A settlement that was awarded for injuries caused by a vaginal-mesh implant may be of interest to Colorado residents. On Sept. 8, a judge in Dallas ordered Boston Scientific Corp. to pay a woman $73 million for both compensatory and punitive damages. According to the woman’s claim, the Obtryx sling sold by Boston Scientific caused her to suffer from constant pain.
The latest settlement is the result of just one of over 12,000 medical malpractice lawsuits that have been filed against Boston Scientific. The Obtryx sling and other vaginal mesh implants sold by the company are blamed for pain and organ damage that results from the devices eroding in the body. When these injuries occur, surgery is required to extricate the implant from the body.
In 2012, Boston Scientific and 30 other producers of vaginal implants were ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct studies about possible organ damage connected to their products. With so many claims filed over the devices, many of the cases have been consolidated into class action lawsuits. In April, Endo International Plc settled approximately 20,000 lawsuits over vaginal-mesh inserts by agreeing to pay $830 million.
A person who has suffered as a result of one of these types of medical devices may want to consult a personal injury attorney. An attorney could be helpful to an injured patient in filing a personal injury lawsuit or advising them about joining a class action lawsuit that may already exist. While filing a claim, a lawyer may help to ensure a victim receives all of the compensation they are entitled to receive by gathering all of the requisite evidence.
Source: Bloomberg News, “Boston Scientific Ordered to Pay $73 Million Over Implant”, Jef Feeley, September 09, 2014