Austin News

Texas will receive $13 million in a lawsuit settlement with med­ical device man­u­fac­tur­er Boston Sci­en­tif­ic Corp.

According to a news release, the lawsuit alleged that Boston Sci­en­tif­ic engaged in deceptive marketing of its surgical mesh products for women and misrepresented the safety of these products. The settlement requires Boston Sci­en­tif­ic to pay $188.6 million to 47 states and the District of Columbia, the largest settlement involving mesh used for pelvic organ prolapse, according to KVUE News. Texas's share of the settlement will be $13 million.

"Big win for women’s health,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a social media post. “This settlement sends a strong message that we will not allow the health of Texas women to be placed in jeopardy by unscrupulous businesses who place profits over patients’ well-being.” 

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that affects one in five women following childbirth where pelvic muscles no longer support pelvic organs. Transvaginal surgical mesh is a synthetic material that is surgically implanted through the vagina to support the pelvic organs of women who suffer from this condition. Users of Boston Sci­en­tif­ic's products reported chronic pain, urinary dysfunction, and new onset of incontinence for years.

"I've been in and out of the hospital about 60-70 times since I've had this," Carmen Pacheco told KVUE in April 2019. 

In 2013, Pacheco received an implant of plastic mesh for pelvic order prolapse and a hernia. Afterward, she spent her remaining years bedridden at her home before she died December 2020 at the age of 56.

Following a 2019 hearing, the FDA ordered companies to stop using transvaginal surgical mesh implants for pelvic order prolapse.

"I want to express my deepest sympathy and my sincere empathy to all of the women who have been harmed by surgical mesh therapy," Dr. Ronald Morton Jr., Vice President of Clinical Science at Boston Scientific, said at the hearing.

Pelvic mesh products have been one of the worst failures of the medical industry in the 21st century, according to MassDevice. Boston Scientific and Coloplast are the last two companies to sell the devices.