Seattle Transvaginal Mesh Injury Lawyer

Transvaginal mesh, or TVM, is a medical product used to address vaginal prolapse in women. The product is made of strips of surgical mesh that are implanted in the vagina and the abdomen. Another version of the device, called a bladder sling, is smaller, less invasive, and is most frequently used to treat urinary incontinence in women. If you or a loved one has experienced a side-effect from a transvaginal mesh procedure, please reach out to a Seattle transvaginal mesh injury attorney at Elk & Elk to seek compensation for your damages.

Why You Need a Seattle Transvaginal Mesh Injury Lawyer

Reaching out to an attorney is the first step to recovery. The current events surrounding transvaginal mesh are rampant with lawsuits, settlements, and large sums of money. Getting a lawyer could never be an easier decision.

  • An attorney has access to in-house medical professionals ready to assess your case. Their extensive knowledge of the medical field paired with the legal experience of a lawyer is very useful in the case of a defective medical device.
  • Your lawyer will collect and handle all of the required paperwork when filing a claim. Ensuring that all paperwork is in line is oftentimes difficult and confusing for those without adequate legal knowledge.
  • A Seattle transvaginal mesh lawyer can fight for your rights in a trial should a fair settlement not be agreed upon.

Why Choose Elk & Elk After Sustaining an Injury from Transvaginal Mesh in Washington State

Obtaining a lawyer that is prepared to engage in aggressive legal action with your case of transvaginal mesh injury is critical with the growing number of women seeking compensation for the same type of product.

  • Our Seattle personal injury attorneys regularly deal with cases of medical malpractice that can be challenging for other law firms who lack the experience we have in this field.
  • We have recovered over $1 billion in combined compensation for our clients suffering a variety of different personal and medical injuries.
  • Elk & Elk works on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not require any up-front or out-of-pocket fees until we have successfully recovered compensation for your damages.

Choosing a law firm that is willing and able to take on your case is important when considering the future of your physical and financial health.

What Went Wrong With Transvaginal Mesh

Transvaginal mesh was a type of medical device used to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP). With POP comes weakening or failing tissues and muscles that no longer support themselves, impacting the vagina. They often press against the sexual organ, causing a bump on the surface described as a vaginal bulge. POP falls under the umbrella of pelvic floor disorders, a common issue among women.

The type of surgery in question includes an incision in the vaginal wall. Afterward, a surgeon inserts the TVM into the pelvic area to hold up the fallen organs. The purpose of the mesh is to not only support the organs but provide an environment in which tissue can grow over the mesh.

Many problems began to arise amongst women who had received the invasive surgery after the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States decided that the manufacturers of TVM had not demonstrated adequate safety or effectiveness of their device and procedure to warrant a continuation of the surgery in the U.S. However, it is important to note that the recalled procedure and TVM devices did not encompass all TVM surgeries – only the one that produced an incision on the vaginal wall. There are, for example, other uses of TVM and different incision points for POP-related operations.

Following the issues experienced by women across the country, lawsuits against the manufacturers arose en masse. Liability in the case of TVM in the U.S. is generally determined to belong to the manufacturers of the TVM used for the particular procedure involving the incision in the wall of the vagina. The grand scale of the TVM issue calls for a clear need for an experienced lawyer in product liability and medical injuries.

Examples of Injuries Caused by These Types of Medical Devices

Complications from the use of these devices include:

  • Erosion or movement of the mesh into other tissues such as the vagina, bladder, intestines, and uterus
  • Infection
  • Pain
  • Urinary problems that include incontinence and urinary retention
  • Perforation of bladder, bowel, and blood vessels
  • Vaginal scarring and pain
  • Fistulas and recurrence of prolapse

According to some studies, 20 percent of women who have TVM or bladder sling implants will require a second surgery to repair damage caused by the device as both devices have relatively poor track records. A study conducted in France showed that around 80 percent of women had problems and complications with TVM. The success rate of bladder slings is better than that of TVM, but complications continue to occur. Typical problems with the bladder sling devices include bleeding, infection, and erosion.

The Manufacturers Involved in Lawsuits Over Defective TVM and Bladder Sling Products

Companies that are the subject of lawsuits involving transvaginal mesh and bladder slings include:

  • American Medical Systems,
  • Ethicon,
  • Boston Scientific,
  • C.R. Bard,
  • Coloplast,
  • Cook Medical
  • Neomedic.

Because some of the products are still on the market, the number of lawsuits will only continue to grow. This is why it is critical you reach out to an attorney at your earliest convenience.

Women Injured by Sexual and Urinary Organ Surgeries May Be Eligible for Compensation in the State of Washington

Women who have had these devices implanted because of painful vaginal prolapse or stress incontinence should know that there have been at least 60,000 lawsuits resulting from complications related to the use of transvaginal mesh. If you have had either type of product implanted and have suffered complications, you owe it to yourself to learn about your legal rights and options.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you were injured because of the implantation of a bladder sling or transvaginal mesh device, get help today. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and other costs of your injury.

Call our Elk & Elk Seattle law office at 1-844-ELK-WEST (1-844-355-9378) for a free consultation with a Seattle transvaginal mesh injury attorney sympathetic to your condition.