Tens of thousands of women in Washington who have vaginal mesh implants will qualify for some restitution. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has reached an $8.8 million settlement with Boston Scientific, one of the makers of the devices. This follows similar agreements struck with other manufacturers in the past few years, including Johnson & Johnson.
The surgical mesh implants are meant to correct pelvic collapse, something that can happen after childbirth or a hysterectomy, and to control urinary leakage. But women report serious health problems after getting an implant from constant urinary tract infections to chronic pelvic pain. And, because the mesh essentially becomes part of your body, it can’t easily be removed.
What Washington and dozens of other states sued over was deceptive marketing by device makers. As part of the settlements, companies and their sales reps must clearly spell out complications caused by the devices.
The office of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is in the process of setting up a claims procedure for women who’ve had the implants. For privacy reasons, the office says it does not have an actual list of women who would qualify.
