Ethicon Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, issued a voluntary global hernia mesh recall in May 2016 for Physiomesh. According to the company’s Urgent Field Safety Notice, Physiomesh patients report higher hernia recurrence rates. Hernia recurrence means the weakened muscle tissue area “re-opens,” which requires revision surgery to repair. These additional revision surgeries often cause complications, scar tissue, and other painful problems for hernia mesh patients. Doctors perform around 350,000-500,000 ventral hernia repair surgeries each year in the U.S. Because this surgery is so common, many patients are implanted with faulty or defective hernia mesh, such as Physiomesh. As a result, many Physiomesh patients may choose to file a hernia mesh lawsuit against Ethicon. Let’s take a closer look at current lawsuit allegations from patients affected by the Ethicon hernia mesh recall.
Matthew Huff v. Ethicon, Inc. Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Allegations
Matthew Huff filed the first hernia mesh lawsuit against Ethicon in 2016. Surgeons implanted Huff with Physiomesh in 2013, stitching the patch to his abdominal wall during a ventral hernia repair procedure. In July 2015, Huff developed severe abdominal pain as well as fever, nausea, chills and redness on his abdomen. His physician discovered an infection and treated Huff for two abdominal abscesses as well as an intestinal fistula.
Huff’s hernia mesh lawsuit says his serious complications include two open abdominal wounds that must be cleaned and packed daily. His case is set for trial on January 22, 2018 before Judge J. Phil Gilbert.
Joanne Quinn v. Ethicon Inc. Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Allegations
Florida resident Joanne Quinn filed her hernia mesh lawsuit against Ethicon in September 2016. According to court documents, the Physiomesh Quinn received did not fix her hernia problems. Additionally, Quinn states the Physiomesh caused painful hernia mesh complications, including bowel obstruction. Due to her ongoing health issues, Quinn required a significant surgical procedure and a failed attempt at hernia mesh removal.
The court documents state, “Due to the severe adhesions to the bowels and abdominal wall caused by the defective Physiomesh, Dr. Nassif ended up spending over two hours during the surgery to remove the defective Physiomesh but was unable to remove all of the offending material.” Due to failed hernia mesh removal surgery and other Physiomesh complications, Quin alleges she’ll be in pain her entire life.
The plaintiff also says that Ethicon knew about Physiomesh’s potential hernia recurrence and complication risks, but failed to warn consumers. Quinn says had she known about complication risks associated with Ethicon hernia mesh, she wouldn’t have agreed to Physiomesh implantation.
David Watring v. Ethicon Inc. Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Allegations
In November 2016, David Watring filed a hernia mesh lawsuit against Ethicon in Massachusetts. Surgeons repaired Watring’s parastomal hernia using a Physiomesh patch in April 2013. Less than seven months later, Watring experienced his first hernia recurrence. In May 2016, Watring underwent a second surgery to repair his hernia recurrence. According to his lawsuit, there were “several loops of small bowel contained within the hernia with dense adhesions between the loops of bowel.” Watring’s hernia returned yet again at the original Physiomesh implantation site in early 2016. However, his physicians aren’t sure whether another surgical repair attempt is feasible.
What You Can Do
Since the Ethicon hernia mesh recall in 2016, Physiomesh patients have reported serious complications and health problems to the FDA. Serious hernia mesh implant side effects include: hernia recurrence, bacterial infection, fluid-filled abscesses, and perforation of blood vessels or organs. Still others that face life-changing hernia surgery mesh problems are seeking justice and compensation by filing a hernia mesh lawsuit.
If you or a loved one had problems with mesh after hernia surgery, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Get your free hernia mesh case review today and a legal expert with experience handling these claims will contact you.