from delay, misdiagnosis or negligent spinal surgery, gastrointestinal and ophthalmic surgery.

If you have been fitted with a vaginal mesh implant and suffer any of the above (or other) symptoms as a result, you may be eligible to claim for compensation. Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence solicitors will assist you in making a claim for negligence.

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors

The Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in a vast array of claims including accident and emergency failures, GP negligence claims, misdiagnosed fractures and other medical conditions and wrongful death claims. They also act for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals.

If you believe your treating clinician has made a mistake and wish to claim compensation or have any questions about treatment you have received, please do not hesitate to contact our team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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