Johnson & Johnson reaches $300m settlement over pelvic mesh implants

Pelvic mesh implant manufacturer Johnson & Johnson group has reached a $300m settlement in two class actions, after thousands of women worldwide reported complications from the mesh products including chronic pain, painful sexual intercourse and incontinence.

It marks the largest settlement in a product liability class action in Australian history, and is subject to federal court approval.

Shine Lawyers led the Australian class actions and alleged Johnson & Johnson failed to properly test the devices and played down their risk to both surgeons and patients. Women have suffered complications including mesh exposure and erosion – when the mesh pokes through the vaginal wall or cuts through internal tissue – vaginal scarring, fistula formation, painful sex, and pelvic, back and leg pains. Some of these complications may occur years after surgery and can be difficult to treat.

Shine Lawyers’ Rebecca Jancauskas said the settlement would help support women’s ongoing treatment needs.

“We welcome this settlement which brings the litigation to an end,” she said. “If the federal court approves the settlement our focus will shift to the important task of distributing the settlement to group members.”

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Source: The Guardian, 12 September 2022