Hundreds of women in Australia are suffering from strong pain due to vaginal mesh implants manufactured by global healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson. These implants were supposed to repair and treat pelvic floor damage after child birth. The mesh and tape implants are surgically implanted to fix pelvic-floor damage from prolapse and incontinence. But instead of treating women, the implants left them with terrible side effects.
Shine Lawyers, the firm behind the class action, claims that as many as 8,000 women may have been affected by these implants. But the true number will be determined through a senate inquiry.
Women with these implants are said to have suffered from painful and life-altering complications. It has changed their lives forever physically and psychologically as a result.
(L to R) Lawyer Rebecca Jancauskas joins members of the class action against Johnson & Johnson, Gai Thompson, Joanne Maninon and Carina Anderson. Source: AAP Image/Paul Mille
“The complications that Australian women are suffering include the mesh or tape eroding through, and into, surrounding tissue and organs, as well as incontinence, infection and chronic pain,” explains Shine Lawyers Special Counsel Rebecca Jancauskas.
Some women are said to have suffered from painful intercourse and even loss of jobs.
“Australian women have had their lives changed forever by these products. Many now live in excruciating pain, suffering terrible side effects that impact all aspects of their lives. In many cases they are even unable to be intimate with their partners. It has had truly devastating consequences,” said Ms Jancauskas.
Half the women are alleging serious injury after pelvic surgery for incontinence using five varieties of Johnson & Johnson’s TVT implants and the other half are seeking damages after they were implanted with the company’s Total Prolift and Total Gynemesh devices following prolapse after childbirth.
“None of these products have been recalled and some remain on the market today. This class action is about righting the wrong against these women, who will suffer pain and complications for the rest of their lives,” said Ms Jancauskas.
She said the class action was “a significant case in the judicial landscape” that was expected to run for six months.
She said that this trial will begin the journey towards justice for the Australian women.
In June the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists controversially backed traditional midurethral “slings” such as the Johnson & Johnson TVT in a position statement after years of controversy about pelvic mesh surgery.
It conceded failure can lead to “intractable” and permanent complications for women and have “severe effects” on quality of life.
This Australian class action comes after more than 100,000 women started legal action in the US and similar moves were taken in the UK and Canada.
In January 2016, Johnson & Johnson offered a settlement of $120 million dollars (USD) to approximately 2,000 to 3,000 litigants across the United States.
Shine Lawyers website reads, “Shine Lawyers have an ongoing class action against Johnson & Johnson Australia, Ethicon Inc. and Ethicon Sarl in relation to their allegedly defective pelvic floor repair system devices. The action is brought on behalf of Australian women who have suffered injuries as a result of these implants, which were designed to treat urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.”
Shine’s Barrister Tony Bannon SC will present opening submissions from Tuesday 4th July to Friday 7th July and Johnson & Johnson’s lawyers are expected to present their argument next Monday.
Evidence will be heard from Australian and International medical experts as well as testimonies from Australian woman who have been fitted with the mesh.
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