AMS Named Defendant in Vaginal Mesh Side Effects Lawsuit

On December 22, 2011, Martha Bowman became the latest plaintiff to file a vaginal mesh lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California. Bowman, a Florida resident, and her vaginal mesh lawyer named American Medical Systems (AMS) as defendant in the lawsuit, which alleges vaginal mesh side effects suffered from implantation of AMS products.

Plaintiff Allegedly Suffers Vaginal Mesh Side Effects

Plaintiff Bowman suffers from vaginal vault prolapse and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), two conditions caused weak pelvis muscles that are incapable of supporting internal organs such as the bladder and uterus. On September 8, 2008, Bowman underwent surgery to correct these conditions. During surgery, Bowman received several AMS products including the Apogee System with Intepro Lite, Perigee System with Intepro Lite, and the Monarc Subfascial Hammock.

According to her vaginal mesh lawyer, Bowman allegedly began experiencing vaginal mesh complications soon after surgery. The plaintiff's vaginal mesh side effects included recurrent infection in the tissues adjacent to the mesh, as well as erosion and pelvic pain. In August 2009, less than one year after her initial surgery, Bowman was forced to undergo vaginal reconstruction surgery.

Vaginal Mesh Lawyer Charges AMS with Intentional Concealment

Bowman's vaginal mesh lawsuit alleges that AMS was aware of vaginal mesh complications and side effects associated with their products, and claims that the company favored profit over patient safety. The lawsuit states that AMS "intentionally concealed and suppressed certain results of testing and research to healthcare professionals, Plaintiff, and the public at large."

In October 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Notification, stating that the organization had received more than 1,000 complaints related to vaginal mesh side effects, including those linked to AMS devices. Vaginal mesh complications include rates of erosion and pelvic mesh failure higher than with other products used to treat SUI and prolapse. On July 13, 2011, the FDA updated its safety communication, warning consumers that vaginal mesh complications are not rare, and that vaginal mesh surgery incurs greater risk of complications than do other surgical options.

Bowman Seeks Vaginal Mesh Settlement

Through her vaginal mesh lawyer, Bowman is seeking damages for medical monitoring, pain and suffering, health care costs, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. She is also asking the court for punitive damages.