More Than 1000 Women Win Landmark Court Case Against Johnson & Johnson Over Over Vaginal Mesh Danger
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More than 1,350 Australian women won a seven-year-old class action lawsuit on Thursday against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for misleading patients and surgeons about the risks of the pharmaceutical giant's pelvic mesh implants.
The suit is one of many J&J has faced in the United States, Canada and Europe over the implants, used to treat urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, in which organs shift from normal positions. J&J in October agreed to pay nearly $117m (91m) to resolve claims in 41 US states and the District of Columbia.
Australia's Federal Court found that J&J subsidiary Ethicon had sold the devices without warning women about the "gravity of the risks", and was negligent in rushing the products to market before proper testing.
The judge in the case, Anna Katzmann, has set February for the next hearing in the case, where damages will be discussed.
Ethicon said it was reviewing the court's decision and would consider its options to appeal.
"Ethicon believes that the company acted ethically and responsibly in the research, development and supply of these products," the company said in a statement.
[...]
Julie Davis, the original claimant in the case, said she was "incredibly pleased" with the judgment but said it would not take away the pain and damage done to women.
"They have treated women essentially like guinea pigs, lied about it and done nothing to help," she told reporters at a televised media conference outside the court in Sydney.
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