Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has lost a long-running class action lawsuit filed by over 1,350 Australian women over its vaginal mesh implants.
Johnson & Johnson lost the class action lawsuit after Australia's Federal Court found that its subsidiary Ethicon failed to warn patients and surgeons about the "risks" posed by the vaginal mesh implants.
These implants were commonly used in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence after childbirth. In the suit, some patients indicated that after having the mesh surgically implanted, they suffered chronic pain, bleeding and severe discomfort during sexual intercourse.
In the ruling, Judge Anna Katzmann said much of the information the company provided about the products was "inaccurate" and at times made "false representations". Katzmann said: "The risks were known, not insignificant and on Ethicon's own admission, serious harm could ensue if they eventuated."
Damages will be set by the court next year.
Ethicon released a statement saying: "Ethicon believes that the company acted ethically and responsibly in the research, development and supply of these products." The company also said it is considering an appeal.
The original claimant in the case, Julie Davis, welcomed the decision saying: "They have treated women essentially like guinea pigs, lied about it and done nothing to help." In 2018, the Australian government issued a national apology to women affected by the product, giving acknowledgement to their decades of "agony and pain".
Meanwhile, J&J is facing billions of dollars in legal claims over other products, including opioids. In October, a Philadelphia court awarded a man $8 billion in punitive damages from over breast growth side effect from its anti-psychotic drug Risperdal.
J&J said it will be appealing the ruling, which it called “grossly disproportionate”. In addition, the pharmaceutical giant agreed to a $20.4 million settlement with two Ohio counties, ahead of an opioid crisis trial held in October.
