Ethicon Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit Update: Company’s Medical Director Admits Knowledge of Mesh Failure, Rottenstein Law Group Reports

As one of the first trials for a Gynecare Prolift vaginal mesh lawsuit progresses in Atlantic City, N.J., the Rottenstein Law Group reports on updates regarding Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon’s admission that the company knew the vaginal mesh had serious problems before it even went to market, according to court documents.

Dr. Piet Hinoul, a worldwide medical director for Ethicon, was among those testifying in the trial (Gross v. Gynecare Inc., Atl-L-6966-10, Superior Court of Atlantic County, New Jersey) on Jan. 16. He said Ethicon was already looking to develop a safer mesh even before the Prolift went to market in the United States in 2005, according to a record of Hinoul’s testimony. Linda Gross, 47, of South Dakota, is suing Ethicon, alleging that the Prolift has caused her constant pain and resulted in 18 subsequent operations, according to Bloomberg.

In his testimony, Hinoul admitted that Ethicon’s key opinion leaders and transvaginal mesh developers were telling the company as early as 2004 that the mesh used in the Prolift was too heavy, needed larger pores, was causing too much bridging fibrosis and was prone to shrinkage and contraction. The side effects that can result from these problems include pain with sex, loss of sexual function and high rates of erosion. Hinoul testified that Ethicon knew of these painful side effects before the Prolift was released.

“If Ethicon was aware of the issues associated with its Gynecare Prolift vaginal mesh, then the company needs to be held accountable,” said Rochelle Rottenstein, principal of the Rottenstein Law Group, which represents patients in vaginal mesh lawsuits. “I urge those who believe their vaginal mesh is causing them suffering to contact a lawyer today. They might be entitled to compensation.”

This is one of 1,800 vaginal mesh lawsuits in New Jersey that are to go to trial, according to Bloomberg. In addition, there are six surgical mesh manufacturers involved in six different multidistrict litigations at a federal level because of lawsuits brought on by vaginal mesh recipients who have suffered serious side effects (MDL Nos. 2004, 2187, 2325, 2326, 2327 and 2387).

Rottenstein Law Group maintains a Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit Center that provides updates on surgical mesh lawsuits and settlements, and features a free vaginal mesh informational brochure.

About THE ROTTENSTEIN LAW GROUP
The Rottenstein Law Group is a New York-based firm that represents clients nationwide in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, who has more than two decades of experience as a lawyer, to represent clients hurt by defective medical devices. (Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)

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Rochelle Rottenstein, Esq.

Principal

The Rottenstein Law Group

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