Pelvic mesh manufacturers are to pay millions in landmark UK settlements

Three significant producers of pelvic mesh implants have reached a financial agreement with several women who complained of complications and severe pain following the insertion of their transvaginal mesh. The payout, which is anticipated to amount to millions of pounds, will be shared between more than 100 women who have suffered significant adverse effects from the treatment. The claim, which was launched in England, is the first to successfully settle in the country despite approximately 10,000 women being seriously negatively affected by complications due to mesh implants. This lawsuit follows in the footsteps of an earlier group claim which had succeeded in the Scottish courts.

The implants were used to support women’s internal organs to manage pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence. These are conditions which women often develop following childbirth or during menopause. Unfortunately, it is now understood that the material can change once implanted, eroding and stiffening into a form which can slice through bodily tissue, causing severe pain.

Notwithstanding the widespread complications associated, with one campaigner estimating that the implants may have injured up to 40,000 women, they continued to be seen as the gold standard treatment for these conditions for several years. The campaigner, Kath Sansom of the activist group Sling the Mesh, agreed that the settlement was “groundbreaking”; however, the compensation claimants only account for a tiny portion of those injured. She believes that between 10 to 20% of pelvic mesh recipients have suffered harm.

Each of the three companies named in the suit, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Bard, has commented in the wake of the settlement. Both Bard and Boston Scientific reaffirmed that the proceedings had been resolved; however, they emphasised that no admissions of liability or misconduct had been made. Johnson & Johnson also confirmed that the action had concluded. The lawyer taking charge of the claim, Lisa Lunt of Pogust Goodhead, highlighted the severe pain her clients now chronically endure due to the pelvic mesh implants. The consequences of the injuries are far-reaching, especially as, once inserted, the mesh can be challenging to remove entirely.

Many women were forced to abandon their careers; many could no longer walk or care for themselves or their children; a significant portion had trouble sleeping and suffered various knock-on effects due to this. The complications have also had a devastating impact on victims’ relationships, particularly their intimate relationships, with lots of women reporting that they can’t have sex at all anymore. The implants also majorly affected recipients’ mental health, as well as their families. A large number of women reported feeling “gaslit” by medical staff who did not believe them or validate their experience.

Ms Lunt wants to draw attention to the time limitations on claims of this nature. A strict 10-year cutoff has been imposed, which has prevented many potential claimants from launching proceedings. She is urging the UK government to reassess this time limit, which kicks in from the date of the implant’s manufacture. Ms Lunt’s concerns for victims are also shared by England’s patient safety commissioner who, earlier in 2024, encouraged the government to take swift action to aid the thousands of women suffering from harm directly linked to their transvaginal mesh implant.

However, the government has been aware of the issues with pelvic mesh for many years now. The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, published in 2020, set out the life-altering impact these devices have had on patients. Many victims felt their injuries and their experiences in the medical system following their procedures were so harmful that their lives had been completely ruined.

If you have been affected by pelvic mesh complications, our dedicated medical negligence solicitors at Coleman Legal LLP are here to support you with complete confidentiality. Reach out to us for help. Freephone: 1800-844-104, or email: [email protected].