The production of four types of mesh implants used to treat urinary incontinence, and known as controversial for years, has been halted by Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon division, according to the New York Times.
Despite two large groups of lawsuits filed by women who claim the devices caused serious injury, J&J stressed that the move was not a recall, according to the report, but was based on the products' commercial viability "in light of changing market dynamics, and is not related to safety or efficacy."
News broke this week that J&J continued to sell one of these implants - the Gynecare Prolift - even after they were told to halt production by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to safety issues in 2007.
The four recently discontinued implants have been linked to serious injuries in women, including infections, pain and other complications, for years.
“This is very good news for women because it takes several products off the market that have harmed a lot of women,” said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, a public health advocacy group. However, she said, “the bad news is that there are many other surgical meshes still on the market that are just as dangerous.” Read the complete details here:
Johnson & Johnson Unit to Halt Urinary Implants
This story comes to us too late, according to Steve Crandall, a top rated medical malpractice attorney in Ohio and Kentucky, who believes enough damage has already been done to numerous patients implanted with these defective devices that were solely left on the market to make money.
"Thousands of women had them implanted with the hope it would help their urinary incontinence, which was caused mostly by childbirth," says Crandall. "Instead, the implant made things much worse by actually quickly eroding into their bladder, vaginal wall and other areas. Numerous surgeries to remove this, unrelenting pain and often worsening urinary incontinence were the result."
If you have been harmed by one of these defective products, or have any medical malpractice questions, contact Steve Crandall. Steve is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.
Defective Urinary Implant Devices Halted Too Late