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Ethicon Media Monitoring 11/12/2018
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Pa. State Judge orders new trial in J&J pelvic mesh case
Nov 9, 2018 | Mass Device
By Fink Densford
A state judge in Pennsylvania this week ordered a new trial in a suit alleging a that a woman was injured by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary Ethicon’s TVT-Secur pelvic mesh implant. -
It was meant to be simple hernia op but it has left me in hell: Former sailor speaks out to reveal men are mesh victims too
Nov 12, 2018 | The Sunday Post
By Marion Scott
Chief petty officer David Foulkes saw two tours on board HMS Cardiff during the Gulf War and emerged unscathed. Four years ago, at 52, mesh surgery ruined his health and destroyed his life. -
Ex Navy officer lost testicle and in unbearable pain after 'routine' hernia op
Nov 11, 2018 | Mirror
By John Jeffay and Grace Witherden
A former Royal Navy officer says surgery has ruined his life after he was left in unbearable pain from a mesh implant after a 'routine' hernia operation.
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Pa. State Judge orders new trial in J&J pelvic mesh case
Nov 9, 2018 | Mass Device
By Fink Densford
A state judge in Pennsylvania this week ordered a new trial in a suit alleging a that a woman was injured by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary Ethicon’s TVT-Secur pelvic mesh implant.
The jury had previously ruled that the TVT-Secur device was defective in design and that the company did not appropriately warn pelvic floor surgeons of the risks of using the device, but the same jury also found that neither the warnings or defect caused injuries to the plaintiff.
In a five-page opinion, Judge Michael Erdos ordered a new trial that will re-examine the entirety of the case.
“Upon further examination of the issue, the Court now believes that a new trial should not be limited to the issues of compensatory and punitive damages. Rather, the new trial must also involve re-litigation on the issue of Appellants’ liability for design defect.”
The re-hearing was due to an “inadequate verdict,” as experts from both sides of the trial agreed that the “defendant’s negligence” caused injuries to the plaintiff, and the jury ruled in opposition to the expert opinions, according to court documents.
“Here, both Appellee’s Expert, Dr. Bruce Rosenzweig, and Appellee’s (non-retained) treating physician, Dr. Andrew Hundley, testified that the TVT-Secure caused Appelee much harm, including sharp pain during sexual intercourse, burning, irritation and a feeling of rawness. Significantly, even Appellants’ expert, Dr. John Wagner, conceded that the mesh caused injury to Appellee, necessitating explant surgery,” court documents read.
Details on the new trial have not yet emerged.
In July, a Pennsylvania state court judge overturned part of a jury verdict that gave Ethicon its first win in five pelvic mesh trials in Philadelphia.
https://www.massdevice.com/pa-state-judge-orders-new-trial-in-jj-pelvic-mesh-case/
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Nov 12, 2018 | The Sunday Post
By Marion Scott
Chief petty officer David Foulkes saw two tours on board HMS Cardiff during the Gulf War and emerged unscathed.
Four years ago, at 52, mesh surgery ruined his health and destroyed his life.
The keen bird-watcher who used to walk miles as a volunteer at a Fife RSPB wildlife centre, is now crippled and on so many painkillers to dull the agony of every movement, that he has developed a stutter.
David, from Kirkcaldy, said: “I served and fought twice, and was prepared to die or be injured in the name of Queen and country.
“But nothing prepared me for the hell I’ve been left to face from the ‘simple hernia operation’ that reduced me to a shell.”
David was implanted with hernia mesh of a type which has since been voluntary recalled across Europe.
According to the British Medical Journal, with surgeons claiming up to 30% of patients suffer complications, as many as 17,000 Scottish hernia patients – both men and women – may suffer side effects.
David suffers many of the same painful side effects as patients who have had bladder mesh implants.
After the navy, David became an electro-mechanical engineer, enjoying work and daily gym visits until he underwent an operation for a hernia repair to his groin.
David said: “I was in and out of hospital the same day.
“Ever since, I’ve been plagued with infection, and the pain has been so bad, even liquid morphine wasn’t controlling it.
“I wasn’t warned, or given a choice of non-mesh. I even awoke from repair surgery a couple of years ago to discover another piece of mesh had been put inside me.
“I’ve struggled to get anyone to admit mesh is the root of the problem.
“I’ve even been sent to a psychiatrist because I was told my pain was ‘all in my head’ – just like mesh injured women were told.”
Just over two years ago David had a testicle removed to try and ease the pain.
He said: “The pain is just as bad. Now I feel I’ve lost my manhood too.”
No longer fit to work, David lost his job and survives on his navy pension and disability allowance.
He can’t go to the gym, drive, or move without aid of a walking stick.
His wife Gill, 51, who works for Asda, said: “My husband was a strong, vital man at the peak of health. A ‘cheeky chappie’, full of life and laughter.
“Now he’s in despair.
“For four years specialists downright denied knowing why. Only recently have two doctors admitted it’s all down to mesh.
“Even I was told that the pain was in his head and I should take him to a favourite birdwatching site, and leave him with his binoculars and let him ‘get on with it’.
“The poor man can hardly stand he’s in so much pain!”
Politicians are calling for a suspension on hernia implants, warning it could end up affecting five times as many victims as the transvaginal mesh scandal.
Campaigning MSP Neil Findlay is calling on the Scottish Government to suspend hernia mesh procedures immediately and launch an investigation.
He said: “Given what we now know about transvaginal mesh implants, and the length of time this government took to waken up to one of the biggest medical scandals of modern times, an immediate suspension is the only way to protect the future wellbeing of thousands of hernia patients.”
The politician, who campaigned to highlight the bladder and pelvic mesh scandal
which has seen hundreds of women in Scotland suffering crippling injuries, said: “Medical reports state the potential for causing injury to hernia mesh patients is up to 30%.“As almost 10,000 Scots have hernia surgery every year, five times more than for transvaginal mesh surgery, the potential for disaster is huge.”
Former Health Secretary Alex Neil, who called for a mesh suspension and independent safety review on transvaginal mesh, fully backs a suspension and inquiry.
He said: “Given what we now know about the transvaginal mesh scandal, it is vital that we take the same actions for hernia mesh patients.”
And lawyer Patrick Maguire, of Thompsons Solicitors, said: “Patients need to be listened to, and the government needs to hear what they say.
“It would be unforgivable if they ignored these calls and more patients were injured.”
Scotland was the first in the world to suspend the use of transvaginal mesh implants. The whole of the UK has followed suit.
But concern is now growing over hernia meshes, many of which are made from the same or similar material as transvaginal mesh, which has seen manufacturers pay over £3 billion compensation in the US.
A Sunday Post investigation into mesh revealed manufacturers knew 21 years ago of safety concerns but they went ahead.
Thousands of US hernia mesh cases will begin next year.
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/it-was-meant-to-be-simple-hernia-op-but-it-has-left-me-in-hell-former-sailor-speaks-out-to-reveal-men-are-mesh-victims-too/
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Ex Navy officer lost testicle and in unbearable pain after 'routine' hernia op
Nov 11, 2018 | Mirror
By John Jeffay and Grace Witherden
A former Royal Navy officer says surgery has ruined his life after he was left in unbearable pain from a mesh implant after a 'routine' hernia operation.
David Foulkes has suffered from painful side effects after he was implanted with hernia mesh - a type which has since been voluntary recalled across Europe.
Since the operation, the 56-year-old who served two tours on board HMS Cardiff during the Gulf War, has lost a testicle, developed a stutter and is on painkillers to try and dull the agony of every movement.
Thousands of women have reported serious complications after receiving vaginal mesh implants to treat incontinence but David is one of a much smaller number of male victims.
He said: "I served and fought twice, and was prepared to die or be injured in the name of Queen and country.
"But nothing prepared me for the hell I've been left to face from the simple hernia operation' that reduced me to a shell."
David, from Kirkcaldy, suffers many of the same painful side effects as patients who have had bladder mesh implants.
After the navy, David became an electro-mechanical engineer and enjoyed daily gym visits until he underwent an operation for a hernia repair to his groin four years ago.
He said he was 'in and out' of hospital the same day and has been plagued with infection ever since.
David added: "I wasn't warned, or given a choice of non-mesh. I even awoke from repair surgery a couple of years ago to discover another piece of mesh had been put inside me.
"I've struggled to get anyone to admit mesh is the root of the problem.
"I've even been sent to a psychiatrist because I was told my pain was all in my head' - just like mesh injured women were told."
David now feels he has also 'lost his manhood' after having a testicle removed to try and ease the pain.
His wife Gill, who works for Asda said her husband is in 'despair'.
The 51-year-old said: "My husband was a strong, vital man at the peak of health. A cheeky chappie', full of life and laughter.
"For four years specialists downright denied knowing why. Only recently have two doctors admitted it's all down to mesh.
"Even I was told that the pain was in his head and I should take him to a favourite birdwatching site, and leave him with his binoculars and let him get on with it'.
"The poor man can hardly stand he's in so much pain!"
David lost his job and is no longer fit to work, surviving on his navy pension and disability allowance. He also cannot go to the gym anymore, or move without the aid of a walking stick.
Politicians are calling for a suspension on hernia implants, warning it could end up affecting five times as many victims as the transvaginal mesh scandal.
Campaigning MSP Neil Findlay is calling on the Scottish Government to suspend hernia mesh procedures immediately and launch an investigation.
He said: "Given what we now know about transvaginal mesh implants, and the length of time this government took to waken up to one of the biggest medical scandals of modern times, an immediate suspension is the only way to protect the future wellbeing of thousands of hernia patients."
He said the 'potential for disaster is huge' as almost 10,000 Scots have hernia surgery every year.
Scotland was the first in the world to suspend the use of transvaginal mesh implants. The whole of the UK has followed suit.
Former Health Secretary Alex Neil, who called for a mesh suspension and independent safety review on transvaginal mesh, fully backs a suspension and inquiry.
He said: "Given what we now know about the transvaginal mesh scandal, it is vital that we take the same actions for hernia mesh patients."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ex-navy-officer-lost-testicle-13573896
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