Infected Ethicon Physiomesh Led To Hernia Revision Surgery, Lawsuit Claims

Following a hernia repair where Ethicon Physiomesh was used, a Florida woman indicates that the recalled hernia patch became infected and had to be surgically removed, resulting in painful and permanent injuries.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Mary P. Johnson in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on May 16, indicating that Johnson & Johnson and it’s Ethicon subsidiary knew or should have known that the multi-layer coating of the Physiomesh products may cause infections and complications following hernia repair.

Johnson was implanted with a 15 cm by 20 cm Physiomesh Composite mesh in November 2011, during a ventral hernia repair. However, in December 2013, she had to undergo hernia revision surgery due to complications allegedly caused by the design of the surgical mesh.

“At revision, Plaintiff was found to have infected Physiomesh which was loose and not incorporated into the anterior abdominal wall, recurrent hernia, pain, with adhesion complications,” the lawsuit states. “Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer physical pain and mental anguish. Defendants were responsible for the research, design, development, testing, manufacture, production, marketing, promotion, distribution and sale of Physiomesh, including providing the warnings and instructions concerning the product.”

Johnson indicates that Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson misrepresented the hernia mesh patch as safe and effective, when it was neither. The lawsuit states that, in truth, the mesh exposes patients to a risk of recurrent hernias, infections, adhesions, migration, improper wound healing, and other injuries.

The case joins a growing number of Ethicon Physiomesh lawsuits filed in recent months over infections, bowel adhesions and other complications linked to the product.

In June 2016, Ethicon recalled Physiomesh products from the market worldwide, due to a high rate of problems and revisions among individuals who had the patch implanted, since the manufacturer was unable to identify or correct the underlying cause of the complications. Although the action was classified as a “market withdrawal” in the United States, Ethicon asked hospitals to return all unused implants and indicated that it does not intend to return the product to the market.

With hernia mesh lawyers continuing to review and file a number of lawsuits for individuals nationwide who had Ethicon Physiomesh implanted, a motion was filed last month with U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), seeking to transfer all cases to the Middle District of Florida for coordinated discovery pretrial proceedings. The panel will consider oral arguments on the motion during an upcoming hearing session scheduled for May 25, in San Antonio, Texas.