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Ethicon Media Monitoring 7/11/2017
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Vaginal mesh implants: Johnson and Johnson defends product in court
Jul 11, 2017 | ABC Online
By Sophie Scott and Rebecca Armitage
The manufacturers of a controversial vaginal mesh implant have defended their products in the Federal Court, saying all medical devices have a rate of failure. -
Barry campaigner backs parliamentary discussion of surgical mesh
Jul 10, 2017 | Barry & District News
By Joe Langstaffe
A LONG term campaigner from Barry has given her backing to a parliamentary discussion around the potential health risks of surgical mesh.
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Vaginal mesh implants: Johnson and Johnson defends product in court
Jul 11, 2017 | ABC Online
By Sophie Scott and Rebecca Armitage
The manufacturers of a controversial vaginal mesh implant have defended their products in the Federal Court, saying all medical devices have a rate of failure.
More than 700 women have joined a class action against pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, claiming the vaginal mesh implants used to treat their pelvic-floor issues have left them in chronic pain.
Johnson and Johnson barrister Steven Finch SC told the court that transvaginal mesh has been used to treat a wide variety of pelvic-floor problems, including urinary incontinence and organ prolapse.
"All devices have pros and all have cons. It's not defective if a device has a con," he said.
"The fact the device is associated with a rate of failure is simply one of its features."
Shine Lawyers, which is representing the women, said the mesh used to hold organs in place could erode into surrounding tissue, causing pain, inflammation and infection.
However Mr Finch told the court that medical mesh material was safe.
"It has been used for many years and is not detrimental to humans," he said.
Legal representatives for the women have also criticised Johnson and Johnson for not conducting proper clinical trials on the possible complications of the mesh.
Last week, Shine barrister Tony Bannon SC told the Federal Court there was a "tidal wave" of aggressive marketing to surgeons and patients that suggested implanting the mesh was a "quick and easy operation".
However Mr Finch said there was no regulatory requirement for randomised control trials before a device was released.Women say they've been left with 'life-altering complications'
Patient Gai Thompson said she had been waiting for the case to come to court.
"I've literally been praying for nine years that this would come to light, that there would be accountability for what has happened to us," she said.
"No amount of compensation, money, can ever replace what we've lost with our lives with our families, our health, our emotional health."
Mr Bannon said each applicant continued to suffer significant, unbearable pain.
He quoted an internal email from French doctor Bernard Jacquetin, running a clinical trial for the manufacturer, who allegedly wrote: "I wouldn't like my wife to undergo this procedure."
If the case is successful, it could lead to payouts totalling hundreds of millions of dollars to affected women.
Johnson and Johnson said use of mesh was supported by research.
The trial is expected to run before Justice Anna Katzmann for six months.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-11/vaginal-mesh-implants-johnson-and-johnson-defends-product/8697268
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Barry campaigner backs parliamentary discussion of surgical mesh
Jul 10, 2017 | Barry & District News
By Joe Langstaffe
A LONG term campaigner from Barry has given her backing to a parliamentary discussion around the potential health risks of surgical mesh.
Surgical mesh implants are currently used by doctors to treat conditions such as pelvic organ prolapses, stress urinary incontinence and hernias - but many critics argue they are unsafe and can leave patients with severe, lifelong pain and discomfort.
Jemima Williams received a mesh implant in 2002, but when her body rejected it, she was left with life-changing injuries and continues to suffer with chronic pain and fatigue, amongst other symptoms. She has since campaigned to have surgical mesh banned in the UK, playing a substantial role in the suspension of its use in Scotland in 2014.
Now, she is advocating support for Barry-bred Labour MP Owen Smith, who is set to hold a meeting in Westminster this month between MPs, surgical consultants and mesh survivors over its continued use.
Also attending the meeting will be journalist and 'Sling the Mesh' campaigner Kath Sansom, who has helped transform the issue from a taboo subject into a national discussion thanks to her appearance on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire program.
Mrs Williams believes that at the very least, the meeting will help raise public awareness of the problems that surgical mesh can cause, but hopes a full ban can be achieved.
"We want a ban, obviously," she said.
"We don't want other women to have to go through what we have been through. I'd be devastated say, for example, if my granddaughter were to end up with the same sort of problems that I've had."
At present, the government maintains the stance that the benefits of surgical mesh outweigh the risks, however Mrs Williams argues that there are no figures to support this. She also says that people who suffer problems due to surgical mesh implants are not directed anywhere to report them.
"I would like to see a suspension until there's been a complete investigation into this and I don't mean just in Wales, I mean globally. I'd like to see it suspended until they've conducted proper trials and reporting by consultants of problems becomes mandatory."
Mrs Williams continues to support mesh survivors and works alongside a number of groups to help people deal with its implications, such as Global Mesh Alliance, Scottish Mesh Survivors and Sling the Mesh.
If you've been affected by any of these issues, you can find all of these groups on Facebook, ready to offer support.
Mr Smith's meeting is set to take place in Westminster on Tuesday, July 18.
http://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/15401785.Barry_campaigner_backs_parliamentary_discussion_of_surgical_mesh/
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