Canadian Class Action Commenced against Johnson & Johnson for Injuries from Transvaginal Mesh Products

TORONTO, April 18, 2012 /CNW/ - On April 17, 2012, the law firm of Rochon Genova LLP issued a national class action on behalf of Canadian women who were implanted with transvaginal mesh products ("TVM products") manufactured and distributed by Johnson & Johnson and its related companies that were involved in the manufacture and distribution of these products in Canada.

TVM products are specialized surgical mesh products that have been developed and marketed by the defendants worldwide to be used in the treatment of a wide variety of urogynecological conditions, including various forms of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.  The TVM products are implanted into women's bodies to provide additional support and reinforcement to soft tissues that have become weakened by a variety of physical causes and conditions.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants' TVM products cause significantly high rates of complications without added efficacy with respect to symptom relief and quality of life improvement.  The complications alleged in the claim are significant and include mesh erosion and contraction,  fistulas, perforation of surrounding tissues and organs, infection, blood loss, scar tissue, graft-versus-host reactions, urinary and fecal incontinence, re-prolapse of pelvic organs and nerve damage.  In addition, in some women, the severity of these complications has resulted in the need for one or more corrective surgeries and have frequently lead to ongoing and permanent functional and symptomatic impairment.

The proposed representative plaintiffs are Frances Fosberg and her daughter, Kimberly Doran of London, Ontario.  Frances was implanted with TVM products in 2008 and has since suffered from significant complications, resulting in corrective surgeries to excise eroded mesh material.  As Frances said, "This situation affects many, many Canadian women who have had this procedure done since it is a fairly common procedure.  The fact that such a large percentage of these devices have failed and have led to serious injury is really unfortunate. I am glad that something is being done to get justice for those affected."

The allegations raised in the claim have not yet been proven in court.  The plaintiffs and the prospective class members are represented by the Toronto based law firm of Rochon Genova LLP. 

 

Rochon Genova LLP
121 Richmond St. W, Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2K1
Telephone: [phone] or toll-free: 1-866-881-2292
Website address: www.rochongenova.com