When a medical device company puts profits ahead of patient safety, the consequences can follow you for years: chronic pain, failed surgeries, and a medical system that has no easy answers. Bard’s polypropylene hernia mesh products have been linked to complications severe enough to send tens of thousands of patients back to the operating table, and many of them are still searching for accountability. If you had a Bard hernia mesh implant and experienced serious complications afterward, you may have legal options worth exploring right now.
At Hollis Law Firm, we represent people harmed by dangerous medical devices, including those injured by Bard and Davol hernia mesh products. We have been tracking the Bard hernia mesh litigation closely and are ready to listen to your story, walk you through the legal landscape, and help you understand what options may be available to you. Our philosophy is simple: we are your guides, and you make the decisions.
About Bard’s Hernia Mesh Products
C.R. Bard, Inc. and its subsidiary Davol Inc. have manufactured and sold numerous polypropylene hernia mesh products over the years. These products include the Bard 3DMax, Composix Kugel, Marlex, Phasix, Allomax, and Ventralight meshes, among others. The Kugel Hernia Patch in particular drew significant attention when reports of ring fractures began surfacing, causing the patch to spring open inside the abdominal cavity, leading to serious bowel perforations and other injuries. The FDA issued recalls on certain Composix Kugel products as a result.
What Complications Have Been Reported?
Patients who received Bard hernia mesh implants have reported a wide range of complications following surgery. Some of these issues appeared shortly after the initial procedure, while others did not surface until months or years later. Common complications reported in connection with Bard and Davol products include the following.
- Mesh shrinkage: the mesh contracts after implantation, pulling surrounding tissue and causing persistent pain
- Adhesions: the mesh bonds to nearby organs or tissue, sometimes requiring additional surgery to correct
- Infections: polypropylene mesh has been associated with chronic infections that are difficult to treat and may require mesh removal
- Migration: the mesh shifts from its original position, which can damage surrounding structures
- Bowel obstruction or perforation: particularly associated with recalled Kugel patch products where the memory recoil ring fractured
These are serious, life-altering injuries, and patients dealing with them deserve more than just another surgery. Those affected by defective medical devices may have a right to pursue compensation for the harm they have suffered.
MDL 2846: The Federal Litigation
The volume of claims against Bard and Davol was significant enough to warrant consolidation into a federal multidistrict litigation. MDL 2846, formally titled “In Re: Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation,” is centralized in the Southern District of Ohio and has included tens of thousands of cases from plaintiffs across the country. The MDL process allows cases to share pretrial proceedings, making the litigation more efficient for plaintiffs, defendants, and the courts alike.
Rhode Island State Court Litigation
In addition to the federal MDL, Bard hernia mesh cases have also been litigated in Rhode Island state court, where a separate coordinated proceeding has been handling a substantial number of claims. The Rhode Island Superior Court has been home to a significant portion of the Bard Davol hernia mesh litigation given that Davol Inc. is incorporated in Rhode Island. Both the federal MDL and the Rhode Island proceedings have involved bellwether trials designed to test arguments and help parties assess the broader value of the litigation. We have been monitoring developments in both venues and provide regular updates on the Bard litigation for those following the case.
Bard Mesh Products and Who May Be Affected
Not every hernia mesh implant patient has a viable legal claim, but many people who received a Bard or Davol product and experienced documented complications may qualify to participate in the litigation. The products most frequently associated with claims include the Composix Kugel and Composix Kugel Patch, the 3DMax Mesh, the Phasix Mesh, the Marlex Mesh, and Davol-branded products such as the Ventralight ST. The Perfix Plug, another Bard product, has also been the subject of legal claims related to complications. If you received any of these products and experienced complications, it is worth having your case evaluated.
What to Do If You Were Harmed
If you believe a Bard hernia mesh product caused you harm, there are steps you can take to protect your legal rights. Start by gathering your surgical and medical records, including the product information from your implant procedure if available. Document your symptoms, any additional surgeries you had, and the impact the complications have had on your daily life. Because statutes of limitations vary and can be strict in mass tort cases, time is an important factor.
Contact Hollis Law Firm About Your Bard Hernia Mesh Case
Hollis Law Firm has dedicated significant attention to the Bard hernia mesh litigation and has helped clients understand their rights in the context of complex mass tort cases. We focus on personal injury and dangerous drug and device cases across Kansas and Missouri, and we take cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. We are here to represent you, listen to your needs, and provide you with the education you need to make informed decisions about your case.
If you or a loved one received a Bard or Davol hernia mesh product and suffered serious complications, do not wait to seek guidance. Contact our office today to tell us what happened and find out what your legal options may be. We are ready to listen.
