Did your doctor use an Ethicon Physiomesh patch to repair your abdominal hernia? Did the patch fail, become infected, or cause you chronic pain leading to revision surgery or a hernia recurrence? You may be able to join ongoing litigation to hold the manufacturer responsible.
If you received a Physiomesh hernia patch and suffered serious complications, call a Physiomesh hernia mesh complication lawsuit lawyer at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. today. We offer free case reviews, and can pursue the compensation you deserve: 631-600-0000.
Have Studies Supported the Anecdotal Evidence Against Physiomesh?
Many people who have undergone surgery and received a Physiomesh patch report extreme pain, discomfort, and hernia recurrence within a few months of the procedure.
In a 2013 study published in the Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, researchers compared Physiomesh hernia mesh with another hernia repair product, Ventralight (subject to a recall in 2012).
They observed the material over the first 14 days after implantation and found that both products contracted (a sign of defective mesh), but Ventralight left much less scar tissue. Patients who received the Ventralight patch also experienced less inflammation in the area around the patch.
A 2016 study, published by the medical journal Surgical Endoscopy, also compared recipients of the Physiomesh patch with those who received a Ventralight patch.
They followed them for months, but stopped the planned observation period early when they saw 20 percent of those who received the Physiomesh hernia patch required treatment for a recurrence within the first six months of their original repair. None of the patients who received a Ventralight patch suffered this type of complication. After just three months, those who received Physiomesh patches reported a much higher level of pain, as well.
Is Physiomesh Still Available in the United States?
No. Ethicon recalled its Physiomesh Composite Mesh in May 2016 after it found recurrence and revision surgery rates were higher than average.
Ethicon recalled the following product codes:
- PHY0715R
- PHY1015V
- PHY1515Q
- PHY1520R
- PHY1520V
- PHY2025V
- PHY2030R
- PHY2535V
- PHY3035R
- PHY3050R
However, this dangerous mesh remained on the market for six years after using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 510(k) approval process, a loophole that allows manufacturers to avoid performing clinical trials or proving the device’s safety. All Ethicon needed to do to gain FDA approval was prove it was “substantially equivalent” in safety and effectiveness to other, already released products.
It did so by claiming Physiomesh was substantially equivalent to Proceed hernia mesh, an Ethicon product that was already on the market. Ethicon withdrew Proceed in 2010 due to delamination failure concerns.
It is important to note that the Physiomesh Open Flexible Composite Mesh Device (different from the Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh) is still on the market.
What Is the Current Status of the Physiomesh Hernia Mesh Complication Lawsuits?
Plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against Ethicon and its parent company Johnson & Johnson because of Physiomesh complications believe the manufacturer knew of the risks associated with the product, but left it on the market anyway.
As of October 2017, the number of lawsuits based on injuries and financial damages caused by Physiomesh continues to grow. Earlier in 2017, one group of the plaintiffs requested that the court organize all cases filed at the federal level into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Middle District of Florida. In May of 2017, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) heard arguments both for and against this consolidation.
On June 2, 2017, the JPML announced it was consolidating all federal Ethicon Physiomesh lawsuits into one court in the Northern District of Georgia.
We continue to accept Physiomesh cases, both as individual lawsuits and for possible addition to the MDL. Schedule your free case evaluation to learn if you qualify.
How Can I Discuss My Case with a Physiomesh Hernia Mesh Complication Lawsuit Lawyer?
The team at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. represents hernia mesh injury victims and their families in Physiomesh hernia mesh complication lawsuits. If you suffered a complication or injury because of an Ethicon Physiomesh composite mesh hernia patch, you should call us today at 631-600-0000.
We offer free confidential case evaluations. Our lawyers can help you understand if you are eligible for compensation by filing a lawsuit against Ethicon or its parent company Johnson & Johnson.
